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What stands out first about A Man Called Ove is the confidence with which Hannes Holm establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Man Called Ove asks Rolf Lassgård and Bahar Pars to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Man Called Ove is established with useful clarity: Ove, an ill tempered, isolated retiree who spends his days enforcing block association rules and visiting his wife's grave, has finally given up on life jus

What stands out first about We Are Your Friends is the confidence with which Max Joseph establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, We Are Your Friends asks Zac Efron and Wes Bentley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of We Are Your Friends is established with useful clarity: Caught between a forbidden romance and the expectations of his friends, aspiring DJ Cole Carter attempts to find the path in life that leads to fame a

What stands out first about Spare Parts is the confidence with which Sean McNamara establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Spare Parts asks George Lopez and Jamie Lee Curtis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Spare Parts is established with useful clarity: Four Mexican high school students form a robotics club. That direct approach lets Spare Parts use its 1h 54m running time for character, atmosphere and

What stands out first about A la mala is the confidence with which Pedro Pablo Ibarra establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A la mala asks Aislinn Derbez and Mauricio Ochmann to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A la mala is established with useful clarity: When aspiring actress Maria Laura's best friend begs her to flirt with her boyfriend to test his fidelity, Maria finds a lucrative new career. That direct approach

What stands out first about Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is the confidence with which Christopher Landon establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse asks Tye Sheridan and Logan Miller to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse is established with useful clarity: Three scouts, on the eve of their last camp out, discover the true meaning of fr

What stands out first about Anomalisa is the confidence with which Duke Johnson establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Anomalisa asks David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Anomalisa is established with useful clarity: A man crippled by the mundanity of his life experiences something out of the ordinary. That direct approach lets Anomalisa use its 1h 30m running time for

What stands out first about Where to Invade Next is the confidence with which Michael Moore establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Where to Invade Next asks Michael Moore and Johnny Fancelli to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Where to Invade Next is established with useful clarity: To learn what the USA can learn from other nations, Michael Moore playfully "invades" them to see what they have to offer. That dire

What stands out first about The Man Who Knew Infinity is the confidence with which Matt Brown establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Man Who Knew Infinity asks Dev Patel and Jeremy Irons to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Man Who Knew Infinity is established with useful clarity: The story of the life and academic career of the pioneer Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, and his friendship w

What stands out first about Irrational Man is the confidence with which Woody Allen establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Irrational Man asks Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Irrational Man is established with useful clarity: A tormented philosophy professor finds a will to live when he commits an existential act. That direct approach lets Irrational Man use its 1h 35m running time f

What stands out first about 45 Years is the confidence with which Andrew Haigh establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 45 Years asks Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 45 Years is established with useful clarity: A married couple preparing to celebrate their wedding anniversary receives shattering news that promises to forever change the course of their lives. That direct approach

What stands out first about The Meddler is the confidence with which Lorene Scafaria establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Meddler asks Susan Sarandon and Rose Byrne to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Meddler is established with useful clarity: An aging widow from New York City follows her daughter to Los Angeles in hopes of starting a new life after her husband passes away. That direct approach lets The Med

What stands out first about Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is the confidence with which Sooraj R. Barjatya establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo asks Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is established with useful clarity: While recovering from an assassination attempt four days before his coronation, a stern prince is replaced by a romantic lookalike.