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What stands out first about I'll See You in My Dreams is the confidence with which Brett Haley establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, I'll See You in My Dreams asks Blythe Danner and Martin Starr to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of I'll See You in My Dreams is established with useful clarity: A widow and former songstress discovers that life can begin anew at any age. That direct approach lets I'll See You in My Dream

What stands out first about Mortdecai is the confidence with which David Koepp establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mortdecai asks Johnny Depp and Gwyneth Paltrow to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mortdecai is established with useful clarity: Juggling angry Russians, the British Mi5, and an international terrorist, debonair art dealer and part time rogue Charlie Mortdecai races to recover a stolen painting rumored

What stands out first about Trumbo is the confidence with which Jay Roach establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Trumbo asks Bryan Cranston and Diane Lane to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Trumbo is established with useful clarity: In 1947, Dalton Trumbo was Hollywood's top screenwriter, until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs. That direct approach lets Trumbo u

What stands out first about Blackhat is the confidence with which Michael Mann establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Blackhat asks Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Blackhat is established with useful clarity: A furloughed convict and his American and Chinese partners hunt a high level cybercrime network from Chicago to Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Jakarta. That direct approach l

What stands out first about Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' is the confidence with which Tadayoshi Yamamuro establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' asks Masako Nozawa and Ryô Horikawa to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' is established with useful clarity: Frieza is reborn and achieves the last of his transformations, and it is up to Goku and hi

What stands out first about Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the confidence with which Kabir Khan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bajrangi Bhaijaan asks Salman Khan and Harshaali Malhotra to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bajrangi Bhaijaan is established with useful clarity: An Indian man with a magnanimous heart takes a young mute Pakistani girl back to her homeland to reunite her with her family. That direct approach l

What stands out first about Amy is the confidence with which Asif Kapadia establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Amy asks Amy Winehouse and Mitch Winehouse to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Amy is established with useful clarity: Archival footage and personal testimonials present an intimate portrait of the life and career of British singer/songwriter Amy Winehouse. That direct approach lets Amy use its 2h 8m r

What stands out first about The Lobster is the confidence with which Yorgos Lanthimos establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Lobster asks Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Lobster is established with useful clarity: In a dystopian near future, according to the laws of The City, single people are taken to The Hotel, where they are obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days or

What stands out first about Huevos: Little Rooster's Egg cellent Adventure is the confidence with which Gabriel Riva Palacio Alatriste establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Huevos: Little Rooster's Egg cellent Adventure asks Bruno Bichir and Carlos Espejel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Huevos: Little Rooster's Egg cellent Adventure is established with useful clarity: Toto, a young chick born the run

What stands out first about Hardcore Henry is the confidence with which Ilya Naishuller establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hardcore Henry asks Sharlto Copley and Tim Roth to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hardcore Henry is established with useful clarity: Henry is resurrected from death with no memory, and he must save his wife from a telekinetic warlord with a plan to bio engineer soldiers. That direct approach

What stands out first about The Lady in the Van is the confidence with which Nicholas Hytner establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Lady in the Van asks Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Lady in the Van is established with useful clarity: A man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her van that's parked in his driveway. That direct approach lets The Lady in

What stands out first about The Walk is the confidence with which Robert Zemeckis establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Walk asks Joseph Gordon Levitt and Charlotte Le Bon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Walk is established with useful clarity: In 1974, high wire artist Philippe Petit recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream: to walk the immense void between the World Trade Cent