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Vaxxed: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe
What stands out first about Vaxxed: From Cover Up to Catastrophe is the confidence with which Andrew Wakefield establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Vaxxed: From Cover Up to Catastrophe asks Del Bigtree and Mark F. Blaxill to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Vaxxed: From Cover Up to Catastrophe is established with useful clarity: A documentary alleging that the CDC, the government agency charged with protecting
Aug 103 min read
The Women's Balcony
What stands out first about The Women's Balcony is the confidence with which Emil Ben Shimon establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Women's Balcony asks Evelin Hagoel and Igal Naor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Women's Balcony is established with useful clarity: A bar mitzvah mishap causes a major rift in a devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem. That direct approach lets The Women's Balcony use its 1h 3
Aug 103 min read
Mohenjo Daro
What stands out first about Mohenjo Daro is the confidence with which Ashutosh Gowariker establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mohenjo Daro asks Hrithik Roshan and Pooja Hegde to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mohenjo Daro is established with useful clarity: In 2016 BC, a kind farmer leads an uprising in the city of Mohenjo Daro. That direct approach lets Mohenjo Daro use its 2h 35m running time for character,
Aug 103 min read
Personal Shopper
What stands out first about Personal Shopper is the confidence with which Olivier Assayas establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Personal Shopper asks Kristen Stewart and Lars Eidinger to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Personal Shopper is established with useful clarity: A personal shopper in Paris refuses to leave the city until she makes contact with her twin brother who previously died there. That direct approa
Aug 103 min read
Housefull 3
What stands out first about Housefull 3 is the confidence with which Sajid establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Housefull 3 asks Akshay Kumar and Abhishek Bachchan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Housefull 3 is established with useful clarity: A father doesn't want his three daughters to get married. That direct approach lets Housefull 3 use its 2h 20m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. Be
Aug 103 min read
The Neon Demon
What stands out first about The Neon Demon is the confidence with which Nicolas Winding Refn establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Neon Demon asks Elle Fanning and Christina Hendricks to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Neon Demon is established with useful clarity: An aspiring model, Jesse, is new to Los Angeles. That direct approach lets The Neon Demon use its 1h 57m running time for character, atmosph
Aug 103 min read
Genius
What stands out first about Genius is the confidence with which Michael Grandage establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Genius asks Colin Firth and Jude Law to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Genius is established with useful clarity: A chronicle of Max Perkins's time as the book editor at Scribner, where he oversaw works by Thomas Wolfe, Ernest Hemingway, F. That direct approach lets Genius use its 1h 44
Aug 102 min read
The Wedding Plan
What stands out first about The Wedding Plan is the confidence with which Rama Burshtein establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Wedding Plan asks Noa Koler and Amos Tamam to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Wedding Plan is established with useful clarity: When her fiancé bows out on the eve of her wedding, Michal refuses to cancel the wedding arrangements. That direct approach lets The Wedding Plan use its 1h
Aug 103 min read
Toni Erdmann
What stands out first about Toni Erdmann is the confidence with which Maren Ade establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Toni Erdmann asks Sandra Hüller and Peter Simonischek to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Toni Erdmann is established with useful clarity: A practical joking father tries to reconnect with his hard working daughter by creating an outrageous alter ego and posing as her CEO's life coach. That direct app
Aug 103 min read
Julieta
What stands out first about Julieta is the confidence with which Pedro Almodóvar establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Julieta asks Emma Suárez and Adriana Ugarte to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Julieta is established with useful clarity: After a casual encounter, a brokenhearted woman decides to confront her life and the most important events involving her estranged daughter. That direct approach lets Julieta u
Aug 102 min read
Priceless
What stands out first about Priceless is the confidence with which Ben Smallbone establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Priceless asks Joel David Smallbone and Bianca A. Santos to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Priceless is established with useful clarity: A widower who's lost custody of his daughter finds himself unable to hold down a job. That direct approach lets Priceless use its 1h 37m running time for charac
Aug 103 min read
Neerja
What stands out first about Neerja is the confidence with which Ram Madhvani establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Neerja asks Sonam Kapoor and Shabana Azmi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Neerja is established with useful clarity: The story of courageous Neerja Bhanot, who sacrificed her life while protecting the lives of 359 passengers on Pan Am Flight 73 in 1986 when it was hijacked by a terrorist organizati
Aug 103 min read
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