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What stands out first about I'm Not Ashamed is the confidence with which Brian Baugh establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, I'm Not Ashamed asks Masey McLain and Ben Davies to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of I'm Not Ashamed is established with useful clarity: The true story of Rachel Joy Scott, the first student killed in the Columbine High School shooting on April 20, 1999. That direct approach lets I'm

What stands out first about Train to Busan is the confidence with which Yeon Sang ho establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Train to Busan asks Gong Yoo and Jung Yu mi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Train to Busan is established with useful clarity: While a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan. That direct approach lets Train to Busan use its

What stands out first about Paterson is the confidence with which Jim Jarmusch establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Paterson asks Adam Driver and Golshifteh Farahani to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Paterson is established with useful clarity: A quiet observation of the triumphs and defeats of daily life, along with the poetry evident in its smallest details. That direct approach lets Paterson use its 1h 58m runn

What stands out first about The Patriarch is the confidence with which Raúl Martínez establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Patriarch asks Héctor Bonilla and Jacqueline Bracamontes to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Patriarch is established with useful clarity: When Don Servando Villegas gets expelled from his retirement home, his younger son Francisco takes him in. That direct approach lets The Patriarch use

What stands out first about Collide is the confidence with which Eran Creevy establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Collide asks Nicholas Hoult and Felicity Jones to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Collide is established with useful clarity: An American backpacker gets involved with a ring of drug smugglers as their driver, though he winds up on the run from his employers across Cologne high speed Autobahn. That dire

What stands out first about Fan is the confidence with which Maneesh Sharma establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Fan asks Shah Rukh Khan and Shriya Pilgaonkar to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Fan is established with useful clarity: Gaurav's world revolves around the superstar Aryan Khanna. That direct approach lets Fan use its 2h 22m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ The thematic thre

What stands out first about A Aa is the confidence with which Trivikram Srinivas establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Aa asks Nithiin and Samantha Ruth Prabhu to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Aa is established with useful clarity: Anand and Anasuya meet each other on a train ride. That direct approach lets A Aa use its 2h 32m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ The most useful technical

What stands out first about Elle is the confidence with which Paul Verhoeven establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Elle asks Isabelle Huppert and Laurent Lafitte to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Elle is established with useful clarity: A successful businesswoman gets caught up in a game of cat and mouse as she tracks down the unknown man who raped her. That direct approach lets Elle use its 2h 10m running time f

What stands out first about Dear Zindagi is the confidence with which Gauri Shinde establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dear Zindagi asks Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dear Zindagi is established with useful clarity: Kaira is a budding cinematographer in search of a perfect life. That direct approach lets Dear Zindagi use its 2h 31m running time for character, atmosphere and cons

What stands out first about Hillsong: Let Hope Rise is the confidence with which Michael John Warren establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hillsong: Let Hope Rise asks Michael Guy Chislett and Matt Crocker to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hillsong: Let Hope Rise is established with useful clarity: A documentary on the Australia based band Hillsong and their rise to prominence as an international church. That

What stands out first about The Salesman is the confidence with which Asghar Farhadi establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Salesman asks Shahab Hosseini and Taraneh Alidoosti to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Salesman is established with useful clarity: While Ranaa and Emad, a married couple, are participating in a production of "Death of a Salesman," she is assaulted in their new home, which leaves him d

What stands out first about The Disappointments Room is the confidence with which D.J. Caruso establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Disappointments Room asks Kate Beckinsale and Mel Raido to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Disappointments Room is established with useful clarity: A mother and her young son release unimaginable horrors from the attic of their rural dream home. That direct approach lets Th