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What stands out first about LBJ is the confidence with which Rob Reiner establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, LBJ asks Woody Harrelson and Michael Stahl David to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of LBJ is established with useful clarity: Lyndon B. That direct approach lets LBJ use its 1h 38m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Rob Reiner gives LBJ a directorial line that is engaging in

What stands out first about Kapoor & Sons is the confidence with which Shakun Batra establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Kapoor & Sons asks Rishi Kapoor and Rajat Kapoor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Kapoor & Sons is established with useful clarity: The story about two brothers who visit their dysfunctional family for their grandfather's birthday party. That direct approach lets Kapoor & Sons use its 2h 12m ru

What stands out first about Kedi is the confidence with which Ceyda Torun establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Kedi asks Yaman Barlas and Sari to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Kedi is established with useful clarity: A profile of an ancient city and its unique people, seen through the eyes of the most mysterious and beloved animal humans have ever known, the Cat. That direct approach lets Kedi use its 1h 19m

What stands out first about The Beatles: Eight Days a Week The Touring Years is the confidence with which Ron Howard establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week The Touring Years asks The Beatles and John Lennon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Beatles: Eight Days a Week The Touring Years is established with useful clarity: A compilation of found footage featuring music, interview

What stands out first about Anthropoid is the confidence with which Sean Ellis establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Anthropoid asks Jamie Dornan and Cillian Murphy to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Anthropoid is established with useful clarity: Based on the extraordinary true story of Operation Anthropoid, the WWII mission to assassinate SS General Reinhard Heydrich, the main architect behind the Final Soluti

What stands out first about The Other Side of the Door is the confidence with which Johannes Roberts establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Other Side of the Door asks Sarah Wayne Callies and Jeremy Sisto to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Other Side of the Door is established with useful clarity: After her young son is killed in a tragic accident, a woman learns of a ritual which will bring him back to

What stands out first about Colossal is the confidence with which Nacho Vigalondo establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Colossal asks Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Colossal is established with useful clarity: Gloria is an out of work party girl forced to leave her life in New York City and move back home. That direct approach lets Colossal use its 1h 49m running time for charact

What stands out first about Compadres is the confidence with which Enrique Begné establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Compadres asks Omar Chaparro and Joey Morgan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Compadres is established with useful clarity: As former cop Garza seeks revenge on Santos, the crime lord who framed him, he forms an unlikely team with a young hacker who successfully stole $10 million from Santos. That

What stands out first about Our Kind of Traitor is the confidence with which Susanna White establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Our Kind of Traitor asks Carlos Acosta and Radivoje Bukvic to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Our Kind of Traitor is established with useful clarity: A couple finds themselves lured into a Russian oligarch's plans to defect, and are soon positioned between the Russian Mafia and the Br

What stands out first about The Eagle Huntress is the confidence with which Otto Bell establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Eagle Huntress asks Aisholpan Nurgaiv and Daisy Ridley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Eagle Huntress is established with useful clarity: Thirteen year old Aisholpan trains to become the first female in twelve generations of her nomad family to become an eagle huntress. That dir

What stands out first about The Mermaid is the confidence with which Stephen Chow establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Mermaid asks Chao Deng and Show Lo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Mermaid is established with useful clarity: Shan, a mermaid, is sent to assassinate Xuan, a developer who threatens the ecosystem of her race, but ends up falling in love with him instead. That direct approach lets The Me

What stands out first about Sing Street is the confidence with which John Carney establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sing Street asks Ferdia Walsh Peelo and Aidan Gillen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sing Street is established with useful clarity: A young lad notices a beautiful girl who begins to occupy his thoughts. That direct approach lets Sing Street use its 1h 46m running time for character, atmosphere