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What stands out first about Bleed for This is the confidence with which Ben Younger establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bleed for This asks Miles Teller and Aaron Eckhart to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bleed for This is established with useful clarity: The inspirational story of World Champion Boxer Vinny Pazienza who, after a near fatal car crash which left him not knowing if he'd ever walk again,

What stands out first about Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the confidence with which Taika Waititi establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hunt for the Wilderpeople asks Sam Neill and Julian Dennison to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hunt for the Wilderpeople is established with useful clarity: A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush. That dire

What stands out first about Paris Can Wait is the confidence with which Eleanor Coppola establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Paris Can Wait asks Diane Lane and Arnaud Viard to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Paris Can Wait is established with useful clarity: The wife of a successful movie producer takes a car trip from the south of France to Paris with one of her husband's associates. That direct approach lets Pari

What stands out first about 20th Century Women is the confidence with which Mike Mills establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 20th Century Women asks Annette Bening and Elle Fanning to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 20th Century Women is established with useful clarity: In 1979 Santa Barbara, Dorothea is a determined single mother who is raising her son, Jamie. That direct approach lets 20th Century Women use its 1h

What stands out first about Captain Fantastic is the confidence with which Matt Ross establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Captain Fantastic asks Viggo Mortensen and George MacKay to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Captain Fantastic is established with useful clarity: In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to lea

What stands out first about Maudie is the confidence with which Aisling Walsh establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Maudie asks Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Maudie is established with useful clarity: An arthritic Nova Scotia woman works as a housekeeper while she hones her skills as an artist and eventually becomes a beloved figure in the community. That direct approach lets Maud

What stands out first about Sultan is the confidence with which Ali Abbas Zafar establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sultan asks Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sultan is established with useful clarity: Sultan is a classic underdog tale about a wrestler's journey, looking for a comeback by defeating all odds. That direct approach lets Sultan use its 2h 50m running time for ch

What stands out first about Lowriders is the confidence with which Ricardo de Montreuil establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Lowriders asks Gabriel Chavarria and Demián Bichir to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Lowriders is established with useful clarity: A young street artist in East Los Angeles is caught between his father's obsession with lowrider car culture, his ex felon brother and his need for self exp

What stands out first about Southside with You is the confidence with which Richard Tanne establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Southside with You asks Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Southside with You is established with useful clarity: Barack Obama, a freshman at Harvard Law School, gets a job at a Chicago law firm under the orders of young Michelle Robinson. That direct approa

What stands out first about The Young Messiah is the confidence with which Cyrus Nowrasteh establishes its fantasy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Young Messiah asks Adam Greaves Neal and Vincent Walsh to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Young Messiah is established with useful clarity: Tells the story of Jesus Christ at age seven as he and his family depart Egypt to return home to Nazareth. That direct approach lets The Youn

What stands out first about The Brothers Grimsby is the confidence with which Louis Leterrier establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Brothers Grimsby asks Sacha Baron Cohen and Mark Strong to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Brothers Grimsby is established with useful clarity: A new assignment forces a top spy to team up with his football hooligan brother. That direct approach lets The Brothers Grimsby use its

What stands out first about Shut In is the confidence with which Farren Blackburn establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Shut In asks Naomi Watts and Charlie Heaton to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Shut In is established with useful clarity: A widowed child psychologist lives an isolated existence in rural New England. That direct approach lets Shut In use its 1h 31m running time for character, atmosphere and