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What stands out first about Rock Dog is the confidence with which Ash Brannon establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Rock Dog asks Luke Wilson and Eddie Izzard to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Rock Dog is established with useful clarity: When a radio falls from the sky into the hands of a wide eyed Tibetan Mastiff, he leaves home to fulfill his dream of becoming a musician, setting into motion a series

What stands out first about Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is the confidence with which Akiva Schaffer establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping asks Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is established with useful clarity: When it becomes clear that his solo album is a failure, a former boy band member does everything

What stands out first about The Perfect Match is the confidence with which Bille Woodruff establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Perfect Match asks Terrence Jenkins and Cassie Ventura to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Perfect Match is established with useful clarity: A playboy named Charlie, convinced that all his relationships are dead, meets the beautiful and mysterious Eva. That direct approach lets The P

What stands out first about The Belko Experiment is the confidence with which Greg McLean establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Belko Experiment asks John Gallagher Jr. and Tony Goldwyn to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Belko Experiment is established with useful clarity: In a twisted social experiment, eighty Americans are locked in their high rise corporate office in Bogotá, Colombia, and ordered by

What stands out first about Live by Night is the confidence with which Ben Affleck establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Live by Night asks Ben Affleck and Elle Fanning to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Live by Night is established with useful clarity: A group of Boston bred gangsters set up shop in balmy Florida during the Prohibition era, facing off against the competition and the Ku Klux Klan. That direct approa

What stands out first about Nocturnal Animals is the confidence with which Tom Ford establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Nocturnal Animals asks Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Nocturnal Animals is established with useful clarity: A wealthy art gallery owner is haunted by her ex husband's novel, a violent thriller she interprets as a symbolic revenge tale. That direct approach lets

What stands out first about The Darkness is the confidence with which Greg McLean establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Darkness asks Kevin Bacon and Radha Mitchell to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Darkness is established with useful clarity: A family unknowingly awakens an ancient supernatural entity on a Grand Canyon vacation, and must fight for survival when it follows them home. That direct approa

What stands out first about Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is the confidence with which Burr Steers establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies asks Lily James and Sam Riley to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is established with useful clarity: Five sisters in 19th century England must cope with the pressures to marry while protecting themselves from a

What stands out first about Café Society is the confidence with which Woody Allen establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Café Society asks Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Café Society is established with useful clarity: In the 1930s, a Bronx native moves to Hollywood and falls in love with a young woman who is seeing a married man. That direct approach lets Café Society use its

What stands out first about No Manches Frida is the confidence with which Nacho G. Velilla establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, No Manches Frida asks Omar Chaparro and Martha Higareda to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of No Manches Frida is established with useful clarity: Zequi, a recently released bank robber who goes to recover stolen money buried by his ditzy accomplice before going to jail. That direct approach

What stands out first about Fifty Shades of Black is the confidence with which Michael Tiddes establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Fifty Shades of Black asks Marlon Wayans and Kali Hawk to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Fifty Shades of Black is established with useful clarity: An inexperienced college student meets a wealthy businessman whose sexual practices put a strain on their relationship. That direct approac

What stands out first about Dangal is the confidence with which Nitesh Tiwari establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dangal asks Aamir Khan and Sakshi Tanwar to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dangal is established with useful clarity: Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler, decides to fulfill his dream of winning a gold medal for his country by training his daughters for the Commonwealth Games despite the exis