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What stands out first about The Light Between Oceans is the confidence with which Derek Cianfrance establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Light Between Oceans asks Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Light Between Oceans is established with useful clarity: A lighthouse keeper and his wife living off the coast of Western Australia raise a baby they rescue from a drifting

What stands out first about Triple 9 is the confidence with which John Hillcoat establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Triple 9 asks Casey Affleck and Chiwetel Ejiofor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Triple 9 is established with useful clarity: A gang of criminals and corrupt cops plan the murder of a police officer in order to pull off their biggest heist yet across town. That direct approach lets Triple 9 u

What stands out first about The Founder is the confidence with which John Lee Hancock establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Founder asks Michael Keaton and Nick Offerman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Founder is established with useful clarity: The story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers' innovative fast food eatery, McDonald's, into the biggest restaurant business in the world,

What stands out first about Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party is the confidence with which Dinesh D'Souza establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party asks Dinesh D'Souza and Jonah Goldberg to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party is established with useful clarity: Document

What stands out first about Born in China is the confidence with which Chuan Lu establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Born in China asks John Krasinski and Claire Keim to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Born in China is established with useful clarity: Venturing into the wilds of China, "Born in China" captures intimate moments with a panda and her growing cub, a young golden monkey who feels displaced by his b

What stands out first about Jackie is the confidence with which Pablo Larraín establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jackie asks Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jackie is established with useful clarity: Following the assassination of President John F. That direct approach lets Jackie use its 1h 40m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ Jackie fin

What stands out first about Love & Friendship is the confidence with which Whit Stillman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Love & Friendship asks Kate Beckinsale and Chloë Sevigny to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Love & Friendship is established with useful clarity: Lady Susan Vernon takes up temporary residence at her in laws' estate and, while there, is determined to be a matchmaker for her daughter Frederic

What stands out first about The Edge of Seventeen is the confidence with which Kelly Fremon Craig establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Edge of Seventeen asks Hailee Steinfeld and Haley Lu Richardson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Edge of Seventeen is established with useful clarity: High school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother. That

What stands out first about Criminal is the confidence with which Ariel Vromen establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Criminal asks Kevin Costner and Ryan Reynolds to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Criminal is established with useful clarity: A dangerous convict receives an implant containing the memories and skills of a dead CIA agent. That direct approach lets Criminal use its 1h 53m running time for characte

What stands out first about Keeping Up with the Joneses is the confidence with which Greg Mottola establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Keeping Up with the Joneses asks Zach Galifianakis and Isla Fisher to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Keeping Up with the Joneses is established with useful clarity: A suburban couple becomes embroiled in an international espionage plot when they discover that their seemingly perfec

What stands out first about The Infiltrator is the confidence with which Brad Furman establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Infiltrator asks Bryan Cranston and John Leguizamo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Infiltrator is established with useful clarity: A U.S. That direct approach lets The Infiltrator use its 2h 7m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ At story level, The Infiltrator

A Beautiful Planet arrives as a documentary directed by Toni Myers, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jennifer Lawrence and Samantha Cristoforetti give A Beautiful Planet a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in A Beautiful Planet comes into focus without a long explanation: An exploration of Earth and beyond as seen from the International Space Station. Across its 46m running time, Toni Myers keeps A Beauti