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Revive Us 2
What stands out first about Revive Us 2 is the confidence with which Kirk Cameron establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Revive Us 2 asks Kirk Cameron and Ben Carson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Revive Us 2 is established with useful clarity: Kirk Cameron hosts a "family meeting" to discuss unity in a time when political, racial, economic, and religious tensions are increasing every day. That direct approa
Aug 103 min read
May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers
What stands out first about May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers is the confidence with which Judd Apatow establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers asks The Avett Brothers and Scott Avett to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of May it Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers is established with useful clarity: An intimate documentary following acclaimed North Carolina
Aug 103 min read
Walk With Me
What stands out first about Walk With Me is the confidence with which Marc J. Francis establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Walk With Me asks Benedict Cumberbatch and Thich Nhát Hanh to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Walk With Me is established with useful clarity: 'Walk With Me' is a meditative film about a community of Zen Buddhist monks and nuns who have dedicated their lives to mastering the art of mindful
Aug 103 min read
On Chesil Beach
What stands out first about On Chesil Beach is the confidence with which Dominic Cooke establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, On Chesil Beach asks Billy Howle and Saoirse Ronan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of On Chesil Beach is established with useful clarity: In 1962 England, a young couple find their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful
Aug 103 min read
The Party
What stands out first about The Party is the confidence with which Sally Potter establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Party asks Timothy Spall and Kristin Scott Thomas to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Party is established with useful clarity: Janet hosts a party to celebrate her new promotion, but once the guests arrive, it becomes clear that not everything will be going down as smoothly as the red wine. T
Aug 103 min read
Mubarakan
What stands out first about Mubarakan is the confidence with which Anees Bazmee establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mubarakan asks Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mubarakan is established with useful clarity: Singleton Kartar Singh is left with the responsibility of raising his 2 orphaned nephews. That direct approach lets Mubarakan use its 2h 36m running time for character, atmosph
Aug 102 min read
Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House
What stands out first about Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House is the confidence with which Peter Landesman establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House asks Liam Neeson and Diane Lane to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House is established with useful clarity: The story of Mark Felt, who under the name "Dee
Aug 103 min read
Patti Cake$
What stands out first about Patti Cake$ is the confidence with which Geremy Jasper establishes its music drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Patti Cake$ asks Danielle Macdonald and Sahr Ngaujah to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Patti Cake$ is established with useful clarity: PATTI CAKE$ is centered on aspiring rapper Patricia Dombrowski, a.k.a. That direct approach lets Patti Cake$ use its 1h 49m running time for character, atmos
Aug 103 min read
Beast
What stands out first about Beast is the confidence with which Michael Pearce establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Beast asks Jessie Buckley and Geraldine James to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Beast is established with useful clarity: A troubled woman living in an isolated community finds herself pulled between the control of her oppressive family and the allure of a secretive outsider suspected of a series of
Aug 102 min read
Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story
What stands out first about Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is the confidence with which Alexandra Dean establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story asks Hedy Lamarr and Mel Brooks to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is established with useful clarity: The life and career of the hailed Hollywood movie star and underappreciated genius inventor, Hedy Lama
Aug 103 min read
The Ex-File 3: Return of the Exes
What stands out first about The Ex File 3: Return of the Exes is the confidence with which Yusheng Tian establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Ex File 3: Return of the Exes asks Geng Han and Ryan Zheng to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Ex File 3: Return of the Exes is established with useful clarity: A couples relationship is tested by the untimely appearances of their exes. That direct approach lets The Ex
Aug 103 min read
Jagga Jasoos
What stands out first about Jagga Jasoos is the confidence with which Anurag Basu establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jagga Jasoos asks Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jagga Jasoos is established with useful clarity: Join Jagga, a gifted teenage detective, who along with a female companion, is on a quest to find his missing father. That direct approach lets Jagga Jasoos use its 2h
Aug 103 min read
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