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3 Idiots
What stands out first about 3 Idiots is the confidence with which Rajkumar Hirani establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 3 Idiots asks Martha Higareda and Alfonso Dosal to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 3 Idiots is established with useful clarity: A group of friends embark on a fun adventure determined to find a college roommate who disappeared without a trace on graduation day. That direct approach lets 3 Idiots us
Aug 103 min read
Chonda Pierce: Enough
What stands out first about Chonda Pierce: Enough is the confidence with which Rick Altizer establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Chonda Pierce: Enough asks Chonda Pierce and the principal supporting performer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Chonda Pierce: Enough is established with useful clarity: Stand up comedian Chonda Pierce, known as the "Queen of Clean", continues to share her emotional journey and st
Aug 103 min read
Maria By Callas
What stands out first about Maria By Callas is the confidence with which Tom Volf establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Maria By Callas asks Fanny Ardant and Joyce DiDonato to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Maria By Callas is established with useful clarity: An intimate look at the life and work of Greek American opera singer Maria Callas, as told in her own words. That direct approach lets Maria By Callas use
Aug 103 min read
The Sense of an Ending
What stands out first about The Sense of an Ending is the confidence with which Ritesh Batra establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Sense of an Ending asks Jim Broadbent and Charlotte Rampling to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Sense of an Ending is established with useful clarity: A man becomes haunted by his past and is presented with a mysterious legacy that causes him to re think his current situation in
Aug 103 min read
Churchill
What stands out first about Churchill is the confidence with which Jonathan Teplitzky establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Churchill asks Brian Cox and Miranda Richardson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Churchill is established with useful clarity: Ninety six hours before the World War II invasion of Normandy, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill struggles with his severe reservations with Operat
Aug 103 min read
The Dinner
What stands out first about The Dinner is the confidence with which Oren Moverman establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Dinner asks Michael Chernus and Taylor Rae Almonte Roman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Dinner is established with useful clarity: Two sets of wealthy parents meet for dinner to decide what to do about a crime their sons have committed. That direct approach lets The Dinner use its 2h
Aug 103 min read
My Friend Dahmer
What stands out first about My Friend Dahmer is the confidence with which Marc Meyers establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, My Friend Dahmer asks Ross Lynch and Alex Wolff to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of My Friend Dahmer is established with useful clarity: A young Jeffrey Dahmer struggles to belong in high school. That direct approach lets My Friend Dahmer use its 1h 47m running time for character, atmospher
Aug 103 min read
Wonder Wheel
What stands out first about Wonder Wheel is the confidence with which Woody Allen establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Wonder Wheel asks Justin Timberlake and Juno Temple to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Wonder Wheel is established with useful clarity: On Coney Island in the 1950s, a lifeguard tells the story of a middle aged carousel operator, his beleaguered wife and the visitor who turns their lives upside do
Aug 103 min read
Finding Your Feet
What stands out first about Finding Your Feet is the confidence with which Richard Loncraine establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Finding Your Feet asks Imelda Staunton and Celia Imrie to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Finding Your Feet is established with useful clarity: On the eve of retirement a middle class, judgmental snob discovers her husband has been having an affair with her best friend and is forced into
Aug 103 min read
Judwaa 2
What stands out first about Judwaa 2 is the confidence with which David Dhawan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Judwaa 2 asks Varun Dhawan and Jacqueline Fernandez to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Judwaa 2 is established with useful clarity: Prem and Raja are twin brothers who are seperated at birth but are uniquely connected to eachother via their reflexes. That direct approach lets Judwaa 2 use its 2h 25m r
Aug 103 min read
The Square
What stands out first about The Square is the confidence with which Ruben Östlund establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Square asks Claes Bang and Elisabeth Moss to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Square is established with useful clarity: A prestigious Stockholm museum's chief art curator finds himself in times of both professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up a controversial new exhibit. Th
Aug 103 min read
Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale
What stands out first about Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale is the confidence with which Tomohiko Itô establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale asks Yoshitsugu Matsuoka and Haruka Tomatsu to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale is established with useful clarity: Kirito uncovers a conspiracy within Ordinal Scale, a popul
Aug 103 min read
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