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What stands out first about A Taxi Driver is the confidence with which Hun Jang establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Taxi Driver asks Song Kang ho and Thomas Kretschmann to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Taxi Driver is established with useful clarity: A widowed father and taxi driver who drives a German reporter from Seoul to Gwangju to cover the 1980 uprising, soon finds himself regretting his decision a

What stands out first about Genesis: Paradise Lost is the confidence with which Ralph Strean establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Genesis: Paradise Lost asks Voddie Baucham Jr. and Andrew J. Fabich to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Genesis: Paradise Lost is established with useful clarity: If there is one part of the Bible that has undergone more scrutiny and abuse than any other, it is the very beginning GEN

What stands out first about The Stray is the confidence with which Mitch Davis establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Stray asks Michael Cassidy and Sarah Lancaster to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Stray is established with useful clarity: A young father takes his nine year old son, the family dog, and two of his son's friends backpacking in the mountains of Colorado only for all five of them to be str

What stands out first about Professor Marston & the Wonder Women is the confidence with which Angela Robinson establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Professor Marston & the Wonder Women asks Luke Evans and Rebecca Hall to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Professor Marston & the Wonder Women is established with useful clarity: The story of psychologist William Moulton Marston, and his polyamorous relationsh

What stands out first about The Bookshop is the confidence with which Isabel Coixet establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Bookshop asks Emily Mortimer and Bill Nighy to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Bookshop is established with useful clarity: England 1959. That direct approach lets The Bookshop use its 1h 53m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ As director of The Bookshop, Isabel Coix

What stands out first about A Ghost Story is the confidence with which David Lowery establishes its mystery identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Ghost Story asks Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Ghost Story is established with useful clarity: In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to

What stands out first about The Little Hours is the confidence with which Jeff Baena establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Little Hours asks Alison Brie and Dave Franco to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Little Hours is established with useful clarity: In the Middle Ages, a young servant fleeing from his master takes refuge at a convent full of emotionally unstable nuns. That direct approach lets The Little

What stands out first about Jolly LLB 2 is the confidence with which Subhash Kapoor establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jolly LLB 2 asks Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jolly LLB 2 is established with useful clarity: Jolly is a clumsy lawyer who is faced with representing the most critical court case of his career. That direct approach lets Jolly LLB 2 use its 2h 17m running time f

What stands out first about Jab Harry Met Sejal is the confidence with which Imtiaz Ali establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jab Harry Met Sejal asks Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jab Harry Met Sejal is established with useful clarity: A depressed middle aged tour guide who lives in his own bubble gets another chance to experience and face reality through a chirpy girl. That d

What stands out first about Slamma Jamma is the confidence with which Timothy A. Chey establishes its sports drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Slamma Jamma asks Chris Staples and Michael Irvin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Slamma Jamma is established with useful clarity: Wrongfully accused and sent to prison, a former basketball star prepares for the national slam dunk competition while finding redemption in Christ and in t

What stands out first about Menashe is the confidence with which Joshua Z Weinstein establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Menashe asks Menashe Lustig and Anna Gansburg Nahmani to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Menashe is established with useful clarity: Within Brooklyn's ultra orthodox Jewish community, a widower battles for custody of his son. That direct approach lets Menashe use its 1h 22m running time for charac

What stands out first about Jane is the confidence with which Brett Morgen establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jane asks Jane Goodall and Hugo Van Lawick to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jane is established with useful clarity: The life and work of the renowned primatology scientist, Jane Goodall, especially on her research about chimpanzees. That direct approach lets Jane use its 1h 30m running time for ch