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An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
What stands out first about An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is the confidence with which Bonni Cohen establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power asks Al Gore and Cory Booker to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is established with useful clarity: A decade after An Inconvenient Truth (2006) brought climate change to the heart of popular
Aug 103 min read
Disobedience
What stands out first about Disobedience is the confidence with which Sebastián Lelio establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Disobedience asks Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Disobedience is established with useful clarity: A woman returns to her Orthodox Jewish community that shunned her for her attraction to a female childhood friend. That direct approach lets Disobedience use its
Aug 102 min read
Phoenix Forgotten
What stands out first about Phoenix Forgotten is the confidence with which Justin Barber establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Phoenix Forgotten asks Florence Hartigan and Luke Spencer Roberts to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Phoenix Forgotten is established with useful clarity: Two decades after three teenagers disappeared in the wake of mysterious lights appearing above Phoenix, Arizona, unseen footage from
Aug 103 min read
Table 19
What stands out first about Table 19 is the confidence with which Jeffrey Blitz establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Table 19 asks Anna Kendrick and Lisa Kudrow to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Table 19 is established with useful clarity: Eloise, having been relieved of maid of honor duties after being unceremoniously dumped by the best man via text, decides to attend the wedding anyway, only to find herself seat
Aug 103 min read
The Hero
What stands out first about The Hero is the confidence with which Brett Haley establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Hero asks Sam Elliott and Laura Prepon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Hero is established with useful clarity: An ailing movie star comes to terms with his past and mortality. That direct approach lets The Hero use its 1h 36m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. The He
Aug 103 min read
Stronger
What stands out first about Stronger is the confidence with which David Gordon Green establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Stronger asks Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Stronger is established with useful clarity: Stronger is the inspiring real life story of Jeff Bauman, an ordinary man who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become a symbol of hope aft
Aug 103 min read
The Book of Henry
What stands out first about The Book of Henry is the confidence with which Colin Trevorrow establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Book of Henry asks Naomi Watts and Jaeden Martell to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Book of Henry is established with useful clarity: With instructions from her genius son's carefully crafted notebook, a single mother sets out to rescue a young girl from the hands of her abusive
Aug 103 min read
Tiger Zinda Hai
What stands out first about Tiger Zinda Hai is the confidence with which Ali Abbas Zafar establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tiger Zinda Hai asks Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tiger Zinda Hai is established with useful clarity: RAW Agent Tiger joins forces with Zoya in order to rescue a group of nurses who are held hostage by a terrorist organisation. That direct approach let
Aug 103 min read
The Man Who Invented Christmas
What stands out first about The Man Who Invented Christmas is the confidence with which Bharat Nalluri establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Man Who Invented Christmas asks Dan Stevens and Mark Schrier to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Man Who Invented Christmas is established with useful clarity: The journey that led to Charles Dickens' creation of "A Christmas Carol," a timeless tale that would redefine C
Aug 103 min read
Suburbicon
What stands out first about Suburbicon is the confidence with which George Clooney establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Suburbicon asks Matt Damon and Julianne Moore to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Suburbicon is established with useful clarity: As a 1950s suburban community self destructs, a home invasion has sinister consequences for one seemingly normal family. That direct approach lets Suburbicon use its 1h 4
Aug 102 min read
All Saints
What stands out first about All Saints is the confidence with which Steve Gomer establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, All Saints asks John Corbett and Cara Buono to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of All Saints is established with useful clarity: When a group of Burmese refugees join the congregation, the pastor of a failing Anglican church attempts to aid them by planting crops and enlisting the help of the community.
Aug 103 min read
The Florida Project
What stands out first about The Florida Project is the confidence with which Sean Baker establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Florida Project asks Brooklynn Prince and Bria Vinaite to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Florida Project is established with useful clarity: A single mother and the manager of a roadside motel do their utmost to maintain the innocence of a six year old girl's life. That direct approac
Aug 103 min read
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