All Articles

What stands out first about Mandy is the confidence with which Panos Cosmatos establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mandy asks Nicolas Cage and Andrea Riseborough to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mandy is established with useful clarity: The enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, su

What stands out first about The Seagull is the confidence with which Michael Mayer establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Seagull asks Annette Bening and Corey Stoll to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Seagull is established with useful clarity: In the early twentieth century, an aging actress and her lover visit the estate of her elderly brother. That direct approach lets The Seagull use its 1h 38m running ti

What stands out first about McQueen is the confidence with which Ian Bonhôte establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, McQueen asks Alexander McQueen and Joyce McQueen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of McQueen is established with useful clarity: The life and career of fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen: from his start as a tailor, to launching and overseeing his eponymous line and his untimely death. That dire

What stands out first about Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion is the confidence with which Alexandre Astier establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion asks Bernard Alane and Christian Clavier to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion is established with useful clarity: Asterix and Obelix help Getafix search for a young druid worthy

What stands out first about Never Look Away is the confidence with which Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Never Look Away asks Tom Schilling and Sebastian Koch to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Never Look Away is established with useful clarity: German artist Kurt Barnert has escaped East Germany and now lives in West Germany, but is tormented by his childhood under the Nazis

What stands out first about Baaghi 2 is the confidence with which Ahmed Khan establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Baaghi 2 asks Jacqueline Fernandez and Disha Patani to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Baaghi 2 is established with useful clarity: A battle hardened army officer squares off against drug lords and Russian henchmen to save his ex lover's kidnapped daughter in the underbelly of Goa, India. That dire

What stands out first about 102 Not Out is the confidence with which Umesh Shukla establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, 102 Not Out asks Amitabh Bachchan and Vijay Raaz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of 102 Not Out is established with useful clarity: 102 Not Out is a 2018 comedy drama film, with legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan playing a 102 year old wanting to break the oldest man alive record. That direct approac

What stands out first about Little Women is the confidence with which Clare Niederpruem establishes its family film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Little Women asks Sarah Davenport and Lea Thompson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Little Women is established with useful clarity: Set in the 2000s with their father serving overseas as a war surgeon, four sisters living in Massachusetts come of age. That direct approach lets Little

What stands out first about El Chicano is the confidence with which Ben Hernandez Bray establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, El Chicano asks Logan Arevalo and Julian Bray to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of El Chicano is established with useful clarity: A pair of twin brothers from East L.A. That direct approach lets El Chicano use its 1h 48m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ What El Chic

What stands out first about Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot is the confidence with which Gus Van Sant establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot asks Joaquin Phoenix and Jonah Hill to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot is established with useful clarity: On the rocky path to sobriety after a life changing accident, John Callahan discovers the

What stands out first about Thugs of Hindostan is the confidence with which Vijay Krishna Acharya establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Thugs of Hindostan asks Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Thugs of Hindostan is established with useful clarity: Firangi, a small time thug, is recruited by the East India Company, who tells him to infiltrate their enemy, Azaad and his group of

What stands out first about Destroyer is the confidence with which Karyn Kusama establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Destroyer asks Nicole Kidman and Toby Kebbell to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Destroyer is established with useful clarity: A police detective reconnects with people from an undercover assignment in her distant past in order to make peace. That direct approach lets Destroyer use its 2h 1m run