All Articles

What stands out first about Operation Red Sea is the confidence with which Dante Lam establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Operation Red Sea asks Yi Zhang and Johnny Huang to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Operation Red Sea is established with useful clarity: PLA Navy Marine Corps launch a hostage rescue operation in the fictional Republic of Ihwea and undergo a fierce battle with rebellions and terrorism. Tha

What stands out first about Red Joan is the confidence with which Trevor Nunn establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Red Joan asks Judi Dench and Sophie Cookson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Red Joan is established with useful clarity: The story of Joan Stanley, who was exposed as the K.G.B.'s longest serving British spy. That direct approach lets Red Joan use its 1h 41m running time for character, atmosphere

What stands out first about A Private War is the confidence with which Matthew Heineman establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, A Private War asks Rosamund Pike and Alexandra Moen to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of A Private War is established with useful clarity: One of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, Marie Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the frontline of

What stands out first about Wild Rose is the confidence with which Tom Harper establishes its music drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Wild Rose asks Jessie Buckley and Matt Costello to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Wild Rose is established with useful clarity: A troubled young Glaswegian woman dreams of becoming a Nashville country star. That direct approach lets Wild Rose use its 1h 41m running time for character, atmosphere

What stands out first about Capernaum is the confidence with which Nadine Labaki establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Capernaum asks Zain Al Rafeea and Yordanos Shiferaw to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Capernaum is established with useful clarity: While serving a five year sentence for a violent crime, a 12 year old boy sues his parents for neglect. That direct approach lets Capernaum use its 2h 6m running time f

What stands out first about Pad Man is the confidence with which R Balki establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Pad Man asks Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Pad Man is established with useful clarity: Upon realizing the extent to which women are affected by their menses, a man sets out to create a sanitary pad machine and to provide inexpensive sanitary pads to the women of rural Indi

What stands out first about Race 3 is the confidence with which Remo D'Souza establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Race 3 asks Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Race 3 is established with useful clarity: Relationships and loyalties of a criminal family planning its next big heist are tested when some shocking revelations strike them. That direct approach lets Race 3 use its 2h 40m r

What stands out first about Profile is the confidence with which Timur Bekmambetov establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Profile asks Valene Kane and Morgan Watkins to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Profile is established with useful clarity: An undercover British journalist infiltrates the online propaganda channels of the so called Islamic State, only to be sucked in by her recruiter. That direct approach lets

What stands out first about Moses is the confidence with which Rodney Coe establishes its feature film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Moses asks Rodney Coe and Jay Poff to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Moses is established with useful clarity: He's an unlikely hero, exiled and insecure until God calls him to free the Israelites. That direct approach lets Moses use its 2h 10m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence.

What stands out first about The White Crow is the confidence with which Ralph Fiennes establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The White Crow asks Oleg Ivenko and Ralph Fiennes to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The White Crow is established with useful clarity: The story of Rudolf Nureyev's defection to the West. That direct approach lets The White Crow use its 2h 7m running time for character, atmosphere

What stands out first about Racetime is the confidence with which Benoît Godbout establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Racetime asks Hélène Bourgeois Leclerc and Mehdi Bousaidan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Racetime is established with useful clarity: A suspicious newcomer challenges Frankie Four Eyes to a spectacular sled race. That direct approach lets Racetime use its 1h 29m running time for cha

What stands out first about Detective Chinatown 2 is the confidence with which Sicheng Chen establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Detective Chinatown 2 asks Haoran Liu and Baoqiang Wang to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Detective Chinatown 2 is established with useful clarity: Tang and Qin team up to solve a murder in New York's Chinatown. That direct approach lets Detective Chinatown 2 use its 2h 1m running time f