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What stands out first about Blindspotting is the confidence with which Carlos López Estrada establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Blindspotting asks Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Blindspotting is established with useful clarity: While on probation, a man begins to re evaluate his relationship with his volatile best friend. That direct approach lets Blindspotting use its 1h 35m runn

What stands out first about Gotti is the confidence with which Kevin Connolly establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Gotti asks John Travolta and Spencer Rocco Lofranco to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Gotti is established with useful clarity: The story of crime boss John Gotti and his son. That direct approach lets Gotti use its 1h 52m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠ What keeps Gotti

What stands out first about The Biggest Little Farm is the confidence with which John Chester establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Biggest Little Farm asks John Chester and Molly Chester to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Biggest Little Farm is established with useful clarity: Documentarian John Chester and his wife Molly work to develop a sustainable farm on 200 acres outside of Los Angeles. That dire

What stands out first about Brian Banks is the confidence with which Tom Shadyac establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Brian Banks asks Aldis Hodge and Greg Kinnear to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Brian Banks is established with useful clarity: A football player's dreams to play in the NFL are halted when he is wrongly convicted and sent to prison. That direct approach lets Brian Banks use its 1h 39m

What stands out first about Johnny English Strikes Again is the confidence with which David Kerr establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Johnny English Strikes Again asks Rowan Atkinson and Ben Miller to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Johnny English Strikes Again is established with useful clarity: After a cyber attack reveals the identity of all of the active undercover agents in Britain, Johnny English is forced to

What stands out first about Amazing Grace is the confidence with which Alan Elliott establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Amazing Grace asks Aretha Franklin and James Cleveland to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Amazing Grace is established with useful clarity: A documentary presenting Aretha Franklin with choir at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Watts, Los Angeles in January 1972. That direct approach lets Am

What stands out first about Cold War is the confidence with which Pawel Pawlikowski establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Cold War asks Joanna Kulig and Tomasz Kot to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Cold War is established with useful clarity: In the 1950s, a music director falls in love with a singer and tries to persuade her to flee communist Poland for France. That direct approach lets Cold War use its 1h 29m ru

What stands out first about Samson is the confidence with which Bruce Macdonald establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Samson asks Taylor James and Billy Zane to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Samson is established with useful clarity: After losing the love of his life to a cruel Philistine Prince, a young Hebrew with supernatural strength defends his people, sacrificing everything to avenge his love, his peopl

What stands out first about Gringo is the confidence with which Nash Edgerton establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Gringo asks Joel Edgerton and Charlize Theron to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Gringo is established with useful clarity: GRINGO, a dark comedy mixed with white knuckle action and dramatic intrigue, explores the battle of survival for businessman Harold Soyinka (David Oyelowo) when he finds himself c

What stands out first about Beirut is the confidence with which Brad Anderson establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Beirut asks Jon Hamm and Jay Potter to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Beirut is established with useful clarity: Caught in the crossfires of civil war, CIA operatives must send a former U.S. That direct approach lets Beirut use its 1h 49m running time for character, atmosphere and consequence. ⁠

What stands out first about Action Point is the confidence with which Tim Kirkby establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Action Point asks Johnny Knoxville and Eleanor Worthington Cox to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Action Point is established with useful clarity: A daredevil designs and operates his own theme park with his friends. That direct approach lets Action Point use its 1h 25m running time for character, a

What stands out first about Simmba is the confidence with which Rohit Shetty establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Simmba asks Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Simmba is established with useful clarity: Simmba enjoys all the perks of being an amoral and unethical police officer until a life changing event forces him to choose the righteous path. That direct approach lets Simmba