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Traffik
What stands out first about Traffik is the confidence with which Deon Taylor establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Traffik asks Priscilla Quintana and Luke Goss to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Traffik is established with useful clarity: A couple off for a romantic weekend in the mountains are accosted by a biker gang. That direct approach lets Traffik use its 1h 36m running time for character, atmosphere and
Aug 102 min read
Tully
What stands out first about Tully is the confidence with which Jason Reitman establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tully asks Charlize Theron and Mackenzie Davis to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tully is established with useful clarity: A struggling mother of three forms an unexpected bond with the night nanny hired to help with her newborn baby. That direct approach lets Tully use its 1h 35m running time for char
Aug 102 min read
Midnight Sun
What stands out first about Midnight Sun is the confidence with which Scott Speer establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Midnight Sun asks Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Midnight Sun is established with useful clarity: A 17 year old girl suffers from a condition that prevents her from being out in the sunlight. That direct approach lets Midnight Sun use its 1h 31m running
Aug 103 min read
Hotel Mumbai
What stands out first about Hotel Mumbai is the confidence with which Anthony Maras establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hotel Mumbai asks Dev Patel and Armie Hammer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hotel Mumbai is established with useful clarity: The true story of the Taj Hotel terrorist attack in Mumbai. That direct approach lets Hotel Mumbai use its 2h 3m running time for character, atmosphere and consequ
Aug 103 min read
The Miracle Season
What stands out first about The Miracle Season is the confidence with which Sean McNamara establishes its sports drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Miracle Season asks Helen Hunt and Erin Moriarty to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Miracle Season is established with useful clarity: After the tragic death of star volleyball player Caroline "Line" Found, a team of dispirited high school girls must band together under the gu
Aug 103 min read
Greta
What stands out first about Greta is the confidence with which Neil Jordan establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Greta asks Isabelle Huppert and Chloë Grace Moretz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Greta is established with useful clarity: A young woman befriends a lonely widow who's harboring a dark and deadly agenda toward her. That direct approach lets Greta use its 1h 38m running time for character, atmosphere
Aug 103 min read
Welcome to Marwen
What stands out first about Welcome to Marwen is the confidence with which Robert Zemeckis establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Welcome to Marwen asks Steve Carell and Falk Hentschel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Welcome to Marwen is established with useful clarity: A victim of a brutal attack finds a unique and beautiful therapeutic outlet to help him through his recovery process. That direct approach lets We
Aug 103 min read
Hell Fest
What stands out first about Hell Fest is the confidence with which Gregory Plotkin establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Hell Fest asks Cynthea Mercado and Stephen Conroy to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Hell Fest is established with useful clarity: A masked serial killer turns a horror themed amusement park into his own personal playground, terrorizing a group of friends while the rest of the patrons believe
Aug 103 min read
The Old Man & the Gun
What stands out first about The Old Man & the Gun is the confidence with which David Lowery establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Old Man & the Gun asks Robert Redford and Casey Affleck to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Old Man & the Gun is established with useful clarity: Based on the true story of Forrest Tucker and his audacious escape from San Quentin at the age of 70 to an unprecedented string of heist
Aug 103 min read
Padmaavat
What stands out first about Padmaavat is the confidence with which Sanjay Leela Bhansali establishes its historical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Padmaavat asks Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Padmaavat is established with useful clarity: Set in medieval Rajasthan, Queen Padmavati is married to a noble king and they live in a prosperous fortress with their subjects until an ambitious Sul
Aug 103 min read
Upgrade
What stands out first about Upgrade is the confidence with which Leigh Whannell establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Upgrade asks Logan Marshall Green and Melanie Vallejo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Upgrade is established with useful clarity: Set in the near future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. That direct approach lets Upgrade use its 1h 40m running time for character, atmosphere and
Aug 102 min read
Three Identical Strangers
What stands out first about Three Identical Strangers is the confidence with which Tim Wardle establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Three Identical Strangers asks Robert Shafran and Michael Domnitz to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Three Identical Strangers is established with useful clarity: In 1980 New York, three young men who were all adopted meet each other and find out they're triplets who were separated
Aug 103 min read
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