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What stands out first about The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2019: Documentary is the confidence with which the directing team establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2019: Documentary asks the lead performer and the principal supporting performer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Oscar Nominated Short Films 2019: Documentary is established with useful clarity: The 2019 Oscar n

What stands out first about Mission Mangal is the confidence with which Jagan Shakti establishes its historical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Mission Mangal asks Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Mission Mangal is established with useful clarity: Based on true events of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launching the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan), making it the least

What stands out first about Ne Zha is the confidence with which Yu Yang establishes its animated adventure identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ne Zha asks Yanting Lü and Joseph to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ne Zha is established with useful clarity: Born with unique powers, a boy is recruited to fight demons and save the community that fears him. That direct approach lets Ne Zha use its 1h 50m running time for character, atmosphere

What stands out first about Portrait of a Lady on Fire is the confidence with which Céline Sciamma establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Portrait of a Lady on Fire asks Noémie Merlant and Adèle Haenel to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Portrait of a Lady on Fire is established with useful clarity: On an isolated island in Brittany at the end of the eighteenth century, a female painter is obliged to paint a wedding

What stands out first about Ip Man 4: The Finale is the confidence with which Wilson Yip establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Ip Man 4: The Finale asks Donnie Yen and Scott Adkins to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Ip Man 4: The Finale is established with useful clarity: The Kung Fu master travels to the U.S. That direct approach lets Ip Man 4: The Finale use its 1h 47m running time for character, atmosphere a

What stands out first about Infidel is the confidence with which Cyrus Nowrasteh establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Infidel asks Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Infidel is established with useful clarity: An American man (Jim Caviezel) is kidnapped after a friend invites him to Cairo to speak out about recent militant uprisings. That direct approach lets Infidel use its 1h

What stands out first about Uri: The Surgical Strike is the confidence with which Aditya Dhar establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Uri: The Surgical Strike asks Vicky Kaushal and Paresh Rawal to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Uri: The Surgical Strike is established with useful clarity: Indian army special forces execute a covert operation, avenging the killing of fellow army men at their base by a terrorist g

What stands out first about Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice is the confidence with which Rob Epstein establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice asks Linda Ronstadt and Bonnie Raitt to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice is established with useful clarity: With one of the most memorably stunning voices that has ever hit the airwaves, Linda

What stands out first about The Last Black Man in San Francisco is the confidence with which Joe Talbot establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Last Black Man in San Francisco asks Jimmie Fails and Jonathan Majors to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Last Black Man in San Francisco is established with useful clarity: A young man searches for home in the changing city that seems to have left him behind. That direc

What stands out first about Tolkien is the confidence with which Dome Karukoski establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Tolkien asks Nicholas Hoult and Lily Collins to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Tolkien is established with useful clarity: Tolkien's novels were inspired by his mom's storytelling, falling in love with another orphan, Edith, forming a brotherhood with 3 other misfits at school, the trench war of WW

What stands out first about Pain and Glory is the confidence with which Pedro Almodóvar establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Pain and Glory asks Antonio Banderas and Asier Etxeandia to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Pain and Glory is established with useful clarity: A film director reflects on the choices he's made in life as the past and present come crashing down around him. That direct approach lets Pain and Glo

What stands out first about Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is the confidence with which Kevin Smith establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot asks Joey Lauren Adams and Ben Affleck to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Jay and Silent Bob Reboot is established with useful clarity: Jay and Silent Bob inadvertently sign away their names and rights to the new Bluntman and Chronic movie. That direct approac