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The Trip to Greece
What stands out first about The Trip to Greece is the confidence with which Michael Winterbottom establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Trip to Greece asks Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Trip to Greece is established with useful clarity: Actors Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan travel from Troy to Ithaca following in the footsteps of the Odysseus. That direct approach lets The Trip t
Aug 103 min read
Enemies of the State
What stands out first about Enemies of the State is the confidence with which Sonia Kennebeck establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Enemies of the State asks Joel Widman and Stuart Anderson to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Enemies of the State is established with useful clarity: An American family becomes entangled in a bizarre web of secrets and lies when their hacker son is targeted by the U.S. That direct
Aug 103 min read
Kindred
What stands out first about Kindred is the confidence with which Joe Marcantonio establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Kindred asks Tamara Lawrance and Edward Holcroft to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Kindred is established with useful clarity: Plagued by mysterious hallucinations, a pregnant woman suspects that the family of her deceased boyfriend has intentions for her unborn child. That direct approach let
Aug 102 min read
Stardust
What stands out first about Stardust is the confidence with which Gabriel Range establishes its biographical drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Stardust asks Johnny Flynn and Marc Maron to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Stardust is established with useful clarity: Chronicles the young David Bowie's first visit to the US in 1971 a trip that inspired the invention of his iconic alter ego Ziggy Stardust. That direct approach lets S
Aug 103 min read
Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D-Man in the Waters
What stands out first about Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D Man in the Waters is the confidence with which Tom Hurwitz establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D Man in the Waters asks Arthur Aviles and Johari Briggs to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Can You Bring It: Bill T. Jones and D Man in the Waters is established with useful clarity: Can You Bring It: Bill T. That
Aug 103 min read
Coded Bias
What stands out first about Coded Bias is the confidence with which Shalini Kantayya establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Coded Bias asks Joy Buolamwini and Meredith Broussard to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Coded Bias is established with useful clarity: When MIT Media Lab researcher Joy Buolamwini discovers that facial recognition does not see dark skinned faces accurately, she embarks on a journey to push
Aug 103 min read
Little Girl
What stands out first about Little Girl is the confidence with which Sébastien Lifshitz establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Little Girl asks the lead performer and the principal supporting performer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Little Girl is established with useful clarity: The touching portrait of eight year old Sasha, who questions her gender and in doing so, evokes the sometimes disturbing reactions
Aug 103 min read
About Hope
What stands out first about About Hope is the confidence with which David D. Dietrich establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, About Hope asks Justin Ray and Christine Juarbe to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of About Hope is established with useful clarity: Thomas McKenzie has been searching for the perfect girl his whole life. That direct approach lets About Hope use its 1h 31m running time for character, atmosphere an
Aug 103 min read
Powerbomb
What stands out first about Powerbomb is the confidence with which R. Zachary Shildwachter establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Powerbomb asks Britt Baker and Roni Jonah to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Powerbomb is established with useful clarity: Powerbomb is the story of an independent wrestler on the verge of breaking into the big time, but he's contemplating leaving it all behind to spend more time with hi
Aug 102 min read
Minyan
What stands out first about Minyan is the confidence with which Eric Steel establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Minyan asks Samuel H. Levine and Ron Rifkin to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Minyan is established with useful clarity: A young Jewish man is caught between thrilling private trysts and his repressive family in this thoughtful drama set in 1980s Brooklyn. That direct approach lets Minyan use its 1h 58m r
Aug 103 min read
Twiceborn
What stands out first about Twiceborn is the confidence with which Hiroshi Akabane establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Twiceborn asks Hiroaki Tanaka and Fumika Shimizu to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Twiceborn is established with useful clarity: Follows Satoru, a successful businessman who relinquishes everything to pursue his true calling: the happiness of humankind. That direct approach lets Twiceborn use its
Aug 102 min read
Sweat
What stands out first about Sweat is the confidence with which Magnus von Horn establishes its drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Sweat asks Magdalena Kolesnik and Julian Swiezewski to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Sweat is established with useful clarity: Three days in the life of fitness motivator Sylwia Zajac, a social media celebrity surrounded by loyal employees and admirers, who is really looking for true intimacy. That d
Aug 103 min read
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