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What stands out first about Benedetta is the confidence with which Paul Verhoeven establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Benedetta asks Virginie Efira and Charlotte Rampling to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Benedetta is established with useful clarity: A 17th century nun in Italy suffers from disturbing religious and erotic visions. That direct approach lets Benedetta use its 2h 11m running time for character, atm

What stands out first about The Good Boss is the confidence with which Fernando León de Aranoa establishes its comedy identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Good Boss asks Javier Bardem and Manolo Solo to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Good Boss is established with useful clarity: Awaiting a visit by a committee that could give his company an award for excellence, the owner of an industrial scales manufacturing business tries to r

What stands out first about Raging Fire is the confidence with which Benny Chan establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Raging Fire asks Donnie Yen and Simon Yam to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Raging Fire is established with useful clarity: Bong is a hardline cop with a long history of success, but his past comes back to haunt him when a sting is attacked by a group led by his former protégé as the central co

What stands out first about Julia is the confidence with which Julie Cohen establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Julia asks José Andrés and Paul Bogaards to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Julia is established with useful clarity: Julia tells the story of the legendary cookbook author and television superstar who changed the way Americans think about food, television, and even about women. That direct approach

What stands out first about Dutch is the confidence with which Preston A. Whitmore II establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Dutch asks Tamera Kissen and Tyrin Turner to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Dutch is established with useful clarity: For Dutch, survival is the ultimate score, and power is the deadliest high of all. That direct approach lets Dutch use its 1h 49m running time for character, atmosphere an

What stands out first about Crisis is the confidence with which Nicholas Jarecki establishes its thriller identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Crisis asks Gary Oldman and Armie Hammer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Crisis is established with useful clarity: Set against the backdrop of the opioid epidemic, stories of an undercover cop, a professor and a grieving mother collide. That direct approach lets Crisis use its 1h 58m running t

What stands out first about Emergency Declaration is the confidence with which Han Jae rim establishes its action film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Emergency Declaration asks Song Kang ho and Lee Byung hun to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Emergency Declaration is established with useful clarity: After a terror incident occurs mid flight, a passenger jet declares an emergency. That direct approach lets Emergency Declaration use

What stands out first about Willy's Wonderland is the confidence with which Kevin Lewis establishes its horror film identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Willy's Wonderland asks Nicolas Cage and Emily Tosta to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Willy's Wonderland is established with useful clarity: A quiet drifter is tricked into a janitorial job at the now condemned Willy's Wonderland. That direct approach lets Willy's Wonderland use its 1h

What stands out first about Flag Day is the confidence with which Sean Penn establishes its crime drama identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Flag Day asks Mitchell McCormick and Tom Anniko to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Flag Day is established with useful clarity: A father lives a double life as a counterfeiter, bank robber and con man in order to provide for his daughter. That direct approach lets Flag Day use its 1h 49m running tim

What stands out first about Eiffel is the confidence with which Martin Bourboulon establishes its romance identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Eiffel asks Romain Duris and Emma Mackey to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Eiffel is established with useful clarity: The government is asking Eiffel to design something spectacular for the 1889 Paris World Fair, but Eiffel simply wants to design the subway. That direct approach lets Eiffel use i

What stands out first about The Lost Leonardo is the confidence with which Andreas Koefoed establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, The Lost Leonardo asks Doug Patteson and Mohammad Bin Salman to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of The Lost Leonardo is established with useful clarity: The mystery surrounding the Salvator Mundi, the first painting by Leonardo da Vinci to be discovered for more than a century, which has

What stands out first about Vivo is the confidence with which Jorge Pareja Trigo establishes its documentary identity. Rather than relying on premise alone, Vivo asks the lead performer and the principal supporting performer to supply personality from the opening stretch. The premise of Vivo is established with useful clarity: What would happen if you met someone who has the power to change your entire life and destiny. That direct approach lets Vivo use its 1h 20m running ti