Writing a Critical Film Review

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1st- Check Out a Few Sample Reviews by Roger Ebert

Now, a good film critique provides the reader with a basic idea of what the film is about. It provides the writer’s critical assessment of the success/failure or effectiveness/ineffectiveness of the film supported by the evidence the writer gathers from the film. It is more than a plot synopsis or the enthusiastic blurbs of publicity hype. For the writer, the critique is an opportunity to exhibit a critical awareness of the elements of the film as well as to share the delight and pleasure (or frustration and disappointment) the film offers the viewer.

The questions below are meant to stimulate thought about a film and to provide areas of concern you may wish to address in your critique. The list is by no means exhaustive.

Early in the critique it is desirable to sketch enough of the plot to give the reader an idea of what happens in the film. Do not try to recount everything—the key word here is sketch. If you provide only a plot summary, you are not writing a critique—you’re writing the equivalent of a book report.

Once you introduce the main characters and devote a few lines to the plot, thus giving the reader a good overview, get down to the job of convincing the reader that you have something interesting to say about the film—the plot is trivial, the hero is not really a hero, the plot and characters are fine but the camera work is needlessly tricky, or whatever else you decide your thesis to be.

Always use the present tense when writing your review and avoid words such as “great’’, “excellent” and the all-encompassing “really good”.

Questions to  take notes on as you watch the film-
Here are some basic, starting questions to ask yourself when writing your critique.

1) Is the film adapted from fiction or drama, or is it based on an original idea and screenplay? If it is an adaptation, does it follow the original and neglect the cinematic opportunities of the story? Or does it sacrifice the original work for unnecessary cinematic devices? If the story is original, how fresh or innovative is it?

2) Are the characters believable?

3) Are the actors appropriately cast?

4) What is the theme (main idea) of the film? Do the plot, acting, and other elements in the film successfully impart the theme to the viewer?

5) Is the setting/locale appropriate and effective?

6) Is the cinematography effective? Does the film make certain use of color, texture, lighting, etc. to enhance the theme, mood, setting?

7) Is the sound track effective? Is the music appropriate and functional, or is it inappropriate and obtrusive?

8) Are camera angles used effectively? Are they ever used for a particular effect?

9) Are there special effects (and/or special effects makeup) in the film? If so, are they essential to the plot? Are they handled skillfully? Do they serve a necessary function, or does the film sacrifice plot or characterization for the effects themselves?

10) Does the film make use of symbols or symbolism? What purpose do the symbols serve? Are they used effectively? How does the symbolism in the film contribute to or enhance the film’s overall theme?

Assignment: Write a 2 page critique discussing the strengths or weaknesses of the film viewed in class.  Remember to use specific examples from the film to support your opinions. Make sure to discuss the movie’s: 1, Themes  2. Character  and 3.Production qualities such as cinematography, production design, special effects etc. This is to be written as an analytical essay with a minimum of five paragraphs.

The Typical Structure Looks Like:

1. Title – catchy, can indicate if review will be positive or negative, you can play with words to make it funny or different
2. Paragraph 1 – Opening paragraph – can start to summarize film and give early suggestions about your general view of it (positive/negative) Start or continue summary of film, don’t give details about the ending or else no one will go and see the film!!
3. Paragraph 2 – positive things you thought about the film, what did you like? Why? Use descriptive words, think about the story, setting, effects used, music used
4. Paragraph 3 – negative things you thought about the film, what didn’t you like? Why? Comment on the same type of things that you mentioned in paragraphs 3 and 4
5. Paragraph 4 – Characterization – talk about the characters, did you like them? Did the actors play them well? What was it about their portrayal that you liked or didn’t like? Other impressions of the characters, will certain audience members be able to relate to certain characters? How? Will certain audience members not like certain characters? Why not?
6. Paragraph 5 – Final comments – general comments that summarize your view of the film, you may want to say something inspiring to get the reader to want to go out and see the film or you might say something that would want them not to go and see it! After the paragraph you would give it a star rating out of 5 to indicate your rating for it.
 
Common words and phrases used in film reviews that you might want to use in your own reviews;
spectacular visual effects, excessive violence, breathtaking, evocative, mood, atmosphere, poorly, unsuccessful, detail, scenery, irresistible, perfect, moments, plot, this movie has been compared to ____ because, wonderful, hilarious, momentum, unexpected plot twists, unbelievable, phenomenal, hype, suspense, disappointing, confusion/confused, fake, imitation, genre, unoriginal, typical, thrilled, was a very moving portrayal, quality of the film, I was impressed by, credible, cliché, a mixture of, classic, captivating