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Film Reviews

What Is a Film Review?

You may have seen film reviews on websites like rottentomatoes.com or heard of famous film reviewers like Roger Ebert (pictured here).

A film review is written to share the author’s perspective on a particular film.  Successful film reviewers can persuade their audience to either to see or to avoid a particular film.

Elements of a Film Review

Regardless of the organization of a film review, most film reviews include the following details:

• Information about the Director
• director’s name
• other films he or she has directed that were noteworthy successes or failures
• the director’s goal of the film (e.g. overall feel, audience reaction, social commentary)
• the success of the director in achieving these goals
  
  
• Review of the Film
• a brief plot summary.
• evidence from the film (quoted lines of dialogue or specific events) to support your claim about the director’s success (or lack thereof).
• the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of the cinematography, soundtrack, and lighting choices
• the actors who play important roles in the film, and if they are believable or effective in their roles
  
  
• Recommendations
• recommendation if people should see it or not, and evidence for the recommendation.