essay on film review

Quick Guide on How to Write a Movie Review Essay

What Is a Movie Review

The internet has revolutionized the realm of film criticism. No matter a movie's level of quality, it is always worth analyzing. Despite the growing number of individuals attempting to write about movies, few are successful. Most people do not provide insightful analysis, instead simply state how much they liked or disliked the film.

A movie criticism, usually composed by a professional in film studies, takes a comprehensive look at the film from a historical, social, political, or theoretical standpoint. This is unlike the opinion or suggestion given in a movie review, which is shorter and more concise.

A remarkable aspect of a good film review is that it doesn't just rate the movie but provides explicit views that form the critique's basis. This form of writing, like crafting essays, research papers, and term papers, should be insightful and draw the reader in quickly. It's important to discuss the reputation of the lead actors and directors and to write about what you expected and if they were met. The reviewer must explain a story's development without recalling major plot points and endings. The review must be concise, engaging, and should involve metaphors, specific words, analogies, etc.

Movie Review Purpose

Most film reviews are intended to guide readers in deciding whether to view, rent, or purchase the film. They should provide the necessary information to aid readers in deciding without divulging any fundamental details, such as the storyline or any surprises. This paper is common in schools because the lecturer wants to evaluate the student's ability to think critically and report the event easily for others to understand.

Movie reviews typically present a brief summary of the film's storyline. They provide readers with an overview of the characters, relationships, and scenarios but do not convey the complete narrative. Perusing the review should be different from seeing the movie. Nonetheless, feel free to highlight the essential moments or pivotal points that make the film worthwhile viewing.

Our college essay writing service has put together some advice on composing a movie review essay like a real critic, so let's explore the article further!

How to Write a Movie Review: Movie Review Outline

The structure is key when it comes to the quality of your paper. Don't neglect the power of a good outline, no matter what paper you're writing. Outlines help you stay on track and make sure your paper flows well.

Taking the time to arrange your ideas before starting to write is an effective way to save time further down the line. With a well-structured plan already in place, you won't have to worry about other elements. This will also make the writing process less stressful. Here is a guide on how to organize your movie review outline:

How Do You Start a Movie Review Essay: Introduction

The introductory paragraph is the first obvious step in crafting a movie review essay outline. Here, you want to quickly captivate the reader. Deliver your viewpoint instantly and make it unambiguous. Don't leave the audience wondering whether you enjoyed the film. Tell them right off the bat so you have time to justify your assessment throughout the remainder of the process.

In the introduction movie review should also describe your thesis. Develop the main concept for your essay that you can support using your perceptions of the movie's various aspects. The reader should be able to tell from this statement if you thought the film was fantastic, awful, or simply alright. By including a thesis statement, you may move your analysis beyond the plot synopsis phase into the movie critique category, which is considered a separate creative process.

Crafting Your Essay Movie Review Analysis

According to our research paper service , film analysis is similar to building a case. You're attempting to influence the reader to follow your recommendation to watch or disregard the film. So, you must ensure your essay movie review will be convincing. Giving instances that demonstrate the validity of your personal opinion is the only method to do this. If you find any dialogue in the movie that you think best exemplifies whether the work is strong or not, utilize quotes. This also applies to all of the movie's artistic decisions. But, just because a movie's narrative isn't strong or engaging doesn't indicate the rest of the film is worthless. Carefully highlight how some factors might undermine the movie in your explanation.

The movie's plot is only one component and shouldn't dominate the overall piece. The following are the important aspects to include in your movie review structure:

Cinematography - Cinematography covers much more than simply camera angles. It includes how the picture is lit, how it moves, appears, and what lenses are used. Here you can try the following analysis: 'Warm, gentle colors are used throughout the film, combined with soothing whites and grays, to simultaneously create and gradually tear away the characters' romantic sentiments for one another. There is a painting-like quality to each image.'

Editing - The editing is arguably the absolute star of what creates a good movie review example. It affects both the duration and the flow of a movie. Without effective editing, there would be uncomfortable gaps between pictures and many errors.

Costuming - The clothing the characters wear is called a costume, but there are a number of things to consider while evaluating movie costumes. You should be able to decide if the outfits suit the characters and the movie's atmosphere.

Casting and Acting - Finding the ideal performers to bring characters to life is the goal of casting. This sometimes entails seeing performers portray both familiar personas and figures who are entirely at odds with who they are. Casting, therefore, involves more than just finding talented performers. You can assess the acting in the following way: 'Even though he excels while on the go, his stoic behaviorism causes him to fall short of his co-star during calm scenes where he keeps a blank look on his face.'

Once you have finished analyzing the acting, directing, cinematography, setting, etc., wrap up with concise, stimulating wording to sustain readers' attention. Don't forget to provide a few examples to support your statements about the film.

Concluding Your Essay Movie Review

Finalize your review by coming full circle. Close the review by returning to your introductory fact or thesis. Give your readers a refresher on the movie's most intriguing aspects. It's important to remember that before choosing a movie, viewers check reviews. Finish with a statement indicating whether it is worthwhile for them to view. Be specific about who this movie will be more fascinating to and why in your suggestions. Remember that your ending is your last shot at influencing your audience, so use it wisely.

No matter the kind of movie review you have to complete, our professional specialists are willing to help you. Directly forward your needs to our research paper service and get it done quickly.

Need Help With MOVIE REVIEW WRITING?

No matter what type of movie review you want, our qualified specialists are ready to assist you.

Short Movie Review Form

If you are currently working on a new or old movie review, reading our suggestions should be sufficient to help you earn an A. So what if you'll be writing many reviews in the future? In this situation, we advise you to develop a uniform movie review template, which will enable you to save time and complete your upcoming projects successfully.

So, how to write a movie review template, you may ask? Well, our essay helper prepared a simple yet great movie review template you may use as a foundation for your own writing if you need some help getting started:

Example Papers

Once you know how to review a movie and learn the most valuable tips to handle this assignment, it is time to look at some movie review examples to get you on the right track.

Check out the following pieces to see which of these movie review essay examples you might want to keep at hand when working on your own assignment:

Helpful Tips on Writing Movie Reviews

Here are some extra helpful tips to keep in mind when unsure how to write a movie review essay:

• Add Your Own Personal Feel to Your Movie Critique - You might not have much spare time for your pastime of reviewing. You won't be able to write a movie review, though, if you just wing it without reading what others have said. Make a note of the things that intrigued you, alarmed you, made you uncomfortable, or caused you to pause and consider something, and then use that list as the basis for your research.
• Develop a Distinctive Writing Style - Have an idol—it's good for you. You must be careful not to just paraphrase and duplicate what they say without adding your own original viewpoint. Instead, in order to stand out from the throng, you must discover your own voice. When writing movie reviews, you should also have a distinct writing style.
• Include Extensive Information -Mention the film's photographer, special effects designer, and director. Your review might be significantly impacted by this. Then you may list all the memorable movie moments that also stuck with you.
• Voice Your Views and Back Up Your Criticism - Give your own assessment of the film. Make sure you have evidence to support your criticisms. Use the movie's details that most shocked or humiliated you. Review genuine information rather than merely expressing your opinions without supporting details.

Final Thoughts

Composing a good movie review essay sample is easy if you follow this article's main steps and techniques. Furthermore, we strongly believe that this guide will assist you in achieving remarkable outcomes and ease your writing process. The staff at EssayPro is always available to provide a helping hand if you need a little additional push with movie review examples or even if it's simply coming up with a catchy essay title .

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FAQs on Writing an Essay Movie Review

Here are the most frequently asked questions on how to write a movie review. We provided extra details on movie analysis to simplify writing film reviews.

What are the 6 Important Things to Include in a Film Review?

How long should a movie review be, what are the 5 c's in film, related articles.

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How to Write a Movie Review

Last Updated: March 13, 2024 Fact Checked

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 179 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 5,568,728 times. Learn more...

Whether a movie is a rotten tomato or a brilliant work of art, if people are watching it, it's worth critiquing. A decent movie review should entertain, persuade and inform, providing an original opinion without giving away too much of the plot. A great movie review can be a work of art in its own right. Read on to learn how to analyze a movie like a professional film critic, come up with an interesting thesis, and write a review as entertaining as your source material.

Sample Movie Reviews

Writing an Intro for a Movie Review

• Comparison to Relevant Event or Movie: "Every day, our leaders, politicians, and pundits call for "revenge"– against terrorist groups, against international rivals, against other political parties. But few of them understand the cold, destructive, and ultimately hollow thrill of revenge as well as the characters of Blue Ruin. "
• Review in a nutshell: "Despite a compelling lead performance by Tom Hanks and a great soundtrack, Forrest Gump never gets out of the shadow of its weak plot and questionable premise."
• Context or Background Information: " Boyhood might be the first movie made where knowing how it was produced–slowly, over 12 years, with the same actors–is just as crucial as the movie itself."

• Using stars, a score out of 10 or 100, or the simple thumbs-up and thumbs-down is a quick way to give your thoughts. You then write about why you chose that rating.
• Great Movie: ABC is the rare movie that succeeds on almost every level, where each character, scene, costume, and joke firing on all cylinders to make a film worth repeated viewings."
• Bad Movie: "It doesn't matter how much you enjoy kung-fu and karate films: with 47 Ronin, you're better off saving your money, your popcorn, and time."
• Okay Movie: "I loved the wildly uneven Interstellar far more than I should have, but that doesn't mean it is perfect. Ultimately, the utter awe and spectacle of space swept me through the admittedly heavy-handed plotting and dialogue."

• Great: "Michael B. Jordan and Octavia Spencer's chemistry would carry Fruitvale Station even if the script wasn't as good. The mid-movie prison scene in particular, where the camera never leaves their faces, shows how much they can convey with nothing but their eyelids, the flashing tension of neck muscles, and a barely cracking voice."
• Bad: " Jurassic World's biggest flaw, a complete lack of relatable female characters, is only further underscored by a laughably unrealistic shot of our heroine running away from a dinosaur – in heels."
• Okay: "At the end of the day, Snowpiercer can't decide what kind of movie it wants to be. The attention to detail in fight scenes, where every weapon, lightbulb, and slick patch of ground is accounted for, doesn't translate to an ending that seems powerful but ultimately says little of substance."

• Does the film reflect on a current event or contemporary issue? It could be the director's way of engaging in a bigger conversation. Look for ways to relate the content of the film to the "real" world.
• Does the film seem to have a message, or does it attempt to elicit a specific response or emotion from the audience? You could discuss whether or not it achieves its own goals.
• Does the film connect with you on a personal level? You could write a review stemming from your own feelings and weave in some personal stories to make it interesting for your readers.

Composing Your Review

• When you name characters in your plot summary, list the actors' names directly afterward in parenthesis.
• Find a place to mention the director's name and the full movie title.
• If you feel you must discuss information that might "spoil" things for readers, warn them first.

• Cinematography: " Her is a world drenched in color, using bright, soft reds and oranges alongside calming whites and grays that both build, and slowly strip away, the feelings of love between the protagonists. Every frame feels like a painting worth sitting in."
• Tone: "Despite the insane loneliness and high stakes of being stuck alone on Mars, The Martian's witty script keeps humor and excitement alive in every scene. Space may be dangerous and scary, but the joy of scientific discovery is intoxicating."
• Music and Sound: " No Country For Old Men's bold decision to skip music entirely pays off in spades. The eerie silence of the desert, punctuated by the brief spells of violent, up-close-and-personal sound effects of hunter and hunted, keeps you constantly on the edge of your seat."
• Acting: "While he's fantastic whenever he's on the move, using his cool stoicism to counteract the rampaging bus, Keanu Reeves can't quite match his costar in the quiet moments of Speed, which falter under his expressionless gaze."

• Keep your writing clear and easy to understand. Don't use too much technical filmmaking jargon, and make your language crisp and accessible.
• Present both the facts and your opinion. For example, you might state something such as, "The Baroque background music was a jarring contrast to the 20th century setting." This is a lot more informative then simply saying, "The music was a strange choice for the movie."

• Great: "In the end, even the characters of Blue Ruin know how pointless their feud is. But revenge, much like every taut minute of this thriller, is far too addictive to give up until the bitter end.""
• Bad: "Much like the oft-mentioned "box of chocolates", Forest Gump has a couple of good little morsels. But most of the scenes, too sweet by half, should have been in the trash long before this movie was put out."
• Okay: "Without the novel, even revolutionary concept, Boyhood may not be a great movie. It might not even be "good.” But the power the film finds in the beauty of passing time and little, inconsequential moments – moments that could only be captured over 12 years of shooting – make Linklater's latest an essential film for anyone interested in the art of film."

Polishing Your Piece

• Ask yourself whether your review stayed true to your thesis. Did your conclusion tie back in with the initial ideas you proposed?
• Decide whether your review contains enough details about the movie. You may need to go back and add more description here and there to give readers a better sense of what the movie's about.
• Decide whether your review is interesting enough as a stand-alone piece of writing. Did you contribute something original to this discussion? What will readers gain from reading your review that they couldn't from simply watching the movie?

Studying Your Source Material

• The title of the film, and the year it came out.
• The director's name.
• The names of the lead actors.

• Make a note every time something sticks out to you, whether it's good or bad. This could be costuming, makeup, set design, music, etc. Think about how this detail relates to the rest of the movie and what it means in the context of your review.
• Take note of patterns you begin to notice as the movie unfolds.
• Use the pause button frequently so you make sure not to miss anything, and rewind as necessary.

• Direction: Consider the director and how he or she choose to portray/explain the events in the story. If the movie was slow, or didn't include things you thought were necessary, you can attribute this to the director. If you've seen other movies directed by the same person, compare them and determine which you like the most.
• Cinematography: What techniques were used to film the movie? What setting and background elements helped to create a certain tone?
• Writing: Evaluate the script, including dialogue and characterization. Did you feel like the plot was inventive and unpredictable or boring and weak? Did the characters' words seem credible to you?
• Editing: Was the movie choppy or did it flow smoothly from scene to scene? Did they incorporate a montage to help build the story? And was this obstructive to the narrative or did it help it? Did they use long cuts to help accentuate an actor's acting ability or many reaction shots to show a group's reaction to an event or dialogue? If visual effects were used were the plates well-chosen and were the composited effects part of a seamless experience? (Whether the effects looked realistic or not is not the jurisdiction of an editor, however, they do choose the footage to be sent off to the compositors, so this could still affect the film.)
• Costume design: Did the clothing choices fit the style of the movie? Did they contribute to the overall tone, rather than digressing from it?
• Set design: Consider how the setting of the film influenced its other elements. Did it add or subtract from the experience for you? If the movie was filmed in a real place, was this location well-chosen?
• Score or soundtrack: Did it work with the scenes? Was it over/under-used? Was it suspenseful? Amusing? Irritating? A soundtrack can make or break a movie, especially if the songs have a particular message or meaning to them.

Community Q&A

• If you don't like the movie, don't be abusive and mean. If possible, avoid watching the movies that you would surely hate. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• Understand that just because the movie isn't to your taste, that doesn't mean you should give it a bad review. A good reviewer helps people find movie's they will like. Since you don't have the same taste in movies as everyone else, you need to be able to tell people if they will enjoy the movie, even if you didn't. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Structure is very important; try categorizing the different parts of the film and commenting on each of those individually. Deciding how good each thing is will help you come to a more accurate conclusion. For example, things like acting, special effects, cinematography, think about how good each of those are. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/terminology_and_starting_prompts.html
• ↑ https://www.spiritofbaraka.com/how-write-a-movie-review
• ↑ https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/9-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/writing-help/top-tips-for-writing-a-review
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/summary-using-it-wisely/
• ↑ https://twp.duke.edu/sites/twp.duke.edu/files/file-attachments/film-review-1.original.pdf
• ↑ https://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-tips-for-writing-a-film-review/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_about_film/film_writing_sample_analysis.html
• ↑ https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/onnyx.bei/dual-credit/movie-review-writing-guide
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/conclusions/
• ↑ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-movie-review/
• ↑ https://gustavus.edu/writingcenter/handoutdocs/editing_proofreading.php
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://edusson.com/blog/how-to-write-movie-review

About This Article

To write a movie review, start with a compelling fact or opinion to hook your readers, like "Despite a great performance by Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump never overcomes its weak plot." Then, elaborate on your opinion of the movie right off the bat so readers know where you stand. Once your opinion is clear, provide examples from the movie that prove your point, like specific scenes, dialogue, songs, or camera shots. To learn how to study a film closely before you write a review, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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How to Write a Movie Review

Writing a Film Review

Movies have become a cultural mainstay of our society. Not only are they art and entertainment, but they have also become a way for people to bond and make connections. Finding someone who has a similar taste in movies can create new friendships and start interesting conversations. That's why understanding how to analyze a movie and write movie reviews is such a useful skill. 

Do you need to know how to write a movie review for college? Or how to write a movie critique? Or maybe just how to do a movie review? In this article, you will learn how to write a movie review step by step, as well as get an in-depth guide into each section of a movie review.

What is a Movie Review?

A film review essay is more than just a plot summary followed by a recommendation. A movie review analyzes different elements of a movie and mixes personal opinion with objective analysis. The goal of the movie review is to tell the reader about the details of a movie while giving them enough information to decide for themselves whether it's worth watching or not. Of course, a good movie review also has to be interesting and engaging! 

How to Write a Good Movie Review

More than most other pieces of writing, there are a lot of steps to take before actually getting into writing a movie review. But don't worry though, most of these steps are pretty fun and if you follow them, you will know how to review movies. 

Watch the film! 

It goes without saying that you need to watch a movie before you write a review for it, so, before you do anything else, watch the movie at least once. Don't worry about trying to pick up specific details on your first watch, just enjoy the movie and get a general impression of whether you liked it or not and what you liked or disliked. Ideally, you should watch the movie at least two times. On your second and third viewings, pay attention to movie review criteria like cinematography, acting, dialogue, character development, deeper meanings, etc. Read some film review examples to get a sense of the things they talk about.

Pause the movie on your second and third viewings and take notes on things that stand out to you. Don't be afraid to take as many notes as you want, after all these notes are just for you.  You might not use all the notes you have taken, but they will help you compose the main part of your body paragraphs.

Express your opinions

Once you have watched the movie a few times and taken notes, make a list of the strongest opinions you have about the movie. If you think that the quality of acting was one of the best parts of the movie, use your notes to come up with specific examples. You should have between 3 and 5 key opinions that you will elaborate on when writing a film review along with examples to back up your claims.

Think about your audience

The language you use is going to change based on who you are writing the movie review for. If it is an assignment for school or university, then you may have to use more technical language.  If you're writing an article for a website or personal blog, then think about who the audience is and use language appropriate for them. Keep in mind that your audience also depends on the genre of the movie you are critiquing. A movie review for a serious period drama will have a different audience than a buddy cop comedy and therefore different language. Look at a movie review sample from different genres to get an idea of the type of language to use. 

Research the actors

Having big movie stars associated with a film is often one of the main selling points of a movie.  If an actor is critically acclaimed, it’s especially important to mention the awards they have won as this is often a sign of the overall quality of the movie. It's also possible that you didn't like the movie overall, but one of your favorite actors was in it so you enjoyed the movie and another fan might enjoy it too. 

Do background research

An easy way to make a movie review interesting is to search for interesting details about the making of the movie. It may be worth mentioning if it was shot in a particularly beautiful place or a unique location, or if the special effects were practical rather than CGI. Include interesting casting decisions or other actors that were considered for a particular role. Think about what information could be interesting to someone who might want to watch the movie and include those details. Go over some movie critique examples to get inspiration. 

Research the professionals

People can be fans not just of the actors, but of directors, writers, cinematographers, costume designers, and many other elements of filmmaking. Many directors are auteurs, which means they have a very particular visual style or storytelling method. How much time you spend on this section is dependent on your audience. If you're writing for social media or a blog for general people, then this might not be interesting to most. But if you're writing for film school or for a specific audience interested in filmmaking, then this section will need to be more elaborate. Look at a film review example written for different audiences to understand the differences. 

Draft an outline

Now that you've done all the required research, it's time to come up with a review outline. An outline is always useful when doing any piece of writing because it gives you a  chance to visualize the structure and plan how you want to incorporate information. This is the general film review format.

Introduction

• Brief summary of the film
• Discuss plot, tone, characters
• Discuss creative and technical elements
• Your opinions

Conclusion 

Come up with a catchy title.

Almost more than any other piece of writing, a movie review’s title needs to be engaging. A title like ”film review of (name of the movie) might be to the point, but isn't going to stand out. A good title should grab the reader's attention and make them want to read more. A few ways you can do this is by talking about a specific actor or director, or by using one of the main plot points of the movie. For example, “A Romantic Comedy for the Unromantic”,  or “Chris Pratt Plays Against Type in the Best Possible Way”. Look at the titles of some movie review examples for inspiration!

Write your review

It's finally time to get to the actual writing! The next part of this article talks in-depth about each section of a film review. 

People aren't going to take a review seriously if you have spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. If it's an assignment for school, then you’re going to lose marks because of mistakes like that. Make sure you reread your paper a few times and check for typos and other silly mistakes.  Read the paper out loud once or twice to get an idea of if it has a good flow. Don't be afraid to move sections around if you think it helps you build a stronger case.

Struggling with the Film Review?

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How to Write a Film Review

Do you want a ‘how to write a movie review’ template? Let's go over the specific parts of a film review and what to include in each one.

Your first sentence needs to capture the reader's attention. You can do this by stating an interesting fact about the movie, starting off by expressing your opinion of whether it's good or bad, mentioning some of the important actors, comparing it to other movies in the genre or to real-world events, whatever it is, make sure it's catchy!

Next, give background information about the movie. This includes things like the title, release date, studio, important cast members, director, budget, etc. Make sure to highlight any achievements of the movie, for example, if it was nominated for any awards. The same goes for the director as well as important members of the cast. This shouldn't just be a dry stating of facts, rather this should be a collection of interesting information about the background of the movie. 

Finally, end your introduction paragraph with your thesis. In the case of a film review, your thesis is essentially what you thought about the film. Without giving away too much, express your overall impression of the movie noting particular things that you thought stood out or were weak.

Summary of the story

The trick to writing the summary of the story is giving readers an idea of what to expect without giving away any important plot points or spoilers. The goal of this section isn't to explain the plot of the movie, It's to make sure that people have a basic understanding of the story so that the rest of the review can make sense. Describe the setting of the movie, which includes the main locations and time period. Introduce the main characters (including the name of the actor in parentheses after the name of their character). And go over the general storyline. 

Plot elements

This is when you start explaining what you thought about the movie. Start with an analysis of the plot itself. Did it have a rising action that builds suspense? Was the climax a good payoff? What were your overall impressions of the movie? How did it make you feel? What do you think the purpose of the movie was and did the director succeed in their goal? 

This is also the section where you get to talk about the different characters in the movie. Why did you enjoy certain characters? Were some characters better developed than others? Could some characters have benefited from more development? Was the villain particularly interesting? 

Think about the overall mood of the movie, did it change over time? How did the tones and symbols of the movie emphasize elements of the plot? Remember that any point you make in this section has to be backed up by examples. So if you say that there are several plot holes that make the movie complicated to understand, mention the specific scenes.

Creative elements

There are a lot of technical and creative elements in a movie that can stand out even if the overall plot and story weren’t the best. On the other hand, even a great story can be spoiled by bad dialogue or set design. These are some of the creative elements you should pay attention to especially when rewatching the movie and taking notes.

Dialogue : This can refer to the overall writing of the movie as well. If you can get your hands on a script then read it! When thinking about dialogue ask yourself, did the conversation between characters seem natural and flow easily? Or did it seem choppy and unnatural? 

Cinematography : Cinematography refers to the camera effects and the choices of how to film a certain scene. The lighting, the choice of camera angles, essentially the unique perspective of the story as told through the camera. 

Editing : Editing refers to the transition between different scenes as well as how well the movie flows together. This could include things like clever montages, longshots, different perspectives, etc.  

Costumes : Some movies, especially historical movies, fantasy films, and science fiction films, depend heavily on costume design. Costumes are an integral part of making a character stand out or making the world seem more real.

Set Design : Set design refers to the backgrounds of scenes. Some sets might be more elaborate whereas others can be minimalistic. Each choice has its pros and cons and effective set design creates proper ambiance, setting the tone and mood for a scene or the movie.

Music and Sound : Sometimes the movie has a great soundtrack or just incredible sound effects that help make it stand out.

Stunts : More important for action movies, but in general stunts and action sequences can be a major selling point for a film.

Special Effects : Most movies rely on some amount of special effects, and whether it be CGI, or practical, or a combination of the two, the quality is important.

Once you have analyzed multiple different elements of the story from its plot, characterization, and other technical and creative elements, you can state your opinions and provide evidence for them. Make sure you refer to specific scenes or specific situations when looking for substantiating evidence. Remember that the goal of a movie review is not to just state whether you liked or disliked a movie, it is to analyze it in an objective way, and give information so that somebody else can decide whether they want to watch the movie or not.

In the conclusion you express your main opinion of the movie along with the most important pieces of evidence. You can talk about the purpose of the movie and whether the director was successful in showing that purpose. End with a recommendation of whether the movie should be watched or not, along with suggestions of movies that are similar to it.

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Mistakes to avoid

You now know how to write a review on a movie but let's take a look at some mistakes that you should be careful to avoid.

Not focusing on the film

It's easy to start writing about things like the historical events the movie you loved is based on or the importance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe overall rather than focus on the movie itself.  While those elements can be interesting to include as background information, the point of a film review is to go over a particular movie so that is what you should spend the most time on.

Not providing evidence 

A common mistake people make when they write movie reviews is to state their opinions without any objective analysis. An easy way to overcome this mistake is to make sure that you provide evidence for any claims that you make.

Spoilers are an easy way to make sure that people will be upset with your movie review. It is common to accidentally give away too much, especially when writing the plot summary. Find the line between giving enough information so that people understand the general story and revealing important plot twists and turning points. Read some sample movie reviews for examples of how to avoid spoilers.

Using personal pronouns

Statements like “I did not like the special effects” or “I did not like the pacing of the movie” are clearly expressions of opinion. It is better to make statements like “the special effects in certain action scenes were cartoonish and took away from the realism of the film”. 

A movie review essay can be incredibly fun to write, especially if you have a strong opinion about the movie. But keep in mind that a movie review isn't just about your opinion, it has to include an objective analysis with claims backed up by evidence from specific scenes. It's difficult to have a movie review definition, but a great movie review is a blend between personal opinion and objective analysis. It informs the reader about the strengths and weaknesses of the movie while letting them make the decision whether they want to watch it or not. 

If you found your way to this article because you were looking for help on how to write a movie review for college, then you're in the perfect place. If you need any help, don't hesitate to reach out to the experts at Studyfy. At Studyfy, we offer a wide range of custom writing services, coursework writing services, and essay writer service . Our team of experienced writers is well-equipped to handle any writing task you may have, no matter the complexity or urgency. Just say, " write a paper for me ," and we will ensure that you receive a high-quality custom essay that meets all your requirements. Trust us to provide you with the best coursework writing services and custom essay writing that will help you achieve your academic goals.

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How to Write a Movie Review 2023

What is a Movie Review Essay?

Movie review essay outline, movie review structure, movie review essay sample, awesome guide on how to write a movie review essay like a pro, movie review essay: tips, movie review essay: mistakes to avoid, movie review essay topics.

Have you ever watched a movie and felt you wanted to share your thoughts about it with someone? Or wanted to hear how others felt about the same movie? Then you might find it entertaining to learn how to write a movie review. But before we explain the specifics, let's first find out what a movie review is. 

A movie review is critical writing that intends to share the assessment and analysis of the film. Writing a great movie review essay can be a unique challenge sometimes. You must consider the film from all angles, including genre, acting, directing, and editing.

A film review examines students' logical and critical thinking. It also tests the skill of writing concisely and creatively. This article will teach you how to craft the best film analysis with interesting tips and take inspiration from our movie review essay sample.

Before starting any essay, it's always a good idea to outline. That will make your story more well-instructed. If you want your essay movie review to have a sense of direction, then making a strong outline is the key. Doing so will help you not to drift yourself from the topic.

Here are some useful tips on how to create a movie review outline:

• Brainstorm the ideas and start pooling them all together. Think about what you want to include in your review.
• Choose the thesis statement and decide on a central argument. A good movie review essay outline isn't just about crafting the idea that the film is good or bad. A well-written review will prove a wider point about the film. It's not necessary to have a perfectly polished sentence; having a solid idea is enough for an outline. This can make essay planning easier.
• Lastly, filter your brainstormed notes. You already have a thesis and relevant points to make. Now you've to discard those which don't seem important for your topic. Considering these tips while writing a film review can make your work less hard.

Writing every essay requires having a smooth flow. This being said, the movie review structure isn't an exception. It should follow the basic steps of general instructions. Introduction, the body, recommendation/analysis, and the conclusion.

There are qualities and guidelines that a critique of a film should possess. Try to avoid some basic and generalized opinions such as 'It was a great movie' or 'the acting was awful.' Instead, focus on giving specific reasons and the 'whys.'

If you need any help writing your assignment, you can request a paper from a paper writing service , and it can easily be done with no effort of yours.

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How to Start a Movie Review Essay

As straightforward as it sounds, the first step before starting your review is to watch the movie. Moreover, seeing the film for the second time can help you absorb more details. It's also a good idea to take notes while watching it.

Take time to research the movie and its history. Checking out other reviews about the same movie can also be helpful for you. Don't parrot the ideas of other critics; just read what they have to say; maybe it can be useful to generate a few of your own ideas.

After that (you should also have an outline by that time), you can go for the introduction movie review. In your intro, you must include the title, the movie's release date, background info, cast, and director. Also, don't forget to mention basic settings such as time, place, and genre.

Body of the Movie Review Essay

In a movie review structure, a body paragraph is an important part for a writer. Here you should evaluate the film and create a summary of the story. Then, give impartial details and allow the readers to decide on an issue.

You should also define who your audience will be. For example, writing a movie review for children needs a different approach. Ensure to focus on the facts and opinions that matter to your audience.

Analyze the plot and creative elements. Write a short plot summary but do not reveal the ending; back up your opinions with examples. Talk about the characters, who is starring, and how well you think they acted. Were there any well-known stars?

Give details about cinematography, dialogues, soundtracks, moods, tones, etc. Explain how well the film was shot. Did it get you thinking? Was lightning good in different scenes? Did it feature songs from popular musicians? Was storytelling good enough, or did it make you feel bored? How fascinating were the visuals? And so on.

Think about these questions, analyze them and answer with examples. Be sure that you're specific and cite examples from the movie. Except for the trailer videos, your body paragraph should help readers decide if the movie is worth seeing.

Conclusion of the Movie Review Essay

In conclusion, you have to summarize everything you said in your essay. Give your overall reaction to the movie, including your opinion on the film's quality. Also, don't forget to include recommendations for potential viewers. Most people are looking for reviews to read so it can help them decide if the movie is worth watching. Always remember not to reveal any spoilers.

To help you understand the concept of writing a good analysis, let’s continue with the movie review essay sample.

Here is how to write a movie review template that you can use while composing yours.

Avatar: The Way of Water movie review

James Cameron already stunned us with the first Avatar movie in 2009, and the second part of the film is no exception. The premiere date for Avatar: The Way of Water was December 16, 2022, and most of us have been in a state of emotional shock since then.

Avatar: The Way of Water is directed by James Cameron, casting Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Cliff Curtis, and others. In my opinion, the cast was perfectly chosen since each actor delivered a standout performance. Jakes Sully stands out by displaying a range of feelings and emotions. He kept up the same level of effort to make an impression. Clif Curtiss, Kate Winslet, and Zoe Saldana all complemented him by giving strong performances that elevated the moments. The actors who portrayed the parts of their children added positive sentiments to wrap up the storyline.

With the finest special effects to ever adorn the big screen, a touching drama that mixes relevant issues of romance, family, paternity, colonial aggression, and ecosystem collapse is breathtakingly brought to life. It is filled with incredible moments, finding breathing room between its many brilliant scenes and gradually increasing suspense until a thrilling finale. Although James Cameron intended the finale to leave you wanting more, I feel that it makes the whole movie appear like a continuous denial of the hero's summons.

It's important to note that this film has fantastic colors, which also apply to clothing and special effects. The well-known Hallelujah Mountains appear on a banshee during the day and night as the story travels back to Pandora's woodlands. Modern developments in night capture lenses are shown by the nighttime color tones, which employ moonlight to enhance the settings. This time, improvements were made to the bioluminescent plants and animals.

Cameron's blockbuster, Avatar: The Way of Water , dazzled the audience. Although several scenes might have been shot more effectively, the entire three-hour film is pretty intriguing. This serves as a reminder that James Cameron is still a master at making your mouth drop, even after a long gap.

If you kept reading until this part of the article, you already know how to write a movie review. A decent film review should persuade, inform and entertain the reader. Providing original opinions without giving away too much of the story or spoilers.

In this paragraph, you will find the ultimate guide to analyzing a movie like a professional film critic. But if you want an expert to whom you can tell ' write a paper for me ,' you've got one.

Watch the Movie

Before starting to outline your essay, you must watch the movie. Maybe you've already seen it, but it doesn't matter. Watching it the second time is very helpful, as you are oriented on making a review of it and not on the excitement of watching something for the first time. Don't watch it like a regular movie enthusiast, be focused on the details.

The work can get much easier if you start making notes while re-watching the movie. Focus on little details too. Search for the movie's main narrative, and try to figure it out; it will help you analyze the movie overall and give your opinions about the film.

Draw the Outline

You already know that before starting to write any good essay, you have to make a strong outline. Draft the outline, which will help you write your essay movie review.

An outline enhances the quality of your work, that's why it's relevant to have it before starting to write. For example, a movie review essay outline helps you to create logical and concise text. It's more like a skeleton on which the whole essay stands. That's why creating a well-crafted draft is important, as it yields a great essay.

Make the Analysis of the Movie

After watching the film and creating the outline, you have to start analyzing it. You must evaluate the film from beginning to end in your essay movie review, focusing on every detail. While analyzing the movie if there was any confusing part, don't miss it. Re-watch that part to grasp the idea and understand it fully. Maybe other viewers also got confused and can find clarification in your review.

Add Examples

Imagine you want to read a review of some movie. Would it be okay with you if there won't be any examples that make the writer's opinions more vivid? Of course not. That's why you should use examples in your review.

Don't describe the film as ‘it is a great movie’ or ‘the actors are really good.’ If you are stating something, make sure to back it up with examples. For instance, you can mention some scenes where the event occurred. Support your every opinion with different and interesting examples. This way, reading your written review can be more entertaining.

Examples include quotes, places or locations, bloopers, dialogues, etc. Supporting your opinions with examples can make your review better than just making general statements about how terrific or terrible the film is.

Did you like the plot of the movie that you are writing the review about? Was it unique or just some general boring story? Does it have a regular and predictable storyline, or is it like a Tarantino movie? Answer these questions by describing the plot but not revealing the ending or spoilers.

The plot is one of the reasons why people want to watch this or that movie. So try to elaborate on the plot and mainly focus on it. In your essay, movie reviews always include why the plot is interesting or intriguing and why anyone should watch the film created with this plot in their free time.

For many people, music is an important part of a movie. On the other hand, others can't even name what soundtracks were included.

In reality, music can make a movie unique and worth watching. It helps shape emotional responses, creates a rhythm to scenes, and comments on the action. Music is crucial in experiencing the emotions caused by different scenes; at some point, it can become as iconic as the film itself.

And if you decide to write an old movie review, you can see that music used to have much more significance and uniqueness previously.

Cinematography

While writing an essay movie review, consider describing the film's cinematography. Most people indeed focus on the plot rather than how the film was directed or shot, but it's relevant to include it in your review.

While analyzing the cinematography in a movie, you have to describe how well the movie was shot. For example, give details about lightning; how was it in moody scenes? Was there any scene that could be shot differently that would make the movie more unique? Don't forget to add examples to your opinions as you write a movie review and not some interviews about the film.

Summing Up Movie Review Essay

If you follow the movie review structure, you have to summarize the whole essay, which means writing the conclusion.

The conclusion is another relevant part of your review. In this section, you give your point about the movie with evidence written in your body paragraph. If you connect the conclusion creatively to your intro, it can make your whole essay perfect.

Don't elaborate on any new point or idea in your conclusion; you just have to summarize all the ideas you mentioned in your essay.

Edit Your Review Essay

Editing and proofreading are crucial parts of writing any type of essay. Of course, you can ask your friends to proofread the work; they can also give you ideas to make your writing more unique. But don't be lazy to rewrite the final one after editing.

If your movie review essay outline turns out to be quite different while finishing, don't bother! It can be like that. Sometimes, the important part is to make your review well-structured and creatively analyzed.

You already know how to create a movie review essay sample if you are reading this. But it requires time, investment, and dedication anyways. However, if you intend to do the review easily, this section will help you with that. So here are the awesome tips that might come in handy and can seamlessly get you through the task.

This is advice you should consider:

• If you've already seen the movie, watch it again
• Focus on details
• Watch the movie with a professional analytical mindset, not just as a random movie enthusiast
• Take notes if needed
• Don't write out of the contest for your assignment
• Take your time but be aware of the deadline too
• Follow the instructions for your task
• Use an outline to create a logically organized work
• Start working on the body first and then the introduction
• Write an engaging intro and powerful conclusion
• Don't forget to proofread and edit your writing

If these tips aren't enough for you to create a review, or you just don't have time, you can always use a thesis writing service , and their experts will do it for you.

As you can use some tips to create an awesome movie review, it can also be helpful to consider some mistakes that should be avoided from your essay.

After the hard work of submitting your movie report, you might be surprised that your writing hasn't received the grade you were expecting. Do you wish to know why that happened? Well, it could be because you made any of these mistakes:

• Shifting yourself from the review - The fact that you are writing the review doesn't mean you have to insert yourself in it. Take into account not writing in the first person. For example, ‘I liked this film very much.’ The review exposes your opinions and likes/dislikes, so inserting yourself is unnecessary.
• Focusing on the irrelevant/wrong part - You may find the connection between the movie and some historical events or another film, but remember not to give any irrelevant details or analysis.
• Lack of evidence - We already discussed how important it is to back up all your opinions with examples. You need to state every reason for liking something because the lack of evidence can influence your grade.
• Missing to do the research - Besides re-watching the movie, it's also crucial to search for relevant details about it. It can provide you with important points that aren't even mentioned in the film.
• Unstructured writing - Never write the review without a proper structure, as it might reveal you as an unorganized student.
• Avoid unnecessary discussion - Avoid explaining issues that aren't directly connected to the movie.
• Be precise - Don't generalize the ideas you are discussing and avoid making general statements like 'It is a great movie', or 'The actors are awesome'. Back up any comment you make with the examples from the movie.

If you also need to write other types of essays for the college and are searching for its topics with no hope, for example, definition essay topics , we've got you here too.

Does it still seem hard for you to complete the movie review assignment yourself? If so, don't worry; we've got you on that too. You can hire a dissertation writer to create original work on any subject, including a review.

But if you wish to write your task yourself, then, for now, you already have all the tools to make your review appealing. You only have to choose from the following movie review topics.

New Movies Topics

Welcome to the best-reviewed movies of 2023. Let's move to the movie review topics you can use to write about:

• Avatar: the way of water movie review
• The Batman - A dark crime epic
• Everything Everywhere All at Once - A surpassing hereditary
• Turning Red movie review
• No Bears movie review
• Great Freedom and persistence of a human spirit
• The Innocents - chillingly subverted purity of youth
• Utama movie review
• Fire of Love - A spectacular fiery abyss
• Bones and All - Young love and the tentative connection of sensitive souls
• RRR - rise, roar, and revolt
• Bergman Island - relationships and women's creative emancipation
• Prey movie review
• Elvis movie review
• A Hero - a superb morality that keeps us guessing the final shot
• Belle movie review
• Benediction - Elegant, emotionally ransacking story of repression
• The Women King and its global significance
• Happening and its poignant contemporary relevance
• The Banshees of Inisherin movie review
• Aftersun and the memories that can sink into your bones
• The Northman movie review
• Top Gun: Maverick movie review
• Licorice Pizza and Anderson's sweet coming-of-age
• X - a fresh spin to a classic slasher
• Emily the Criminal movie review
• You Won't Be Alone - a fresh spin on horror tropes
• Fallout and grappling with the experience of grief

These are topics from popular movies of 2023, which you can use to practice in writing the movie review. Or you can use one for writing college or high school assignments.

Best Famous Movies: Topics for Review

We listed the topics for 2023 movies, but there are masterpieces created in the early years that can fill you up with emotions even when writing an old movie review. Let's list them here too:

• 2001: A Space Odyssey movie review
• The Godfather - An all-time masterpiece
• The Shawshank Redemption - An eventual redemption
• Schindler's List and its worldwide significance
• One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest movie review
• Forrest Gump - historical events unfolded
• 12 Angry Men movie review
• The Silence of The Lambs movie review
• The Pianist, struggling to survive
• The Green Mile - is it a mysterious gift?
• Citizen Kane an inexhaustible force
• La Dolce Vita - a cinematic verve
• City Lights - the peak of the reaction shot
• Persona - a double-sided psychodrama
• Pulp Fiction - A spellbinding achronological plotting
• The Truman Show - A meek hero winning back his life
• Spirited Away - a glorious bedtime story
• Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind - a signpost of a modern independent cinema
• The Shining - born to redefine horror
• Blue Velvet and mystery unfolded
• Seven and the fearsome vision that arrived uncut

While many other films can also garner positive reviews, these are some of the most well-known of all time. The only issue would be deciding which movie to start watching first now that you understand how to write a movie review essay like a pro!

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How to Write a Movie Review: 10 Essential Tips

As long as there have been films, there have been film critics. Starting with the early days of cinema, where reviews appeared in newspapers and magazines as brief, descriptive pieces, as filmmaking evolved as an art form, so did the role of the critic. James Agee, André Bazin, and Pauline Kael shaped the discourse around cinema, and today, famous film critics like the iconic Roger Ebert , The New York Times’s A.O. Scott , and The New York Times’s Manohla Dargis continue to leave an indelible mark on the world of cinema.

With the rise of the internet, film criticism now encompasses a wide range of voices and perspectives from around the globe. Sites like Letterboxd make it possible for anyone to write short-form reviews on film. Even stars like The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri have accounts and share opinions on the latest box-office hits.

How to Write a Movie Review

Today, contemporary YouTube and TikTok critics such as Red Letter Media , deepfocuslens , and DoMo Draper don’t just write film reviews, they shoot videos and skits. Through their creative formats, they offer refreshing and unique perspectives while building communities of diehard film and television enthusiasts. Whether you choose to write reviews for your own blog, other websites, or social media channels, by learning how to write a movie review, any aspiring filmmaker can start to watch films intentionally. 

@domodraperr Replying to @xsindeviltriggerx I’ll get right on that, Sir!🫡 #comments #movies #film #satire #fyp #mulan #disney ♬ I’ll Make a Man Out of You (feat. Black Gryph0n) – Cover – Samuel Kim

TikTok film critic “DoMo Draper” provides commentary on new and old films, often calling out racism, social injustice, misogyny, and prejudice.

While there’s no perfect approach to writing a review, there are best practices that every aspiring reviewer should consider.

Here are ten tips on writing a compelling piece.

1. Watch the film at least once.

For new reviewers, it’s impossible to capture everything after one viewing. Watching the film first, then watching to take notes, is an easy way to improve the quality of your final review. This will also make it easy to recall in-the-moment thoughts and reactions.

Take a review by Christian Blauvelt of Charlie Chaplin’s silent film The Circus , for example. Since the film does not have sound, properly critiquing the film requires close attention. Viewers have to pay attention to the various nuances in Chaplin’s performance, follow the story, and take in the cinematography. Regarding The Circus , Blauvelt writes, “The film lacks a conventional plot, but is rather a pearl necklace of strung-together episodes. ” The statement isn’t a criticism, but a keen observation likely gleaned from more than one viewing. 

So while every film reviewer has their own approach, many choose to watch a film more than once to deliver the best possible review. Image The Criterion Collection.

2. Express your opinions and support your criticism.

Professional reviewers do not shy away from sharing whether they thought a movie was good, bad, or indifferent. In a review for the film Mother!, reviewer Candice Frederick describes the film as “uncomfortable,” and “controversial,” helping viewers understand the tone of the movie. While Frederick seemed to enjoy the film, her honesty about how it would make audiences feel was vital in writing the review.

Be sure to back up these thoughts with specifics–a disappointing performance, beautiful cinematography, difficult material that leaves you thinking, and so on. Professional reviewers should express why and how they came to their criticism.

3. Consider your audience.

Are you writing for a fan site or a news outlet? Who will read your pieces, and what are their interests? Knowing who your readers are and where the review will be published can help you decide what elements of the movie to highlight. For example, take these two very different reviews for the film ‘Synecdoche, New York’.  

The first review was written by Alonso Duralde for The Today Show , and clocks in at around 500 words. The film focuses on the bullet points: characters, plot, and a concise review. The second review is over 3,000 words and published on the Critical Critics blog . This review goes into massive depth (and yes, includes spoilers) about the film, providing an incredible amount of analysis. The first review is tailored for the casual filmgoer, while the second is for cinephiles. Each review serves a different purpose.

It’s also a good idea to adjust your writing style to fit the target audience. For example, Alonso Duralde is a talented film reviewer and likely wrote the review to fit the tone of The Today Show site. Image via Director’s Library.

4. Talk about the acting.

When reviewing a film, it’s important to take space to discuss the performances. Does the film feature a seasoned actor in a new kind of role or a brilliant performance from a rising star? How was the acting? In a review by Brett Milam for the award-winning film Whiplash , he goes into rich detail about performances by both breakthrough actor Miles Teller and seasoned professional JK Simmons.

Regarding Teller, Milam writes, “This is a performance. This is art,” and about Simmons, “I found him fascinating to just look at.” Those are just small examples of the analysis he provides regarding their acting. As the film mostly focuses on the relationship between their two characters, Miles as the protagonist and JK as the antagonist, the review of the performances lends well to the plot of the film: student and teacher going head to head in an intense and determined showdown. 

Feedback about how well the actors handled the script, the dynamics in an ensemble, and so much more can help describe how the actors did in any given film.

5. Call out directors, cinematographers, and special effects.

Reviews that include highlights or missteps of directors, cinematographers, and costume designers can help provide support to your critiques. By providing specific examples of what worked, what surprised you, and what fell short of expectations, reviewers can write a well-thought-out review that goes beyond whether or not you liked it.

In a review for A Wrinkle in Time , Monique Jones artfully crafts a piece that diplomatically cites the missteps of the film. From analyzing the quality of the CGI to the camera techniques to inconsistencies in the rules of the fantasy universe, Jones fairly offers a critique that guides the filmmakers and crew on future endeavors. To write this type of review, it helps to have some knowledge of the filmmaking process so you can properly assess the screenwriting, cinematography, special effects, acting, and more. Image via Disney.

6. No spoilers!

The point of writing a movie review is to get people interested in seeing a movie. That’s why it’s absolutely best practice to not reveal spoilers in a film review. Film reviewer Robert Daniels approaches this creatively. In his review of Annihilation , he provides commentary on what would be considered spoilers. However, he places that part of the review at the bottom of the article under a bold header/image that warns the reader he’s about to spoil the film. For reviewers who want to dissect the entire film, this is a good way to both tease the film for anyone who hasn’t seen it and cater to people who want to know what the ending is.

Remember: the goal of any film review is to discuss the plot without revealing any twists or the ending of the film. 

7. Study the professionals.

As with all writing endeavors, the more you read, the better. However, with the modern landscape of film reviewing, which can go beyond writing and extend to content creation for social media platforms, there are a ton of reviewers to take notes from. First, determine what kind of reviewer you want to be, and what kind of medium you plan to deliver your reviews on. If you plan to post to Medium, for example, studying the reviewers already established on the site can be a great starting point.

Then, read film reviews for some of your favorite films. Determine which style of review you like and don’t like. Question why, and use your critical eye to consider why one reviewer has a hundred thousand followers and another only has two. If you’re looking to be featured on a website or a magazine, read the publications where you’d like your writing to appear as a template for your reviews, and don’t forget to read the submission guidelines. A few examples of film review professionals include Rotten Tomatoes , Roger Ebert , and Film Comment. 

8. Reread, rewrite, and edit.

While writing film critique is based on opinion, and follows the style of the reviewer, it’s still important to edit work. Writers should check for spelling, grammar, and readability. No matter how good a writer’s opinions are, they will not be taken seriously if the director’s name isn’t spelled correctly. Tools such as Grammarly and Hemingway Editor can be great for correcting and finding areas that need improvement. 

9. Find your voice.

The best reviewers have a distinct personality that comes across in their writing. Los Angeles Times film reviewer Carlos Aguilar wrote an impassioned piece about the film Beatriz at Dinner , going into a lot of detail about his experiences working in the film industry and his Mexican heritage. By sharing anecdotes about casual racism he’s experienced and connecting it to the film’s protagonist, and what she goes through, the review feels personal and relatable.

“If at a film festival – to which I’ve gotten access to because I’m a published writer – in a progressive city like Los Angeles, I must keep my guard up when people question my right to be there, then how are the voiceless supposed to feel safe, respected, or hopeful?” Aguilar writes. 

For new reviewers, developing this type of unique voice does not happen overnight, so take every opportunity to write as an opportunity to develop your style. Image via BBC.

10. Know your taste.

As a film reviewer, it can be helpful to identify your taste in film. By knowing specific preferences, strengths, and biases, reviewers can offer nuanced critiques that resonate with audiences and provide valuable guidance on which films they might enjoy. Additionally, it helps to maintain credibility and integrity as a reviewer by ensuring that assessments are authentic and reflective of personal cinematic sensibilities.

Try to explore various genres, directors, and themes to understand what resonates emotionally, intellectually, and aesthetically. Pay attention to the types of stories that engage you, which can help define your preferences.

Learn More About Filmmaking at NYFA

Film students with writing experience actually make great reviewers, as many of them are required to study a range of topics relating to film that can include cinematography, screenwriting, producing, and much more. Ready to build even more skills in filmmaking? Request more information about New York Film Academy’s filmmaking programs and workshops today!

Step By Step Guide On Writing Powerfully Persuasive Film Review Essay

By Film Threat Staff | February 8, 2021

We all have to write a compelling film review, sooner or later. Someone deals with the task quickly and easily. In turn, others can face severe difficulties and spend hours writing a review, which usually ends up being low-quality. Is there a solution then? Why can one handle the task without any problem while others have no idea what to write? Any problem has a solution, and writing a movie review is not an exception. With the right approach and follow of this step-by-step guide, you will likely compose a powerful and persuasive movie review shortly.

Learning Background

Before writing the review, you have to learn more about it. Reading the history of making the movie, the locations, the film director, and primary and secondary actors is a must. When you know a bit of a movie, you will find it easier to write the entire paper. Plus, you will spend less time drafting the review and polishing it afterward. This strategy has been proven for years by this paper writing service . The company confirms that learning background is vital and efficient, as it helps to capture concealed features of the given film while watching it. That is why every review on this academic agency is positive, making the company the most credible in the market.

Watching A Movie

If you have watched the movie and know what is going on there, you can skip this step or at least skim the film to recall the plot. Conversely, if you haven’t watched, make sure to do that. You don’t have to note down anything at this stage. Feel yourself a regular consumer who came to the cinema on Friday night to have a rest and let their mind get lost.  

When watching the movie, simply follow the plot and get familiar with how it evolves. Besides, you can think of general impressions after watching it. Evaluating primary attributes that every person would assess—cinematography, tone, music and sound, acting—is a nice thing to do to help you craft a draft.  

Drafting The Review

Another crucial step is drafting. Drafting helps you create a rough version of your paper, modify it, and polish it to shine in the long run. Since you know some background information—such as the title of the film, a release year, director’s name, lead actors, and genre—and watched the film, you can start writing the draft.  

Draft the review based on your previous knowledge. Make sure to create a coherent piece, writing the paper according to the structure. Usually, it is an introduction, the main part, and the conclusion. When writing an introduction, make sure to add an opening sentence. It aims to spark the reader’s attention and make them follow your paper. Some quotes related to the movie will always do the job. Then goes a thesis statement, with the main opinion concerning the movie.  

The body part reveals the plot (however, without delving into details) and helps the audience understand the movie’s backbone. Finally, the conclusion restates the thesis and wraps up the review’s content. When drafting the review, mind your word count. Every assignment has a word limit, exceeding which is undesirable and will result in a low grade. So, if you have to write a 5 page essay , ensure making your draft twice less. You will fill another half after re-watching the movie.

When you write the draft, it is time to become a proficient movie critic and immerse yourself in the movie itself, analyzing it in-depth. For that reason, you have to put the draft aside, take a clean sheet of paper, and watch the movie the second time.

Re-Watching The Movie  

You have to scrutinize the movie from a technical part when approaching it again. There are six basic elements every film critic pays close attention to. Let’s look at them:

The film reflects the director’s mindset and viewpoint. Every director has exclusive signs they follow when making films. Analyze and highlight the points you liked and disliked. If you have watched other films by the same director, how can you compare them?

• Cinematography

Can you see any technique that was used in the film? Was it the Dutch angle, bird’s eye shot, close up shot? What were the main elements to create a proper setting? Did you like them? Finally, what was the movie’s tone?

When watching, consider analyzing how scenes switched. Were they awkwardly cut, or was the movie smooth-running? Did the movie have many cuts or scenes that were relatively long and coherent? Finally, what were the effects? Did they fit the plot and were realistic?

Check the script. Was it informative and full of meaningful conversations? Was the entire plot outside the box or tedious? Did it have semantic load? In other words, can readers learn something after watching it?  

• Costume Design

Did the clothing pertain to every scene? Did they help the viewer dive into the movie, or they somewhat distracted them?

Was it right? Did it work in general? Sound is helpful to create suspense or amusement. So make sure to add some words about sound.

Once you re-watch the movie and analyze all these components, write the paper, adding examples from the film.  

Editing, Proofreading, Submitting

Ensure dedicating some time to editing the review and making it error-free. Employ useful tools, such as Grammarly and Hemingway, to perfect the essay. You can ask your friends to proofread the paper before submitting it. Once it is fine, you are ready to send or publish it.

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You helped me so much as a writer’s conference newbie with the same advice you just wrote. And when I was a college journalism major, our prof told us the same for newspaper writing. Thanks!

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Breakout English

How to write a film review

Writing a review is an option in many different English language exams, and films are such an obvious choice for reviews, so knowing how to write a film review is pretty important. It’s a great topic for the classroom too. Everyone watches films and there is a lot of opportunity to teach vocabulary, either film-related vocabulary or film review adjectives. I like to start off a class about films with some chat, or my personal favourite, the Movie Music Quiz , which also now has an excellent Movie Picture Quiz version too.

The structure of a film review

Like any writing task, it’s essential to know the structure of a film review before you start writing. A basic film review template shows you how to write a film review using a simple structure. Film reviews for First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) Cambridge exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, should all use a 4 paragraph structure. Another thing to remember is that your review should always have a title, and that title should include the name of the film.

• Introduction – Essential details and mini-summary
• Summary – A description of the film and some important details
• Analysis – An evaluation of different elements
• Conclusion – Your opinion and a recommendation

Introduction

In the introduction of a film review, it is crucial to mention the film title and the names of the director and the main actors. A brief summary of the film’s plot and background information can also be included, but it should not give away too much detail. The introduction should engage the reader and entice them to continue reading the review. Additionally, it is important to mention the genre and target audience of the film, which will give the reader an idea of what to expect.

In the summary section, the film review should give a comprehensive but concise description of the film, focusing on the plot, characters, and any significant events. The summary should be written in a way that does not give away the ending or spoil the film for the reader. It is important to maintain objectivity and not include personal opinions in this section. This section should provide enough detail for the reader to have a clear understanding of the film without giving too much away.

The analysis section is where the reviewer can showcase their critical skills and provide an in-depth evaluation of the film. The review should examine various elements of the film such as the script, direction, cinematography, acting, and special effects. You could also make a comparison to similar films in the same genre. The analysis should be written in an objective style with the opinion only showing through the language used.

In the conclusion, the reviewer should give their personal opinion of the film, summarising their thoughts on its strengths and weaknesses. They should also consider the target audience and whether they believe the film will appeal to them. Finally, the reviewer should provide a clear recommendation. The conclusion should be concise, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the reviewer’s overall opinion of the film.

Using adjectives in reviews

Reviews are a great way to show off your language with impressive adjectives. If you read a film review in a newspaper or magazine, you’ll notice that the reviewer rarely, if ever, gives an explicit direct opinion. However, their opinion of the film is always crystal clear. This is through the use of adjectives.

Many adjectives have a clear connotation. They are either perceived as positive or negative. Compare these two examples. Which one is a positive description and which is negative?

• It’s a first-rate experience with an imaginative plot and a star-studded cast.
• The second-rate writing combined with weak performances is typical of this director’s work.

When using adjectives in a film review, it is important to choose words that accurately convey the reviewer’s opinion. Adjectives with strong connotations, either positive or negative, can be very effective in expressing the reviewer’s thoughts about the film. However, it is also important to use a variety of adjectives to avoid repetition and keep the review interesting. The use of adjectives can also help to paint a picture of the film, allowing the reader to get a sense of its atmosphere and tone.

The materials

Many exams, such as the Cambridge First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) exams, as well as Trinity ISE exams, require students to write a film review as part of their writing task. These materials will provide students with a solid understanding of the structure of a film review and help them to develop their writing skills. This will give them the confidence they need to write a review that meets the requirements of the exam and impresses the examiner.

The materials will help you learn how to write an introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion of a film review. You will also see a range of useful adjectives that you can use to express your opinions in their reviews. Finally, you will get an opportunity to practise writing film reviews, which will help you to develop your skills. Then you can check your answers with the samples provided in the answer key. Whether you’re preparing for an exam or just looking to improve your writing skills, these materials will provide you with everything you need to write a great film review.

1 thought on “How to write a film review”

Interesting and useful material to be used in class. thanks!

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Film&Movie Review Examples and Samples

Reviewing films can seem fun, but it actually takes discipline to explain all the elements of a film and to express your opinion succinctly. Check out our film review samples to gain a better understanding of how to write one yourself.

How to Write a Movie Review: A Comprehensive Guide

Writing a movie review is an engaging process that combines film criticism, analysis, and personal opinion to create an informative and thought-provoking piece. A well-crafted review not only serves as a helpful guide for potential viewers but also deepens our understanding of the cinematic experience. In this article, we will explore the essentials of review writing, focusing on crucial elements such as plot summary, thesis, opinion, characters, cinematography, and more.

Start with a Plot Summary

Begin your movie review with a brief synopsis, offering an overview of the film’s storyline. This recap should be concise and engaging, giving readers a general idea of the movie’s premise without revealing too much. For a more structured approach, consider using an AI literature review generator to help you summarize key points efficiently. Remember that your summary sets the stage for the critique and analysis that follow.

Develop a Thesis

Your thesis is the central idea or argument that you will explore in your movie review. This main point should be clear and focused, serving as the backbone of your critique. Consider what themes or aspects of the film stood out to you, and build your thesis around these observations.

Express Your Opinion

A significant aspect of writing a movie review is sharing your personal viewpoint or perspective. Offer your judgment on the film’s strengths and weaknesses, providing specific examples from the movie to support your appraisal. Be honest and thoughtful in your assessment, considering both your own preferences and the film’s intended audience.

Analyze the Characters

Discuss the film’s characters, examining their roles, personas, and the actors’ performances. Consider how the cast contributes to the overall narrative and whether their portrayals are convincing and memorable. Analyze the characters’ development throughout the movie, as well as the relationships between them.

Examine the Cinematography

Cinematography plays a crucial role in a film’s visual style and storytelling. Delve into the camera work, lighting, photography, and framing, evaluating how these elements enhance or detract from the movie’s overall impact. Consider how the cinematography supports the film’s themes and emotions.

Conduct a Thorough Analysis

A comprehensive movie review requires a detailed examination of various aspects of the film. Study the director’s choices, the music and sound design, and the technical elements such as craftsmanship and artistry. This thorough scrutiny will help you provide a well-rounded critique that captures the essence of the movie.

Discuss the Director’s Role

The director is the creative force behind a film, responsible for shaping its vision and execution. Analyze the director’s choices, considering their impact on the film’s storytelling, pacing, and overall atmosphere. Reflect on the director’s previous work, if applicable, and how this film fits into their oeuvre.

Evaluate Music and Sound

Music and sound play an essential role in creating a film’s mood and atmosphere. Examine the soundtrack, score, and audio design, considering how these elements contribute to the movie’s overall experience. Discuss the effectiveness of the composition, melody, and soundscapes in enhancing the narrative.

Assess Technical Aspects 

Review the technical aspects of the film, such as the expertise and proficiency of the crew, the quality of the special effects, and the overall production value. Analyze how these elements contribute to the film’s success or shortcomings, and whether they support the movie’s themes and narrative.

Evaluate the Acting 

Analyze the actors’ performances, considering their delivery, expression, and interpretation of their roles. Discuss whether the acting feels authentic and engaging, and how it contributes to the film’s overall impact. Pay attention to standout performances or any instances where the acting may have detracted from the movie’s overall quality.

In summary, writing a movie review involves a careful balance of plot summary, thesis development, opinion sharing, and thorough analysis of various aspects of the film, including characters, cinematography, directorial choices, music and sound, and technical elements. By considering all these factors and incorporating the appropriate keyword density and LSI keywords organically throughout your review, you can create an engaging, informative, and well-rounded critique that will appeal to readers and enhance their appreciation for the film. Remember to be honest and thoughtful in your assessment, and most importantly, enjoy the process of delving into the world of cinema.

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Film review.

Look at the film review and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Instructions

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Preparation

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Forrest Gump — Movie Review: Forrest Gump

Movie Review: Forrest Gump

• Categories: Forrest Gump Movie Review

About this sample

Words: 1283 |

Published: Dec 18, 2018

Words: 1283 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Table of contents

Forrest gump outline, forrest gump essay example, introduction.

• Introduction of the movie "Forrest Gump"
• Mention of main characters and narrative style

Forrest Gump's Character

• Description of Forrest Gump's personality and characteristics
• His loving nature and protective instincts
• The impact of his mother on his life
• Forrest's struggles with mental retardation and physical handicaps
• Bullying experiences at school

Jenny Curran

• Jenny's role as Forrest's childhood friend
• The traumatic events in Jenny's life and their consequences
• Jenny's complicated relationship with Forrest

Other Characters

• Introduction of Dan Taylor and his transformation
• The theme of death and its impact on Forrest
• Forrest's encounters with different people throughout his life

Plot Summary

• Overview of the movie's plot and narrative structure
• Forrest's journey from childhood to adulthood
• His achievements and challenges
• The recurring theme of life, destiny, and acceptance

Themes and Symbolism

• Discussion of key themes in the movie, including perseverance and acceptance
• Analysis of the feather as a symbol of destiny and luck

Works Cited

• Curnutt, K. (Ed.). (2011). The Forrest Gump Reader. University of Alabama Press.
• Fensch, T. (2002). The Man Behind Forrest Gump: The Forrest Gump Movie, Winston Groom, and the Making of an American Icon. Taylor Trade Publishing.
• Groom, W. (2010). Forrest Gump. Vintage.
• Jarvie, I. C. (2008). Life as Sport: What Top Athletes Can Teach You about How to Win in Life. Sterling Publishing.
• Lyden, J. (2011). Film as Religion: Myths, Morals, and Rituals. NYU Press.
• McGowan, T. (2008). The Impossible David Lynch. Columbia University Press.
• Morris, N. (2002). Forrest Gump: A Novel. Ballantine Books.
• Pauly, T. H. (2008). Game on, Hollywood!: Essays on the Intersection of Video Games and Cinema. McFarland.
• Smith, S. A. (2004). In Search of Forrest Gump: Understanding the Mind of a Simpleton. iUniverse.
• Thompson, J. B. (2011). Movies and Meaning: An Introduction to Film. Pearson.

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Movie Review Essay, Its Outline and Writing Tips

How to do a film review? Writing a film review is not that easy. However, you can fulfill this task using movie review essay outline and if you are ready to watch your selected movie from the beginning to its end and express your opinion about it. All film reviews are divided into two categories: formal and informal.

Preparing a movie review essay is one of numerous written assignments that students must complete in high school, college, or university. Even though it can turn out as simple as ABC, a movie review writing assignment requires spending plenty of time and efforts, as well as proper organization. Take into account that it does not concern writing what occurs on the screen, it should go deeper and be well-though-out than that.

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So, if you are not aware how to write a movie review essay for college, university or high school, think of such an astounded opportunity to search for online academic writing assistance and support If you refer to our online trustworthy and first-class writing services company , our fascinating professionals will help you solving all your writing problems as they do know how to critique a movie or how to prepare an outstanding movie review essay outline of the high quality.

Practical Guide on How to Start a Movie Review and Submit It Successfully

It is proven that begining any new things, writing is not an exception, is always the most complicated. A start is regarded as an essential point where people usually set their pace and specify how to approach the task in the most productive way. Here are several useful and advantageous tips that can help you at each stage of the writing process.

The Most Important Components of the Film Review Essay Structure

If you do not know how to write a movie critique or how to write a movie review essay, but you want to succeed in doing this yourself, then carefully and attentively read each piece of information given below.

• The title of the chosen or set movie – as the headline is supposed to feature the name of the film, it is imperative to mention it in the essay. Always make emphasis on the feature that you have watched in the introduction of your movie review essay. This may sound a bit an unwise thing to indicate, but it is regarded as one of the most common blunders that students usually make.
• Summary – the key point of the film review writing is to present a summary for those people who have not seen it yet. To make it as efficient as only possible, try assuming that your teacher has not watched it either due to some reasons. Why is it of great importance? As an amazing reviewer, your task is to explain to your readers what occurred in the movie chosen or set and give your evaluation whether the film producer or director succeeded or not.
• Film-producer – conduct some research on the film-director or producer. Is that person an extravagant personality? Is she or he well known for his / her contributions to the industry of cinematography? Does the film-producer or director have a remarkable background or achievements? Devote a paragraph to this person behind the film and his / her other masterpieces, if any, in order to determine the significance of the movie you are to review for his / her career.
• Importance to the class of yours- How does the movie content suit into your term or course topic? Is it significant for historical truthfulness and accuracy? If the movie is based on the well-know bestseller you have analyzed in literature class, you may focus on differences, similarities, or some components that the movie contains, but the book lacks, etc.
• Creative components – film-producers do work very hard to incorporate creative components into their movies. How are these components significant to the plot in particular and the film in general? For instance, colors can be vivid and fascinating, thus lifting the atmosphere or spirit in the film or they can be faded out, thus contributing to the feeling of depressing or indifference.
• Actors – Do not forget about the actors. Were the actors true to life? Did they manage to depict the role of a certain hero successfully or awfully? Did they have amazing acting skills and natural gifts? Do you consider that a certain actor was the right choice for the film role?

Learn about writing an analysis essay:  “How to Write an Analysis Essay + Painting Analysis Essay Example”

In case you have some doubts regarding how to write a review of a movie in the essay, do not hesitate to contact our professional experts.

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How to Analyze a Film: An Effective Strategy that You Should Follow

• Watch the film that you have chosen one or several times and put down all your impressions. Avoid relying only on your “excellent memory” as there is always a possibility to forget or simply overlook something.
• Carry out a detailed research. Simply watching a movie is not enough, thorough research is also of huge significance. Try looking for especial details, such as the name of film-director or producer and her or his motivation to shoot that movie, characterization, locations, plot, historical events or figures that served as a source of inspiration for the film (if applicable or needed). Your research should be aimed at collecting information that gives more depth and clarity to your review.
• Analyze the film just after you saw it. Do not commence working on your movie review if you have slight doubts that you misunderstand the movie. Evaluate the film from its beginning to its end. If there is a need, re-watch it, if you misunderstand some episodes. Only when you have a clear understanding of all the events that took place on the screen will you find it much easier to complete your movie review essay.
• Try including some examples based on the film. If the plot comprises evident and confusing holes, give an example of these situations or scenes. Also, if the hero or heroine is poorly presented or bad casting and play had a terrible influence on the film quality, also make emphasis on these examples. Present examples whenever you comment dialogues, plot, locations, etc. If you wish the readers to agree or disagree with your point of view, it is of great significance to back up each claim or argument of yours with clear evidence.

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Movie Review Essay Sample

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Free Movie Review Writing Tips to Follow

• As a student, most likely, you will have to write formal film reviews as requested by your professor. So, as you are getting ready for writing a film review, begin with the analysis of the movie. You can either choose it on your own or follow the instructions provided by your professor. If you have some freedom of choice, do not ignore the criteria listed by your professor. The movie of your choice will have to meet them.
• To produce a first-class film review essay, you will need to watch the movie two or three times. This is the best way for you to understand the hidden meaning of the movie and see the things that you may not be able to notice, if you watch the movie once.
• As you are expected to produce a solid film review, you should also explore some additional sources. For example, try to find any information about how your chosen movie was created. Is it that the director of the movie used his or her personal experiences as the base for developing the movie plot? Look closer at the movie setting, the crew that was invited to work in every scene, and the movie budget.
• By the time you are ready to watch the movie for the second time, you will know enough about the plot to focus on the smallest details of the movie structure.
• Now you can list the most critical features of the movie to be discussed in your movie review essay. Develop a movie review essay outline and expand upon the most essential points you have noted in the film of your choice. Do not forget to develop a good introductory passage. Tell your reader who the director of the movie is, when the movie was created and presented to the audience, what initial reaction it stirred in the public, and why the author decided to create the film of that kind.
• Now switch to writing the body paragraphs. Perform a thorough analysis of the movie’s story plot. Analyze how well the actors have coped with their professional tasks. Is the movie realistic? Use evidence from the movie, when writing a film review.
• Now you can finish your paper with a strong concluding paragraph. Tell your reader what you feel about the movie. Provide recommendations for your audience. Because your opinion matters, try to choose a movie that touches your heart and stirs your mind.

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, reflexive memories: the images of the cine-essay.

While the video essay form, in regards to its practice of exploring the visual themes in cinematic discourse, has seen a recent surge in popularity with viewers (thanks to invaluable online resources like indieWIRE’s Press Play, Fandor’s Keyframe and the academic peer-reviewed journal [in]Transition), its historical role as a significant filmmaking genre has long been prominent among film scholars and cinephiles.

From the start, the essay film—more affectionately referred to as the “cine-essay”—was a fusion of documentary filmmaking and avant-garde filmmaking by way of appropriation art; it also tended to employ fluid, experimental editing schemes. The first cine-essays were shot and edited on physical film. Significant works like Agnès Varda ’s "Salut les Cubains" (1963) and Marc Karlin’s "The Nightcleaners" (1975), which he made in collaboration with the Berwick Street Film Collective, function like normal documentaries: original footage coupled with a voiceover of the filmmaker and an agenda at hand. But if you look closer and begin to study the aesthetics of the work (e.g. the prolific use of still photos in "Cubains," the transparency of the “filmmaking” at hand in "Nightcleaners"), these films transcend the singular genre that is the documentary form; they became about the process of filmmaking and they aspired to speak to both a past and future state of mind. What the cine-essay began to stand for was our understanding of memory and how we process the images we see everyday. And in a modern technological age of over-content-creation, by way of democratized filmmaking tools (i.e. the video you take on your cell phone), the revitalization of the cine-essayists is ever so crucial and instrumental to the continued curation of the moving images that we manifest.

The leading figure of the cine-essay form, the iconic Chris Marker, really put the politico-stamp of vitality into the cine-essay film with his magnum-opus "Grin Without A Cat" (1977). Running at three hours in length, Marker’s "Grin" took the appropriation art form to the next level, culling countless hours of newsreel and documentary footage that he himself did not shoot, into a seamless, haunting global cross-section of war, social upheaval and political revolution. Yet, what’s miraculous about Marker’s work is that his cine-essays never fell victim to a dependency on the persuasive argument—that was something traditional documentaries hung their hats on. Instead, Marker was much more interested in the reflexive nature of the moving image. If we see newsreel footage of a street riot spliced together with footage from a fictional war film, does that lessen our reaction to the horrific reality of the riot? How do we associate the moving image once it is juxtaposed against something that we once thought to be safe or familiar? At the start of Marker’s "Sans Soleil" (1983), the narrator says, “The first image he told me about was of three children on a road in Iceland, in 1965. He said that for him it was the image of happiness and also that he had tried several times to link it to other images, but it never worked. He wrote me: one day I'll have to put it all alone at the beginning of a film with a long piece of black leader; if they don't see happiness in the picture, at least they'll see the black.” It’s essentially the perfect script for deciphering the cine-essay form in general. It demands that we search and create our own new realities, even if we’re forced to stare at a black screen to conjure up a feeling or memory.

Flash forward to 1995: Harun Farocki creates "Arbeiter verlassen die Fabrik," a video essay that foils the Lumière brothers’ "Employees Leaving the Lumière Factory" (1895) with countless other film clips of workers in the workplace throughout the century. It’s a significant work: exactly 100 years later, a cine-essayist is speaking to the ideas of filmmakers from 1895 and then those ideas are repurposed to show a historical evolution of employer-employee relations throughout time. What’s also significant about Farocki’s film is the technological aspect. Note how his title at this point in time is a “video essayist.” The advent of video, along with the streamlined workflow to acquiring digital assets of moving images, gave essayist filmmakers like Farocki the opportunity for creating innovative works with faster turnaround times. Not only was it less cumbersome to edit footage digitally, the ways for the works to be presented were altered; Farocki would later repurpose his own video essay into a 12-monitor video installation for exhibition.

Consider Thom Andersen’s epic 2003 video essay "Los Angeles Plays Itself." In it, Andersen appropriates clips from films set in Los Angeles from over the decades and then criticizes the cinema’s depiction of his beloved city. It’s the most meta of essay films because by the end, Andersen himself has constructed the latest Los Angeles-based film. And although Andersen has more of an obvious thesis at hand than, say something as equally lyrical and dense as Marker’s "Sans Soleil," both films exist in the same train of thought: the exploration of the way we as viewers embrace the moving image and then how we communicate that feeling to each other. Andersen may be frustrated with the way Hollywood conveys his city but he even he has moments of inspired introspection towards those films. The same could be said of Marker’s work; just as Marker can remain a perplexed and often inquisitive spectator of the moving images of poverty and genocide that surround him, he functions as a gracious, patient guide for the viewer, since it is his essay text that the narrator reads from.

Watching an essay film requires you to fire on all cylinders, even if you watch one with an audience. It’s a different kind of collective viewing because the images and ideas spring from an artifact that is real; that artifact can be newsreel footage or a completed, a released motion picture that is up for deeper examination or anything else that exists as a completed work. In that sense, the cine-essay (or video essay), remains the most potent form of cinematic storytelling because it invites you to challenge its ideas and images and then in turn, it challenges your own ideas by daring you to reevaluate your own memory of those same moving images. It aims for a deeper truth and it dares to repurpose the cinema less as escapist entertainment and more as an instrument to confront our own truths and how we create them.

RogerEbert.com VIDEO ESSAY: Reflexive Memories: The Images of the Cine-Essay from Nelson Carvajal on Vimeo .

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Celluloid Underground review – love letter to a lifelong passion for film and illicit treasure trove

Iranian critic Ehsan Khoshbakht’s personal essay about a man’s smizdat film print collection shows the lengths cinephiles will go to to protect the art form

T he passion of cinephilia is the subject of this absorbing personal essay movie from Iranian critic and film historian Ehsan Khoshbakht, now co-director of the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna, Italy, who narrates the film in a style that reminded me a little of Mark Cousins and also perhaps Werner Herzog.

Khoshbakht grew up in post-revolutionary Iran where he developed a love of movies and of moving images generally, even the sternly meagre output on national TV. I laughed out loud at Khoshbakht’s entranced description of the TV’s humble colour test card: “As exciting as an MGM musical!” Khoshbakht (daringly) started a film club as a teenager, digitally projecting foreign movies videotaped from TV. He got into serious trouble for showing the Iranian classic The Cow by director Dariush Mehrjui, an anti-government protestor who was murdered last year (and sadly not included in the Oscars in memoriam section).

But even more importantly, Khoshbakht got to know an extraordinary man called Ahmad Jorghanian, a dedicated rescuer of 35mm films and posters whom this film honours as the “Iranian Henri Langlois”; that is, Iran’s unofficial equivalent of the celebrated French archivist and preservationist, hero of the 60s French New Wave . But unlike Jorghanian, Langlois was never arrested and tortured for his westernised film collection.

Jorghanian spent decades hoarding cans of film in his chaotic apartment and in cramped basements and hiding places all over Tehran, buying them from the warehouses and junk shops into which they had been dumped after being confiscated. Khoshbakht was able to project at least some of this illicit treasure trove on a samizdat basis, using borrowed projection facilities, and is ecstatic seeing these movies come to life once more.

In exile in London, Khoshbakht hears about the death of his old friend, and ponders the fate of Jorghanian’s collection: is film, like our own vulnerable human bodies, liable to decay into dusty nothingness? Historians will still protect what material they can, and protect the cinephilic language and culture that allows these films to be appreciated.

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