How to Write a Film Review

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Title

The simp­lest solu­ti­on is to take the title of the film. As usu­al puns and allu­si­ons are more sophisti­ca­ted and entertaining.

Introduction

You can start off with infor­ma­ti­on about the film (e.g. finan­cial aspects, awards, reviews) and/or the direc­tor (e.g. awards, for­mer movies). Also quo­tes and/or anec­do­tes may catch the reader’s atten­ti­on. You can also descri­be what you expec­ted from the film.

Main part

Pro­vi­de a brief sum­ma­ry of the plot. Make sure that your sum­ma­ry makes sen­se to a rea­der who does not know the movie. Do not refer to spe­ci­fic sce­nes. Is the plot inte­res­t­ing, belie­va­ble or rather predictable?

Pre­sent the main actors and their cha­rac­ters and say some­thing about their per­for­mance. If you like you may give reasons why you iden­ti­fy with a cer­tain cha­rac­ter. Are the actors belie­va­ble and sympathetic?

Sta­te your opi­ni­on of the movie and give reasons for it. What are its strengths and weak­ne­s­ses (came­ra, sound­track etc.) ?  Sup­port your opi­ni­on with spe­ci­fic scenes.

You can rela­te the film to other well-known examp­les of its gen­re (thril­ler, come­dy, dra­ma etc.) and/or the­me. What is uni­que about your film? Does it have a spe­ci­fic mes­sa­ge? If so, do you agree with this mes­sa­ge? In which respect is your film superior/inferior?

You can place the film in its cul­tu­ral con­text and/or describe/speculate on the director’s inten­ti­on and mes­sa­ge.

Conclusion

Eit­her recom­mend the film or advi­se against see­ing it. Is this only a film for teen­agers, women, young men? Take care that your final jud­ge­ment is logi­cal­ly deve­lo­ped from what you have writ­ten before.