CONVENTIONS OF A FILM REVIEW

Josh Brown

PARAGRAPH ONE

• The general reaction to the film needs to be clear in the first paragraph.

• The following information needs to be identified:

◦ Title◦ Genre◦ Director◦ Lead actors◦ Year of release

PARAGRAPH TWO

• The plot summary needs to be included within the second paragraph.

• Not every detail needs to be explained within the paragraph however the main premise of the film needs to be identified in order for the reader to understand whether the scenario that drives the action was effective, convincing and engaging.

PARAGRAPH THREE• The acting needs to be

judged within the third paragraph.

• How did the actors portray the key roles? How did they convey the lives of the characters?• Did they fulfil your expectations? Were they believable characters?• Refer to other films made influencing the movie, and assess their performance in this one

PARAGRAPH FOUR

• The filming technique needs to be scrutinised within the fourth paragraph.• A description and assessment of the mise-en-shot and mise en scene (camera angles, editing, lighting, set production, costumes, etc.)• Other notable successes/failures of the film – for example, the soundtrack, special effects, etc. need to be identified whilst comparing and contrasting to other films from the same genre.

PARAGRAPH FIVE• The themes need to be

identified within the fifth paragraph.

• Identify the messages of the film and how they are conveyed• Is this done effectively?• Compare and contrast to other films from the same genre/director/period)

PARAGRAPH SIX

• The filming review needs to be concluded within the final paragraph.

• Opinions of the film need to be expressed by ranking it alongside others that you may or may not have already mentioned.

• Suggest to the reader that this may be a film to see/avoid.