February 23, 2012

Reviewing Films

Film reviews can be persuasive, as they try to document the films positive and negative features,story line , quality of acting etc.Most major newspapers have a culture film review section dedicated to analysing current releases.You become familiar with journalists who regularly write reviews for newspapers , websites, journals and begin to trust their opinion.

An example of a recent film reviewed positively is Blue Valentine. A debut for the director Derek Cianfrance .Described by a critic as “ well realised “ and beautifully acted  the article concludes it is a hit .

A good review can lead to more leading roles for an actor/actress, therefore critics play a vital role in the film industry .

A reviewer is usually a  patient, enquiring, observant individual .A reviewer uncovers many layers to a film, the emotional , spiritual, logical, psychological structure .The review should interest the reader.Readers are generally interested in anothers opinion before dedicating time to seeing a film.

Film reviewing is quite an active process, you have to assess various elements of the film , the quality of acting, script/ dialogue, music,camera work, length of film .A reviewer may ask does the film fulfil it’s aim .Reviews are usually a lead up to an interview with the director/ leading actor of the film, as a main feature on a website or in newspaper format .

Apart from box office sales film reviews also influence DVD and music CD sales  based on the films soundtrack.The film cast are normally happy to read a good review and disappointed by reviews that categorise a film as a failure.Numerous reviews are written on the same film.

One can compare reviews written to get a reliable account of the movie , eliminating reviewer bias. An interview gives the reader an insight into the actor /actresses personality . A review will refer to the core elements of a film, memorable scenes and instances of exceptional performance. The story line is summarised for the reader, a synopsis.Photos for a film may accompany a review as included in a review of Black Swan, a “ballet psychodrama “ in the Guardian on line,listed as the editors pick.

What is a Film Review

Film reviews are written by journalists or critique and are printed in magazines, newspapers, film journals or online to support websites/radio based reviews.Television based reviews can be seen on news /current affairs programs.

To promote a film, interviews with the stars of the film are conducted. These reviews tend to be flattering.
Printed reviews can be more critical. A film review is basically a summary of a film viewed. The aim of a review is to provide accurate insights into a recent film, the performance of the cast, the quality of the production, quality of script, costumes and music are noted .

Films seen at the cinema are usually linked to famous actors / actresses and the general public are keen to see these productions. A review can be an introduction to the movie, hopefully an unbiased account capturing the main features of the film.

Reviews can influence whether you see a film or not and tend to go beyond the expensive promotions and advertising often associated with large scale productions, a realistic assessment of the film is offered by the reviewer.

A reviewer usually watches the film once and then writes a review within one to two days. The review may contain a rating based on 5 stars or a score out of ten. A positive review helps promote the film further, influencing sales at the box office.

The reviewer may have access to the official press release and can make an evaluation based on the key aspects noted here. Online film reviews may contain a link to the trailer. The telegraphs review of slum dog millionaire is an example of a positive review. In the main body of the review the reviewer remarks  “It takes your breath away at the same time  as it  makes you want to holler with joy or to grab the person next to you “ (Sukhdev Sandhu). Reviews can evidently be emotionally charged. The reviewer is not a passive consumer, you will get an expressive evaluation. In end of year reviews you might see listed the ten worst/best films of 2010.