Writing a film analysis can feel like entering foreign territory for some students. Most students are used to writing analytical essays about books, but not about films.
When you think about it, films and books have a lot in common. Both include characters, setting and themes. The difference is the vehicle used to tell the story. In writing a film review, you’ll also take into account cinematography, acting, costume and setting.
Here are some areas to consider when crafting a film review essay:
Read Other Film Reviews
If you’ve never written a film analysis before, it can be helpful to see how other people write them to give you an idea of the different themes and ideas you can explore.
Watch the Film More Than Once
In fact, the more you watch it, the more nuance you’ll be able to pick up. Pause, rewind and re-watch to capture as much detail as possible.
Choose Your Theme
There are many different angles to choose when analyzing a film. One very popular theme is the compare/contrast:
- You may be comparing the film to the book that it’s based on in which case you’ll look for similarities and differences. For example, the 1959 film Black Orpheus takes the classical Greek tale Orpheus and Eurydice and uses Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival as the backdrop for a modern telling of the story. You might analyze whether or not the story is served by this setting and why the director chose it.
- Another type of comparison essay you could write is to compare the film to other films by the same director. Is this film a departure from his normal style? What new influences, styles or themes is he incorporating? Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho, for example, was seen as a departure from his previous film North by Northwest.
- Yet another type of comparison essay is to compare a film to other films of its genre. For example, Italian neorealism had several major filmmakers (Vittorio de Sica, Federico Fellini, Alberto Lattuada, Roberto Rosselini etc.). You could highlight one film from one director and compare it to the styles and themes represented by the genre itself.
Other ideas to consider:
Acting
Acting is an important component of any film. Are the actors acting in a stylized and specific way? If it’s a period piece, do the actor’s do a good job of incorporating accents and manners of speaking? Is there improvisation like the famous ending of Coppola’s Apocalypse Now where Marlon Brando improvises the dialogue when he’s found by Charlie Sheen’s character?
Character
Are the characters fully developed? Are they believable? This is often a criticism of films that are based on books- that the characters aren’t developed as fully as in the book and therefore the story doesn’t carry as much meaning. Whether or not it’s based on a book, character development is often key to a film’s success. Consider whether or not the film you’re writing about achieves this.
Cinematography
How does the filmmaker use the camera to tell the story? Are there wide panning shots? Is it esthetically beautiful? Does he forgo the use of big budget effects in preference of handheld cameras and natural lighting like the filmmakers who signed the Dogme 95 Manifesto? How does the filmmaker’s style of shooting contribute to the film’s meaning or effect?
Themes
What major themes drive the story? Revenge, love, sacrifice, fate, transformation, redemption are some common themes. How successful is the filmmaker at translating this theme to film? What vehicles does he use to highlight these themes?
Costume/Setting
The 1963 film Cleopatra was lauded as one of the most ambitious and expensive films ever made with elaborate costumes and film sets. On the other hand, you have the film Dogville which is essentially an unfinished theater stage that’s shot on film with a handheld camera. Between these two extremes there are thousands of films that have used setting and costume to varying effect. How do these factors contribute or detract from your chosen film?
Use these tips to ace your film analysis essay.