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Crafting a Powerful Thesis Statement for a Movie Review: Examples and Tips

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Writing Articles & Reviews
October 28, 2023

Introduction

writing a movie review can be an exciting task, but IT requires careful consideration and thought. One of the most important elements of a movie review is the thesis statement, as IT sets the tone and direction for the entire review. In this article, we will explore the process of crafting a powerful thesis statement for a movie review, providing you with helpful examples and tips along the way.

What is a Thesis Statement in a Movie Review?

A thesis statement in a movie review presents the main argument or opinion that you will be discussing and supporting throughout your review. IT typically appears near the end of your introduction and should be clear, concise, and thought-provoking. The thesis statement should provide an overall evaluation or interpretation of the movie, highlighting the key aspects you will be focusing on in your review.

Examples of Powerful Thesis Statements

Let’s now explore some examples of powerful thesis statements to give you a better understanding of how to structure your own. Remember, these examples are not meant to be copied directly but rather to serve as inspiration for crafting your unique thesis statement:

Example 1: The movie “Inception” explores the convoluted depths of the human mind, challenging our perception of reality and leaving audiences questioning the nature of dreams.
Example 2: Through its stunning cinematography and emotional storytelling, “The Shawshank Redemption” showcases the resilience of the human spirit and the power of hope in the face of adversity.
Example 3: In “Black Swan,” the director delves into the dark and obsessive world of ballet, blurring the lines between sanity and insanity, leading to a mesmerizing and haunting cinematic experience.

Tips for Crafting a Powerful Thesis Statement

Now that you’ve seen some examples, let’s dive into some tips to help you craft a powerful thesis statement for your movie review:

Identify the central theme: Analyze the movie and identify the central theme or message being conveyed. This will serve as the basis for your thesis statement.
Be specific: Make your thesis statement clear and specific, avoiding vague language or generalizations. This will make your argument more compelling and focused.
Consider the audience: Think about the intended audience of your review and tailor your thesis statement to resonate with them. Different audiences may have varying expectations or interests.
Support with evidence: Your thesis statement should be supported by evidence from the movie. Incorporate specific scenes, dialogues, or character developments to strengthen your argument.
Stay objective: While expressing your personal opinion is essential, ensure that your thesis statement remains objective and balanced. Avoid overly biased language that may detract from the credibility of your review.

Crafting a powerful thesis statement for a movie review is crucial in setting the tone and direction for your review. IT should provide a clear evaluation or interpretation of the movie, supported by evidence and examples. By following the tips outlined in this article and considering the provided examples, you can create a compelling thesis statement that engages your readers and enhances the overall quality of your movie review.

1. Can I include my personal opinion in the thesis statement?

Yes, you can include your personal opinion in the thesis statement, but ensure that IT remains objective and supported by evidence from the movie.

2. Should I mention the title of the movie in my thesis statement?

While IT is not mandatory, IT is recommended to include the title of the movie in your thesis statement to provide clarity and context.

3. How long should my thesis statement be?

A thesis statement should be concise and to the point. Aim for a sentence or two that effectively conveys your main argument.

4. Can I change my thesis statement after writing the review?

Yes, IT is possible to make adjustments to your thesis statement if you feel IT needs refinement or modification based on your analysis and review process.

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Film Analysis

Crafting a Winning Thesis Statement in Film Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide

Dec 6, 2023

Avinash Prabhakaran

Film analysis is a captivating and insightful way to explore the world of cinema. Whether you're a film student, a cinephile, or just someone who enjoys dissecting movies, you'll find that forming a solid thesis statement is the cornerstone of a successful film analysis.

A thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your analysis, guiding your reader through your interpretation of the film's elements and themes.

In this blog post, we'll outline the steps to help you craft an effective thesis statement for your film analysis.

Understand the Film's Context

Before diving into your analysis, it's crucial to understand the film's context. This includes the director's background, the film's era, its genre, and any cultural or historical factors that may have influenced its production. Gathering this context will help you form a more informed thesis statement.

Watch the Film Multiple Times

You must thoroughly watch the film multiple times to craft a thoughtful thesis statement. Each viewing will reveal new details and nuances that you may have missed initially. Take notes during your viewings to record your observations and ideas.

Identify Key Themes and Elements

During your viewings, pay close attention to the film's themes, characters, plot, cinematography, sound, and other elements. Think about what the director is trying to convey and how they use these elements. Make a list of the most prominent themes and elements you observe.

Formulate a Research Question

Based on your observations and analysis, formulate a research question you want to answer in your essay. This question should be open-ended and should invite critical thinking. For example, "How does the use of color symbolism in 'The Shawshank Redemption' reflect the theme of hope?

Brainstorm and Organize Ideas

Now, brainstorm your ideas related to the research question. Think about the evidence you've gathered and how it supports your interpretation of the film. Organize these ideas into a logical structure that will guide your analysis.

Craft a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement should be concise, clear, and arguable. It should encapsulate the main argument of your analysis and give the reader a clear sense of what to expect in your essay. Here are some tips for crafting a solid thesis statement:

Make it specific: Avoid vague or overly broad statements. Be precise in what you're arguing.

Make it debatable: Your thesis should invite discussion and disagreement. Avoid stating the obvious.

Make it relevant: Ensure that your thesis directly addresses the research question and the film's themes or elements.

Example Thesis Statement:

"In Christopher Nolan's 'Inception,' the use of dreams as a narrative device serves to blur the line between reality and perception, challenging conventional notions of truth and subjectivity."

Examples to Support the Thesis:

Dreams as a Narrative Device

Throughout 'Inception,' the characters enter various dream levels, each with its own set of rules and physics. Nolan uses this complex narrative structure to keep the audience engaged and constantly questioning what is real.

The manipulation of time within dreams adds another layer of complexity to the narrative. Time moves differently at each dream level, leading to intricate storytelling that challenges traditional linear storytelling.

Blurring Reality and Perception

The film consistently blurs the boundaries between dreams and reality, making it difficult for the characters and the audience to distinguish between them. This intentional ambiguity creates a sense of unease and intrigue.

The use of the spinning top as a totem to determine reality in the film's closing scene encapsulates the theme of perception versus reality. The spinning top symbolizes the characters' struggle to discern the truth.

Challenging Conventional Notions of Truth and Subjectivity

'Inception' invites viewers to question their understanding of reality and truth. The film challenges the idea of an objective reality by presenting multiple layers of dreams and subjective experiences.

The film's enigmatic ending, which leaves the spinning top's fate unresolved, forces viewers to confront their subjectivity and interpretation of the story's conclusion.

By examining these specific examples, it becomes evident how using dreams as a narrative device in 'Inception' blurs the line between reality and perception, ultimately challenging conventional notions of truth and subjectivity as proposed in the thesis statement.

This exemplifies the importance of using concrete evidence from the film to validate your interpretation as outlined in your thesis statement.

Forming a thesis statement in film analysis is vital in creating a compelling and well-structured essay.

By understanding the film's context, closely examining its elements, and crafting a clear and arguable thesis statement, you'll be well on your way to conducting a thorough and insightful analysis that will engage your readers and deepen your understanding of cinema. Happy analyzing!

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Film Studies

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 5,582,060 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

Step 1 Start with a compelling fact, quote, or opinion on the movie.

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."

Step 2 Give a clear, well-established opinion early on.

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."

Step 3 Support your opinions with evidence from specific scenes.

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

Step 1 Follow your thesis paragraph with a short plot summary.

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.

Step 2 Start to talk about the film’s technical and artistic choices.

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."

Step 4 Use plenty of examples to back up your points.

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

Step 1 Gather basic facts about the movie.

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

Step 2 Take notes on the movie as you watch it.

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.

Step 3 Analyze the mechanics of the movie.

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 1 Not Helpful 2
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 3 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 2 Not Helpful 0

↑ 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.

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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 [Updated 2023]

Writing a movie review is a great way to practice critical analysis skills. In this post, we explore what a movie review is, how to start a film review, and steps for writing and revising it.

What is a movie review?

A movie review is a concise evaluation of a film’s content and formal elements (cinematography, sound, lighting, etc.). Also known as a film review, a movie review considers not just what a film means, but how it means. Essentially, when you write a film review, you are conducting a critical analysis or close reading of a movie.

How to write a movie review

To write a successful review about a movie, you need to evaluate a film’s content, as well as its form. In this section, we break down these two components.

A film’s content includes its plot (what it’s about), characters, and setting. You’ll need to determine the main plot points of the film and how the film’s story works overall.

Are there parts that don’t make sense? Are certain characters more important than others? What is the relationship between the movie’s plot and its setting? A discussion of a film’s content provides good context for an analysis of its form.

Form refers to all of the aesthetic and/or formal elements that make a story into a movie. You can break down form into several categories:

Cinematography : This element comprises all aspects of the movie that derive from the way a camera moves and works. You’ll need to pay attention to elements like camera angles, distances between the camera and the subject, and types of shots (i.e. close-up, aerial, etc.).
Lighting : Films use lighting in various ways to communicate certain effects. For instance, noir films tend to utilize chiaroscuro lighting (deep contrasts between light and dark) to express a sense of secrecy or foreboding.
Sound : The way a film uses sound can vary considerably. Most movies have a soundtrack, sometimes with music composed specifically for the film. Some films play around with ambient sounds or use silence at key points to signify important moments. What is the relation of sound to the image in specific scenes or sequences? Do sounds link images? Does it ever become more important than the image?
Editing : The movies we watch online or in theaters have been heavily edited in order to achieve a particular flow. When you are preparing to write a movie review, pay close attention to elements like the length of shots, transitions between scenes, or any other items that were finalized after filming.
Costumes, Props, and Sets : Are the costumes and props believable in relation to the film’s content and setting? Are costumes particularly elaborate or understated?

The important thing to remember when you are analyzing the formal elements of a movie is that every image, sound, movement, and object has meaning and has been planned. Your review needs to take into consideration how these elements work together with the film’s storyline to create a whole experience.

Once you’ve considered both the content and form of the movie that you’re reviewing, you can begin to evaluate the film as a whole. Is it a successful movie? Would you recommend it? Why or why not?

Step-by-step review writing tips

1. watch the movie.

The first time that you watch the movie, look for overarching themes or patterns, and establish what the film is primarily about. Take note of the main characters, as well as the setting.

2. Watch the movie again and take notes

Next, watch the movie again and take notes as you are doing so, keeping in mind the formal aspects discussed above. Write down anything that seems significant.

3. Evaluate the film’s form and content

Using the categories described above, and any handouts or guides provided by your instructor, evaluate the film’s formal elements along with its content. Are there elements of the movie that strike you as unfamiliar or perplexing? Are there elements that are repeated to emphasize a point or perception?

4. Write your review

A good movie review will contain:

an introductory paragraph that tells the reader what movie you’re reviewing
a paragraph that summarizes the movie
several body paragraphs that explore significant formal elements and how they relate to the content
a concluding paragraph that discusses your overall reaction to the film and whether or not you would recommend it to others

5. Create citations

You’ll need cite the film and any secondary sources that you consulted while writing. Use BibGuru’s citation generator to instantly create accurate citations for movies, as well as articles, books, and websites.

You may also want to consult a guide on how to cite a film in MLA or another major citation style .

6. Revise and proofread

Once you’ve written your review, you should set aside some time to revise and proofread it before you turn it in.

Movie review checklist

You can use this checklist to ensure that you’ve considered all of the formal elements, as well as the content, of the film that you’re reviewing:

🔲 Cinematography (camera moves and types of shots)

🔲 Lighting (natural vs. artificial light, contrasts between light and dark)

🔲 Sound (soundtrack, sound vs. silence, loud vs. soft sounds)

🔲 Editing (length of shots, transitions between scenes)

🔲 Costumes, props, and sets (believable vs. staged)

🔲 Content (plot, characters, setting)

Frequently Asked Questions about how to write a review about a movie

A movie review should contain a brief summary of the film, several paragraphs of analysis that focus on form and content, and a concluding paragraph that sums up your reaction.

Before you write anything, you need to watch the film at least once. Take notes as you’re watching and pay attention to formal elements and patterns. Then, write your review. The final step is to revise your work before you turn it in.

The tone for a movie review should be critical, yet objective. The goal of most reviews is to persuade a reader to either see a film or not.

The best film reviews balance plot summary with critical analysis of significant formal elements. A reader should be able to decide if she wants to see the film after reading the review.

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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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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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Thesis Statement for Review

In the realm of reviews, whether they concern books, films, products, or services, a compelling thesis statement is pivotal. It serves as the anchor, succinctly conveying your evaluative stance and guiding readers through your perspective. As reviews often sway opinions and decisions, mastering the art of crafting a potent thesis statement is essential. Dive into stellar examples, learn the crafting process, and grasp pro tips to perfect your review narratives.

What is a Review Thesis Statement? – Definition

A concise thesis statement summary of the reviewer’s main evaluation or judgment about the subject under consideration. Unlike research or argumentative thesis statements, a review thesis primarily focuses on the reviewer’s stance, be it positive, negative, or mixed, providing readers with a clear indication of the overall tone and direction the review will take.

What is a good thesis statement Example for a Review?

Book Review : “In J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’, the intricacies of the plot, combined with the depth of character development, create not only the strongest book in the series but also a testament to her evolving writing prowess.”

Movie Review : “Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’ masterfully combines complex storytelling with breathtaking visuals, making it an audacious and mesmerizing cinematic experience.”

Product Review : “Apple’s iPhone 12 Pro offers a harmonious blend of cutting-edge technology and sleek design, setting a new benchmark in the smartphone industry despite its steep price.”

Each of these good thesis statements offers a clear evaluative stance, providing a snapshot of the reviewer’s perspective on the subject in question.

100 Thesis Statement Examples for Review

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In crafting a review, your specific thesis statement sets the tone, offering readers a glimpse into your assessment. Whether it’s a book, film, product, or service, a well-penned thesis encapsulates your viewpoint, guiding readers through your evaluative journey. Below are diverse examples to inspire and guide your review writing endeavors.

“Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ presents a haunting dystopian world, prompting readers to reflect on societal structures.”
“Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’ delves deep into the psyche of its characters, showcasing his directorial genius.”
“Samsung’s Galaxy S21 fuses functionality with design, though its battery life leaves room for improvement.”
“The newly opened ‘Cafe Delight’ boasts an eclectic menu but struggles with service consistency.”
“Netflix’s ‘The Crown’ brilliantly captures the nuances of the British monarchy, making it a binge-worthy series.”
“Nike’s latest running shoes offer unparalleled comfort but come with a hefty price tag.”
“Trevor Noah’s ‘Born a Crime’ is an enlightening memoir that seamlessly blends humor and poignant moments.”
“Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ is a melodious departure from her usual genre, proving her versatile artistry.”
“The MacBook Air M1 is Apple’s crowning achievement in balancing performance and portability.”
“Spielberg’s ‘Schindler’s List’ remains a cinematic masterpiece, shedding light on humanity’s darkest hours.”
“The PlayStation 5, while boasting groundbreaking graphics, suffers from limited availability.”
“The vegan dishes at ‘Green Haven’ are a delight, offering both flavor and nutritional value.”
“Disney’s ‘Mulan’ remake, although visually stunning, lacks the charm of the original animation.”
“Fender’s latest guitar series is a boon for professionals, though beginners might find them overwhelming.”
“Erin Morgenstern’s ‘The Starless Sea’ is a lyrical journey through whimsical worlds, though it occasionally loses its narrative thread.”
“The ‘Zen Retreat Spa’ offers a holistic wellness experience but could benefit from a wider range of services.”
“Billie Eilish’s ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’ pushes musical boundaries, heralding a new era of pop.”
“The Pixel 6, with its AI capabilities, sets a new standard, though it falls short in the aesthetics department.”
“Amazon’s ‘The Boys’ offers a gritty take on superheroes, breaking away from conventional portrayals.”
“The latest Adidas workout gear combines style with functionality but demands a premium.”
“The new Honda Accord impresses with its fuel efficiency, though the interior design feels dated.”
“BBC’s adaptation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ remains unparalleled in capturing the essence of Austen’s classic.”
“While GoPro’s latest model offers groundbreaking stabilization, its battery life remains a sore point.”
“Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty line is revolutionary in its inclusivity, setting new standards for the cosmetic industry.”
“Ubisoft’s ‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ offers a rich historical setting, but glitches occasionally disrupt gameplay.”
“While the ‘Eco Bistro’ boasts an organic menu, its dishes often lack seasoning and flavor.”
“Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ is a masterclass in blending horror with societal commentary.”
“The Dyson V11 stands out in performance among vacuum cleaners, but its price is discouraging for many.”
“Spotify’s user interface makes it the top choice for music streaming, though its podcast section could be improved.”
“Stephen King’s ‘The Institute’ reiterates his prowess in writing gripping narratives but treads familiar themes.”
“The newly launched Microsoft Surface Pro excels in versatility but struggles with battery longevity.”
“‘Circe’ by Madeline Miller is a spellbinding retelling of mythology, highlighting the nuances of its titular character.”
“While the Xbox Series X boasts impressive specs, its game library needs expansion.”
“Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in ‘The Revenant’ is raw and captivating, making it a cinematic gem.”
“Nikon’s latest DSLR camera offers stunning photo quality but falls short in video capabilities.”
“The ‘Mountain View Resort’ provides a serene escape, though its dining options are limited.”
“Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ is a powerful blend of music and activism, showcasing her evolution as an artist.”
“Adobe’s Photoshop remains the top choice for professionals, though its steep learning curve is daunting for newbies.”
“Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal in ‘Joker’ provides a harrowing look into mental health issues, making it a standout film.”
“The Tesla Model X, with its innovative features, is reshaping the automobile industry.”
“George Orwell’s ‘1984’ is eerily relevant today, underlining the dangers of unchecked power.”
“While the iPhone SE offers value for money, it lacks the flair of its high-end counterparts.”
“Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ blends nostalgia with suspense, creating an irresistible binge-watch.”
“While Bose’s new headphones provide exceptional sound, they are not the most comfortable for extended use.”
“Barack Obama’s ‘A Promised Land’ is an introspective memoir providing invaluable insights into his presidency.”
“Sony’s Bravia range offers unmatched picture quality, but its sound system could use an upgrade.”
“The ‘Desert Oasis Retreat’ stands out for its rejuvenating experiences, though it’s far removed from urban amenities.”
“Ariana Grande’s ‘Sweetener’ album showcases her vocal prowess, though some tracks feel repetitive.”
“The Nikon Z5, while great for photography enthusiasts, might be an overkill for casual users.”
“HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’, despite its controversial ending, has set a benchmark for fantasy television.”
“The Google Home smart speaker, with its intuitive features, stands out in the crowded smart home market.”
“Ernest Hemingway’s ‘The Old Man and the Sea’ is a testament to human resilience and determination.”
“Canon’s EOS series offers versatility for both amateurs and professionals, though its price range is vast.”
“Marvel’s ‘Avengers: Endgame’ serves as a fitting conclusion to an epic saga, balancing emotion with action.”
“Fitbit’s latest model excels in tracking accuracy but lacks in battery longevity.”
“Starbucks, while offering a wide coffee range, often compromises on the personal touch of local cafes.”
“Christopher Nolan’s ‘Dunkirk’ is a technical marvel, but its narrative feels disjointed at times.”
“The Galaxy Tab series is a strong contender to the iPad, offering versatility at a competitive price.”
“Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Alchemist’ remains a timeless tale of dreams and destiny.”
“‘The Mediterranean Breeze’ restaurant offers authentic flavors but could work on ambiance.”
“Apple Watch, with its health features, is more than just a smart accessory.”
“Lana Del Rey’s ‘Norman F***ing Rockwell’ is a musical journey of melancholy and romance.”
“While Canon’s mirrorless cameras offer innovation, they come with a steep learning curve.”
“Amazon Prime’s ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ is a refreshing take on comedy, set against a vibrant period backdrop.”
“Samsung’s QLED TVs, while providing stunning visuals, are on the pricier side.”
“Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None’ is a masterful suspense that keeps readers on edge.”
“Bose’s SoundTouch 300 offers cinematic sound but falls short in bass depth.”
“The French bakery ‘La Delice’ offers authentic pastries but is often crowded due to limited seating.”
“Hulu’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is a chilling adaptation, shedding light on societal regression.”
“The Tesla Model 3, while revolutionary in design, often faces software glitches.”
“Tom Hanks’ performance in ‘Saving Private Ryan’ delivers a raw portrayal of the horrors of war, making it an iconic film.”
“The latest update of the Android OS impresses with its user-friendly features but is not without minor bugs.”
“The Broadway musical ‘Hamilton’ revolutionizes theater by blending history with contemporary music genres.”
“Sony’s WH-1000XM4 headphones provide noise-cancellation at its best, but their hefty price tag is a deterrent for some.”
“J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ brilliantly blends mystery and magic, setting the tone for the series’ darker undertones.”
“The ‘Seaside Resort’ is perfect for a tranquil getaway, but its remote location might not appeal to those seeking more lively surroundings.”
“Lady Gaga’s ‘Chromatica’ is a powerful return to her dance-pop roots, resonating with many of her longtime fans.”
“Adobe Premiere Pro stands tall in video editing software but demands a high-performance machine for smooth functioning.”
“Scorsese’s ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ is a gritty dive into corporate greed, bolstered by DiCaprio’s stellar performance.”
“Fitbit’s Versa 3 excels in sleep tracking, but its design is somewhat generic.”
“The novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee remains a poignant exploration of racial and moral complexities in the American South.”
“LG’s OLED TV lineup boasts unrivaled picture quality, but concerns over screen burn-in persist.”
“The restaurant ‘Urban Eats’ offers innovative fusion cuisine, though sometimes it tries too hard to impress.”
“The movie ‘Parasite’ by Bong Joon-ho is a masterclass in genre-blending, tackling social issues with dark humor.”
“Apple’s iPad Pro is a formidable contender in the tablet market but is often seen as overpriced.”
“BTS’s album ‘Map of the Soul: 7’ showcases their evolution as artists, touching upon themes of self-reflection and growth.”
“The video game ‘The Last of Us Part II’ is a narrative powerhouse, though it polarized fans with its bold storytelling choices.”
“The ‘Alpine Lodge’ offers a cozy winter retreat with stunning mountain views, but its in-house dining options are limited.”
“Dua Lipa’s ‘Future Nostalgia’ is a refreshing blend of pop genres, echoing past eras while sounding unmistakably modern.”
“The novel ‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern paints a mesmerizing picture, though its plot occasionally meanders.”
“Samsung’s Fold series pushes the boundaries of smartphone design but raises durability concerns.”
“The documentary ‘Our Planet’ is a visual spectacle that underscores the urgent need for environmental conservation.”
“The ‘Zenbook’ series by Asus strikes a balance between portability and performance, appealing to both students and professionals.”
“Ari Aster’s ‘Midsommar’ is a haunting exploration of grief, set against the eerie backdrop of a Swedish midsummer festival.”
“Nike’s React series offers unmatched cushioning for runners, but some find its design too flashy.”
“The film ‘La La Land’ is a heartfelt homage to classic Hollywood musicals, blending romance with stunning cinematography.”
“OnePlus, with its latest smartphone, offers flagship features at a competitive price but compromises on camera quality.”
“The musical ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ touches upon pressing issues of mental health, resonating deeply with contemporary audiences.”
“Canon’s RF lens lineup provides stunning clarity, setting new benchmarks in photography.”
“The TV show ‘Breaking Bad’ remains a testament to character development, chronicling Walter White’s descent into the criminal underworld.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Literature Review

In literature reviews, the goal is often to identify trends, gaps, or controversies in the body of literature on a specific topic. The statements should reflect a comprehensive understanding of various works under review.

“An examination of 20th-century Russian literature reveals a recurring theme of resistance against political oppression.”
“Post-colonial African literature predominantly focuses on the struggle for identity amidst external influences.”
“Modern American poets have shown a distinct shift towards exploring the nuances of urban life.”
“Romantic-era literature frequently romanticizes nature as an antidote to the perils of industrialization.”
“The rise of feminist literature in the 1960s challenged conventional gender norms and roles.”
“A review of dystopian literature exposes society’s fears and anxieties about technological advancement.”
“Contemporary Asian literature reveals the tensions between tradition and modernity.”
“Magic realism in Latin American literature serves as a tool to critique political and social realities.”
“Victorian literature’s portrayal of women reflects the era’s restrictive gender expectations.”
“Middle Eastern literature post-9/11 frequently grapples with themes of identity, migration, and conflict.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Book Review

Book reviews encapsulate the essence, themes, and overall impact of a specific book.

“In ‘1984’, George Orwell presents a harrowing vision of a totalitarian future that challenges the essence of individuality.”
“J.D. Salinger’s ‘Catcher in the Rye’ offers an introspective look at teenage angst and the quest for purpose.”
“Through ‘Beloved’, Toni Morrison confronts the haunting legacies of slavery on personal and collective memory.”
“J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Hobbit’ is a captivating adventure tale that also delves into themes of bravery and friendship.”
“In ‘The Road’, Cormac McCarthy paints a bleak post-apocalyptic world, highlighting the enduring spirit of human survival.”
“Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ masterfully weaves a tale of societal norms and true love.”
“‘The Great Gatsby’ by F. Scott Fitzgerald critiques the American Dream’s elusive nature amidst the Roaring Twenties’ excess.”
“Harper Lee’s ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is a profound exploration of racial prejudice and moral growth in the American South.”
“Paulo Coelho’s ‘The Alchemist’ is a spiritual journey emphasizing the importance of following one’s dreams.”
“Gabriel García Márquez’s ‘One Hundred Years of Solitude’ chronicles the Buendía family’s generational saga, infused with magic realism.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Restaurant Review

Restaurant reviews offer insights into the dining experience, emphasizing ambiance, service, and cuisine.

“The Bistro delights with its fusion of Asian and Mediterranean flavors, though it falls short in ambiance.”
“OceanView offers fresh seafood dishes with a panoramic view that justifies its premium pricing.”
“At Bella Italia, authentic Italian cuisine meets a rustic and cozy environment.”
“Despite its urban setting, Green Haven surprises with its farm-to-table approach, prioritizing organic and locally-sourced ingredients.”
“Midtown Diner offers classic American dishes but needs to improve its service times during rush hours.”
“Le Petite Café stands out for its delicate pastries and a delightful Parisian atmosphere.”
“Tex-Mex Hub is a must-visit for spicy food lovers, offering a genuine taste of Southern American cuisine.”
“While the sushi at DragonRoll is top-notch, the limited vegetarian options can be off-putting for some.”
“UrbanGrill impresses with its innovative dishes but sometimes tries too hard to stand out.”
“Moonlit offers a unique rooftop dining experience, though its menu is somewhat predictable.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Product Review

Product reviews evaluate the efficiency, design, and value of a specific product.

“Apple’s iPhone 13 boasts improved battery life and camera enhancements but still struggles with iOS restrictions.”
“Sony’s A7IV camera sets new standards in mirrorless technology, though it’s not budget-friendly.”
“The Dyson V11 vacuum impresses with its suction power, but its weight can be cumbersome for extended use.”
“Adidas’ Ultraboost 21 shoes provide exceptional comfort for runners but might feel too soft for some.”
“Samsung’s QLED TV series offers vibrant colors and sharp contrasts, but the smart interface needs refining.”
“Bose’s QuietComfort earbuds lead in noise cancellation, yet some users report connectivity issues.”
“The Kindle Paperwhite’s latest version offers a warmer light feature, enhancing the reading experience at night.”
“GoPro’s Hero 9 is a significant improvement in stabilization and resolution, but its bulkiness can be a drawback for some.”
“Nespresso’s Vertuo machine delivers on taste and convenience but is limited by its pod variety.”
“Fitbit’s Charge 4 excels in fitness tracking but falls short in smart features compared to competitors.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Movie Review

Movie reviews provide an analysis of a film’s storyline, cinematography, performances, and overall impact.

“Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’ challenges viewers with its intricate plot but rewards with stunning visuals and performances.”
“‘Parasite’ is a masterclass in genre-blending, tackling social issues with dark humor and suspense.”
“Disney’s ‘Mulan’ offers a fresh take on a beloved story, but some purists might miss the original’s songs and humor.”
“Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’ is a lengthy yet riveting exploration of crime, loyalty, and aging.”
“Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of ‘Little Women’ brings a contemporary feel while honoring the classic’s spirit.”
“‘Joker’, led by Joaquin Phoenix’s haunting portrayal, delves deep into the psyche of Batman’s iconic nemesis.”
“Despite its blockbuster action sequences, ‘Avengers: Endgame’ shines brightest in its quieter, character-driven moments.”
“Pixar’s ‘Soul’ is a heartwarming exploration of life’s purposes and passions, appealing to both kids and adults.”
“Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ is a nostalgic trip back to a bygone era, sprinkled with his signature style.”
“‘Frozen II’ expands the magical world of Arendelle but struggles to capture the original’s charm.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Evaluation

Evaluation thesis statements provide a balanced assessment, considering various criteria.

“While the government’s new policy promises economic growth, it lacks clear provisions for environmental protection.”
“The museum’s latest exhibit excels in interactivity, though some historical inaccuracies weaken its credibility.”
“The new school curriculum offers a broader range of subjects, but its heavy workload might stress students.”
“The city’s public transportation overhaul is commendable for its coverage but needs to prioritize punctuality.”
“The company’s rebranding strategy succeeded in attracting a younger demographic, though it alienated its long-term customers.”
“The festival, while boasting international artists, lacked adequate facilities and organization.”
“The new app update enhances user experience with its design but raises privacy concerns with data collection.”
“While the online course offers flexibility, it lacks the community engagement of traditional classroom settings.”
“The company’s sustainability initiative is praiseworthy, but its implementation in overseas factories remains questionable.”
“The software’s latest version promises enhanced features, but its steep learning curve can deter novice users.”

Thesis Statement Examples for Analysis

Analysis thesis statements delve deep into subjects, dissecting their intricacies.

“Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ intricately explores the human psyche through its complex protagonist.”
“The architectural design of the new library emphasizes accessibility, reflecting a democratic approach to knowledge.”
“Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 represents a triumphant battle against fate, evident in its progression from minor to major tonalities.”
“Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ is a profound commentary on the horrors of war, using distorted imagery to convey pain and chaos.”
“The marketing campaign’s success lies in its appeal to emotions, creating a strong brand-community connection.”
“The poem’s use of iambic pentameter mirrors the rhythmic quality of natural speech, drawing readers into its narrative.”
“The software’s code reveals an emphasis on user privacy, using encryption techniques that prioritize data protection.”
“The character’s development throughout the novel is a reflection of society’s evolving views on gender roles.”
“The film’s use of light and shadow not only establishes mood but also accentuates character dynamics.”
“The policy’s language subtly promotes corporate interests, evident in its emphasis on deregulation and market freedoms.

Does a review need a thesis statement?

Absolutely! A review, whether of a book, film, product, or any other subject, should possess a clear thesis statement. This statement helps set the tone for the review and provides readers or listeners with an understanding of the reviewer’s main stance or perspective. The thesis establishes the foundational argument or point the reviewer is trying to convey. This clarity not only aids in structuring the review but also offers readers a lens through which they can understand the subsequent analysis and critique. In addition, you should review our college essay thesis statement .

How do you write a thesis statement for a review? – Step by Step Guide

Identify the Main Element : Begin by pinpointing what the core element or aspect of the item you’re reviewing is. For a book, this could be the plot or a character; for a product, perhaps its primary function.
Evaluate Your Response : Reflect on your reactions to this core element. Did it resonate with you? Was there something lacking?
Draft a Preliminary Statement : Start with a general statement that captures your initial thoughts about the review subject.
Be Specific : Avoid vague phrases. For instance, rather than saying a book was “good” or “bad,” specify what made it so – was the character development rich, or was the plot predictable?
Consider Counterarguments : Think about potential counterarguments to your stance. This doesn’t mean you should necessarily include them in the thesis, but being aware of them can help you craft a more robust statement.
Revise and Refine : Like all thesis statements, your initial draft might not be perfect. Revisit and refine it to ensure it’s concise, clear, and compelling.
Ensure It’s Arguable : A good thesis statement for a review should present a point that someone could reasonably disagree with.
Avoid Subjectivity : While reviews are inherently subjective, try to ground your thesis in objective observations. Instead of “I didn’t like the book,” you might say, “The book lacked depth in character development, leading to a less immersive experience.”
Test It : Before finalizing your thesis statement, present it to someone unfamiliar with the review subject. If they get a clear sense of your stance and the direction of your review, you’re on the right track.
Position Appropriately : Place your thesis statement at the beginning of your review to give readers a clear sense of direction from the outset.

Tips for Writing a Review Thesis Statement

Stay Concise : Brevity is key. Ensure your thesis is one to two sentences long and clearly encapsulates your main argument or perspective.
Use Active Voice : Active voice makes your statement sound more decisive. For instance, “The film delivers a powerful message about resilience” is preferable to “A powerful message about resilience is delivered by the film.”
Be Open to Change : As you delve deeper into your review, you might find your perspective shifting slightly. Be ready to adjust your thesis accordingly.
Avoid Spoilers : Especially for book and movie reviews, make sure your thesis doesn’t give away key plot points.
Stay Objective : While personal opinions in reviews are inevitable, aim for a balanced view that’s grounded in observable facts or features.
Remember the Audience : Consider who you’re writing for. If your audience is more specialized, like in a scholarly review, your thesis might be more detailed and nuanced. If it’s for a broader audience, clarity and accessibility are paramount.
Seek Feedback : Sometimes, having another set of eyes on your thesis can be invaluable. They might catch ambiguities or vaguenesses that you missed.

Writing a specific thesis statement for a review is as much an art as it is a science. It requires introspection, a clear understanding of the review subject, and the ability to articulate one’s thoughts concisely and compellingly. By following the above steps and tips, you can craft a thesis that anchors your review effectively.

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Documentary Saving Face Movie Review Examples

1. What is the title of the film, what (brief summary) is it about (subject, topic)?

X Men Movie Reviews Examples

Essay 1: auteur.

X-Men series of film is an institution in its amazing way. Bryan Singer pioneered this popular comic characters and brought them to the silver screen. It is a very gigantic task to convert the fictional fantasy of an existence of a superhuman into a realistic visual treat. However, highly creative mind of Bryan Singer is capable of this task. The history is the evidence (The Usual Suspects) of the mastery of Bryan Singer in direction and storytelling. The thesis statement of this paper is the powerful auteur of the directorial team of the movie to bring his vision into reality.

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The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Film Analysis

What this handout is about.

This handout introduces film analysis and and offers strategies and resources for approaching film analysis assignments.

Writing the film analysis essay

Writing a film analysis requires you to consider the composition of the film—the individual parts and choices made that come together to create the finished piece. Film analysis goes beyond the analysis of the film as literature to include camera angles, lighting, set design, sound elements, costume choices, editing, etc. in making an argument. The first step to analyzing the film is to watch it with a plan.

Watching the film

First it’s important to watch the film carefully with a critical eye. Consider why you’ve been assigned to watch a film and write an analysis. How does this activity fit into the course? Why have you been assigned this particular film? What are you looking for in connection to the course content? Let’s practice with this clip from Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958). Here are some tips on how to watch the clip critically, just as you would an entire film:

Give the clip your undivided attention at least once. Pay close attention to details and make observations that might start leading to bigger questions.
Watch the clip a second time. For this viewing, you will want to focus specifically on those elements of film analysis that your class has focused on, so review your course notes. For example, from whose perspective is this clip shot? What choices help convey that perspective? What is the overall tone, theme, or effect of this clip?
Take notes while you watch for the second time. Notes will help you keep track of what you noticed and when, if you include timestamps in your notes. Timestamps are vital for citing scenes from a film!

For more information on watching a film, check out the Learning Center’s handout on watching film analytically . For more resources on researching film, including glossaries of film terms, see UNC Library’s research guide on film & cinema .

Brainstorming ideas

Once you’ve watched the film twice, it’s time to brainstorm some ideas based on your notes. Brainstorming is a major step that helps develop and explore ideas. As you brainstorm, you may want to cluster your ideas around central topics or themes that emerge as you review your notes. Did you ask several questions about color? Were you curious about repeated images? Perhaps these are directions you can pursue.

If you’re writing an argumentative essay, you can use the connections that you develop while brainstorming to draft a thesis statement . Consider the assignment and prompt when formulating a thesis, as well as what kind of evidence you will present to support your claims. Your evidence could be dialogue, sound edits, cinematography decisions, etc. Much of how you make these decisions will depend on the type of film analysis you are conducting, an important decision covered in the next section.

After brainstorming, you can draft an outline of your film analysis using the same strategies that you would for other writing assignments. Here are a few more tips to keep in mind as you prepare for this stage of the assignment:

Make sure you understand the prompt and what you are being asked to do. Remember that this is ultimately an assignment, so your thesis should answer what the prompt asks. Check with your professor if you are unsure.
In most cases, the director’s name is used to talk about the film as a whole, for instance, “Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo .” However, some writers may want to include the names of other persons who helped to create the film, including the actors, the cinematographer, and the sound editor, among others.
When describing a sequence in a film, use the literary present. An example could be, “In Vertigo , Hitchcock employs techniques of observation to dramatize the act of detection.”
Finding a screenplay/script of the movie may be helpful and save you time when compiling citations. But keep in mind that there may be differences between the screenplay and the actual product (and these differences might be a topic of discussion!).
Go beyond describing basic film elements by articulating the significance of these elements in support of your particular position. For example, you may have an interpretation of the striking color green in Vertigo , but you would only mention this if it was relevant to your argument. For more help on using evidence effectively, see the section on “using evidence” in our evidence handout .

Also be sure to avoid confusing the terms shot, scene, and sequence. Remember, a shot ends every time the camera cuts; a scene can be composed of several related shots; and a sequence is a set of related scenes.

Different types of film analysis

As you consider your notes, outline, and general thesis about a film, the majority of your assignment will depend on what type of film analysis you are conducting. This section explores some of the different types of film analyses you may have been assigned to write.

Semiotic analysis

Semiotic analysis is the interpretation of signs and symbols, typically involving metaphors and analogies to both inanimate objects and characters within a film. Because symbols have several meanings, writers often need to determine what a particular symbol means in the film and in a broader cultural or historical context.

For instance, a writer could explore the symbolism of the flowers in Vertigo by connecting the images of them falling apart to the vulnerability of the heroine.

Here are a few other questions to consider for this type of analysis:

What objects or images are repeated throughout the film?
How does the director associate a character with small signs, such as certain colors, clothing, food, or language use?
How does a symbol or object relate to other symbols and objects, that is, what is the relationship between the film’s signs?

Many films are rich with symbolism, and it can be easy to get lost in the details. Remember to bring a semiotic analysis back around to answering the question “So what?” in your thesis.

Narrative analysis

Narrative analysis is an examination of the story elements, including narrative structure, character, and plot. This type of analysis considers the entirety of the film and the story it seeks to tell.

For example, you could take the same object from the previous example—the flowers—which meant one thing in a semiotic analysis, and ask instead about their narrative role. That is, you might analyze how Hitchcock introduces the flowers at the beginning of the film in order to return to them later to draw out the completion of the heroine’s character arc.

To create this type of analysis, you could consider questions like:

How does the film correspond to the Three-Act Structure: Act One: Setup; Act Two: Confrontation; and Act Three: Resolution?
What is the plot of the film? How does this plot differ from the narrative, that is, how the story is told? For example, are events presented out of order and to what effect?
Does the plot revolve around one character? Does the plot revolve around multiple characters? How do these characters develop across the film?

When writing a narrative analysis, take care not to spend too time on summarizing at the expense of your argument. See our handout on summarizing for more tips on making summary serve analysis.

Cultural/historical analysis

One of the most common types of analysis is the examination of a film’s relationship to its broader cultural, historical, or theoretical contexts. Whether films intentionally comment on their context or not, they are always a product of the culture or period in which they were created. By placing the film in a particular context, this type of analysis asks how the film models, challenges, or subverts different types of relations, whether historical, social, or even theoretical.

For example, the clip from Vertigo depicts a man observing a woman without her knowing it. You could examine how this aspect of the film addresses a midcentury social concern about observation, such as the sexual policing of women, or a political one, such as Cold War-era McCarthyism.

A few of the many questions you could ask in this vein include:

How does the film comment on, reinforce, or even critique social and political issues at the time it was released, including questions of race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality?
How might a biographical understanding of the film’s creators and their historical moment affect the way you view the film?
How might a specific film theory, such as Queer Theory, Structuralist Theory, or Marxist Film Theory, provide a language or set of terms for articulating the attributes of the film?

Take advantage of class resources to explore possible approaches to cultural/historical film analyses, and find out whether you will be expected to do additional research into the film’s context.

Mise-en-scène analysis

A mise-en-scène analysis attends to how the filmmakers have arranged compositional elements in a film and specifically within a scene or even a single shot. This type of analysis organizes the individual elements of a scene to explore how they come together to produce meaning. You may focus on anything that adds meaning to the formal effect produced by a given scene, including: blocking, lighting, design, color, costume, as well as how these attributes work in conjunction with decisions related to sound, cinematography, and editing. For example, in the clip from Vertigo , a mise-en-scène analysis might ask how numerous elements, from lighting to camera angles, work together to present the viewer with the perspective of Jimmy Stewart’s character.

To conduct this type of analysis, you could ask:

What effects are created in a scene, and what is their purpose?
How does this scene represent the theme of the movie?
How does a scene work to express a broader point to the film’s plot?

This detailed approach to analyzing the formal elements of film can help you come up with concrete evidence for more general film analysis assignments.

Reviewing your draft

Once you have a draft, it’s helpful to get feedback on what you’ve written to see if your analysis holds together and you’ve conveyed your point. You may not necessarily need to find someone who has seen the film! Ask a writing coach, roommate, or family member to read over your draft and share key takeaways from what you have written so far.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Aumont, Jacques, and Michel Marie. 1988. L’analyse Des Films . Paris: Nathan.

Media & Design Center. n.d. “Film and Cinema Research.” UNC University Libraries. Last updated February 10, 2021. https://guides.lib.unc.edu/filmresearch .

Oxford Royale Academy. n.d. “7 Ways to Watch Film.” Oxford Royale Academy. Accessed April 2021. https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/7-ways-watch-films-critically/ .

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Film Analysis Essay: Examples, Outline, & Tips

A film analysis essay might be the most exciting assignment you have ever had! After all, who doesn’t love watching movies? You have your favorite movies, maybe something you watched years ago, perhaps a classic, or a documentary. Or your professor might assign a film for you to make a critical review. Regardless, you are totally up for watching a movie for a film analysis essay.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

However, once you have watched the movie, facing the act of writing might knock the wind out of your sails because you might be wondering how to write a film analysis essay. In summary, writing movie analysis is not as difficult as it might seem, and Custom-writing.org experts will prove this. This guide will help you choose a topic for your movie analysis, make an outline, and write the text.️ Film analysis examples are added as a bonus! Just keep reading our advice on how to get started.

❓ What Is a Film Analysis Essay?

🚦 Film Analysis Types

📽️ Movie Analysis Format

✍️ how to write a film analysis, 🎦 film analysis template, 🎬 film analysis essay topics.

📄 Essay Examples

🔗 References

To put it simply, film analysis implies watching a movie and then considering its characteristics : genre, structure, contextual context, etc. Film analysis is usually considered to be a form of rhetorical analysis . The key to success here is to formulate a clear and logical argument, supporting it with examples.

🚦 Film Analysis Essay Types

Since a film analysis essay resembles literature analysis, it makes sense that there are several ways to do it. Its types are not limited to the ones described here. Moreover, you are free to combine the approaches in your essay as well. Since your writing reflects your own opinion, there is no universal way to do it.

Semiotic analysis . If you’re using this approach, you are expected to interpret the film’s symbolism. You should look for any signs that may have a hidden meaning. Often, they reveal some character’s features. To make the task more manageable, you can try to find the objects or concepts that appear on the screen multiple times. What is the context they appear in? It might lead you to the hidden meaning of the symbols.
Narrative structure analysis . This type is quite similar to a typical literature guide. It includes looking into the film’s themes, plot, and motives. The analysis aims to identify three main elements: setup, confrontation, and resolution. You should find out whether the film follows this structure and what effect it creates. It will make the narrative structure analysis essay if you write about the theme and characters’ motivations as well.
Contextual analysis . Here, you would need to expand your perspective. Instead of focusing on inner elements, the contextual analysis looks at the time and place of the film’s creation. Therefore, you should work on studying the cultural context a lot. It can also be a good idea to mention the main socio-political issues of the time. You can even relate the film’s success to the director or producer and their career.
Mise-en-scene analysis . This type of analysis works with the most distinctive feature of the movies, audiovisual elements. However, don’t forget that your task is not only to identify them but also to explain their importance. There are so many interconnected pieces of this puzzle: the light to create the mood, the props to show off characters’ personalities, messages hidden in the song lyrics.

To write an effective film analysis essay, it is important to follow specific format requirements that include the following:

Standard essay structure. Just as with any essay, your analysis should consist of an introduction with a strong thesis statement, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The main body usually includes a summary and an analysis of the movie’s elements.
Present tense for events in the film. Use the present tense when describing everything that happens in the movie. This way, you can make smooth transitions between describing action and dialogue. It will also improve the overall narrative flow.
Proper formatting of the film’s title. Don’t enclose the movie’s title in quotation marks; instead, italicize it. In addition, use the title case : that is, capitalize all major words.
Proper use of the characters’ names. When you mention a film character for the first time, name the actor portraying them. After that, it is enough to write only the character’s name.
In-text citations. Use in-text citations when describing certain scenes or shots from the movie. Format them according to your chosen citation style. If you use direct quotes, include the time-stamp range instead of page numbers. Here’s how it looks in the MLA format: (Smith 0:11:24–0:12:35).

Even though film analysis is similar to the literary one, you might still feel confused with where to begin. No need to worry; there are only a few additional steps you need to consider during the writing process.

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Starting Your Film Analysis Essay

There are several things you need to do before you start writing your film analysis paper. First and foremost, you have to watch the movie. Even if you have seen it a hundred times, you need to watch it again to make a good film analysis essay.

Note that you might be given an essay topic or have to think of it by yourself. If you are free to choose a topic for your film analysis essay, reading some critical reviews before you watch the film might be a good idea. By doing this in advance, you will already know what to look for when watching the movie.

In the process of watching, keep the following tips in mind:

Consider your impression of the movie
Enumerate memorable details
Try to interpret the movie message in your way
Search for the proof of your ideas (quotes from the film)
Make comments on the plot, settings, and characters
Draw parallels between the movie you are reviewing and some other movies

Making a Film Analysis Essay Outline

Once you have watched and possibly re-watched your assigned or chosen movie from an analytical point of view, you will need to create a movie analysis essay outline . The task is pretty straightforward: the outline can look just as if you were working on a literary analysis or an article analysis.

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Introduction : This includes the basics of the movie, including the title, director, and the date of release. You should also present the central theme or ideas in the movie and your thesis statement .
Summary : This is where you take the time to present an overview of the primary concepts in the movie, including the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why)—don’t forget how!—as well as anything you wish to discuss that relates to the point of view, style, and structure.
Analysis : This is the body of the essay and includes your critical analysis of the movie, why you did or did not like it, and any supporting material from the film to support your views. It would help if you also discussed whether the director and writer of the movie achieved the goal they set out to achieve.
Conclusion: This is where you can state your thesis again and provide a summary of the primary concepts in a new and more convincing manner, making a case for your analysis. You can also include a call-to-action that will invite the reader to watch the movie or avoid it entirely.

You can find a great critical analysis template at Thompson Rivers University website. In case you need more guidance on how to write an analytical paper, check out our article .

Writing & Editing Your Film Analysis Essay

We have already mentioned that there are differences between literary analysis and film analysis. They become especially important when one starts writing their film analysis essay.

First of all, the evidence you include to support the arguments is not the same. Instead of quoting the text, you might need to describe the audiovisual elements.

However, the practice of describing the events is similar in both types. You should always introduce a particular sequence in the present tense. If you want to use a piece of a dialogue between more than two film characters, you can use block quotes. However, since there are different ways to do it, confirm with your supervisor.

For your convenience, you might as well use the format of the script, for which you don’t have to use quotation marks:

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ELSA: But she won’t remember I have powers?

KING: It’s for the best.

Finally, to show off your proficiency in the subject, look at the big picture. Instead of just presenting the main elements in your analysis, point out their significance. Describe the effect they make on the overall impression form the film. Moreover, you can dig deeper and suggest the reasons why such elements were used in a particular scene to show your expertise.

Stuck writing a film analysis essay? Worry not! Use our template to structure your movie analysis properly.

Introduction

The title of the film is… [title]
The director is… [director’s name] He/she is known for… [movies, style, etc.]
The movie was released on… [release date]
The themes of the movie are… [state the film’s central ideas]
The film was made because… [state the reasons]
The movie is… because… [your thesis statement].
The main characters are… [characters’ names]
The events take place in… [location]
The movie is set in… [time period]
The movie is about… [state what happens in the film and why]
The movie left a… [bad, unforgettable, lasting, etc.] impression in me.
The script has… [a logical sequence of events, interesting scenes, strong dialogues, character development, etc.]
The actors portray their characters… [convincingly, with intensity, with varying degree of success, in a manner that feels unnatural, etc.]
The soundtrack is [distracting, fitting, memorable, etc.]
Visual elements such as… [costumes, special effects, etc.] make the film [impressive, more authentic, atmospheric, etc.]
The film succeeds/doesn’t succeed in engaging the target audience because it… [tells a compelling story, features strong performances, is relevant, lacks focus, is unauthentic, etc.]
Cultural and societal aspects make the film… [thought-provoking, relevant, insightful, problematic, polarizing, etc.]
The director and writer achieved their goal because… [state the reasons]
Overall, the film is… [state your opinion]
I would/wouldn’t recommend watching the movie because… [state the reasons]
Analysis of the film Inception by Christopher Nolan .
Examine the rhetoric in the film The Red Balloon .
Analyze the visual effects of Zhang Yimou’s movie Hero .
Basic concepts of the film Interstellar by Christopher Nolan.
The characteristic features of Federico Fellini’s movies.
Analysis of the movie The Joker .
The depiction of ethical issues in Damaged Care .
Analyze the plot of the film Moneyball .
Explore the persuasive techniques used in Henry V .
Analyze the movie Killing Kennedy .
Discuss the themes of the film Secret Window .
Describe the role of audio and video effects in conveying the message of the documentary Life in Renaissance .
Compare and analyze the films Midnight Cowboy and McCabe and Mrs. Miller .
Analysis of the movie Rear Window .
The message behind the film Split .
Analyze the techniques used by Tim Burton in his movie Sleepy Hollow .
The topic of children’s abuse and importance of trust in Joseph Sargent’s Sybil .
Examine the themes and motives of the film Return to Paradise by Joseph Ruben .
The issues of gender and traditions in the drama The Whale Rider.
Analysis of the film Not Easily Broken by Duke Bill.
The symbolism in R. Scott’s movie Thelma and Louise .
The meaning of audiovisual effects in Citizen Kane .
Analyze the main characters of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo .
Discuss the historical accuracy of the documentary The Civil War .
Analysis of the movie Through a Glass Darkly .
Explore the core idea of the comedy Get Out .
The problem of artificial intelligence and human nature in Ex Machina .
Three principles of suspense used in the drama The Fugitive .
Examine the ideas Michael Bay promotes in Armageddon .
Analyze the visual techniques used in Tenet by Christopher Nolan.
Analysis of the movie The Green Mile .
Discrimination and exclusion in the film The Higher Learning .
The hidden meaning of the scenes in Blade Runner .
Compare the social messages of the films West Side Story and Romeo + Juliet .
Highlighting the problem of children’s mental health in the documentary Kids in Crisis .
Discuss the ways Paul Haggis establishes the issue of racial biases in his movie Crash .
Analyze the problem of moral choice in the film Gone Baby Gone .
Analysis of the historical film Hacksaw Ridge .
Explore the main themes of the film Mean Girls by Mark Walters .
The importance of communication in the movie Juno .
Describe the techniques the authors use to highlight the problems of society in Queen and Slim .
Examine the significance of visual scenes in My Family/ Mi Familia .
Analysis of the thriller Salt by Phillip Noyce.
Analyze the message of Greg Berlanti’s film Love, Simon .
Interpret the symbols of the film The Wizard of Oz (1939).
Discuss the modern issues depicted in the film The Corporation .
Moral lessons of Edward Zwick’s Blood Diamond .
Analysis of the documentary Solitary Nation .
Describe the audiovisual elements of the film Pride and Prejudice (2005) .
The problem of toxic relationships in Malcolm and Marie .

📄 Film Analysis Examples

Below you’ll find two film analysis essay examples. Note that the full versions are downloadable for free!

Film Analysis Example #1: The Intouchables

Raising acute social problems in modern cinema is a common approach to draw the public’s attention to the specific issues and challenges of people facing crucial obstacles. As a film for review, The Intouchables by Oliver Nakache and Éric Toledano will be analyzed, and one of the themes raised in this movie is the daily struggle of the person with severe disabilities. This movie is a biographical drama with comedy elements. The Intouchables describes the routine life of a French millionaire who is confined to a wheelchair and forced to receive help from his servants. The acquaintance of the disabled person with a young and daring man from Parisian slums changes the lives of both radically. The film shows that for a person with disabilities, recognition as a full member of society is more important than sympathy and compassion, and this message expressed comically raises an essential problem of human loneliness.

Movie Analysis Example #2: Parasite

Parasite is a 2019 South Korean black comedy thriller movie directed by Bong Joon-ho and is the first film with a non-English script to win Best Picture at the Oscars in 2020. With its overwhelming plot and acting, this motion picture retains a long-lasting effect and some kind of shock. The class serves as a backbone and a primary objective of social commentary within the South Korean comedy/thriller (Kench, 2020). Every single element and detail in the movie, including the student’s stone, the contrasting architecture, family names, and characters’ behavior, contribute to the central topic of the universal problem of classism and wealth disparity. The 2020 Oscar-winning movie Parasite (2019) is a phenomenal cinematic portrayal and a critical message to modern society regarding the severe outcomes of the long-established inequalities within capitalism.

Want more examples? Check out this bonus list of 10 film analysis samples. They will help you gain even more inspiration.

“Miss Representation” Documentary Film Analysis
“The Patriot”: Historical Film Analysis
“The Morning Guy” Film Analysis
2012′ by Roland Emmerich Film Analysis
“The Crucible” (1996) Film Analysis
The Aviator’ by Martin Scorsese Film Analysis
The “Lions for Lambs” Film Analysis
Bill Monroe – Father of Bluegrass Music Film Analysis
Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Harry Potter’ Film Analysis
Red Tails by George Lucas Film Analysis

Film Analysis Essay FAQ

Watch the movie or read a detailed plot summary.
Read others’ film reviews paying attention to details like key characters, movie scenes, background facts.
Compose a list of ideas about what you’ve learned.
Organize the selected ideas to create a body of the essay.
Write an appropriate introduction and conclusion.

The benefits of analyzing a movie are numerous . You get a deeper understanding of the plot and its subtle aspects. You can also get emotional and aesthetic satisfaction. Film analysis enables one to feel like a movie connoisseur.

Here is a possible step by step scenario:

Think about the general idea that the author probably wanted to convey.
Consider how the idea was put across: what characters, movie scenes, and details helped in it.
Study the broader context: the author’s other works, genre essentials, etc.

The definition might be: the process of interpreting a movie’s aspects. The movie is reviewed in terms of details creating the artistic value. A film analysis essay is a paper presenting such a review in a logically structured way.

Film Analysis – UNC Writing Center
Film Writing: Sample Analysis // Purdue Writing Lab
Yale Film Analysis – Yale University
Film Terms And Topics For Film Analysis And Writing
Questions for Film Analysis (Washington University)
Resources on Film Analysis – Cinema Studies (University of Toronto)
Does Film Analysis Take the Magic out of Movies?
Film Analysis Research Papers – Academia.edu
What’s In a Film Analysis Essay? Medium
Analysis of Film – SAGE Research Methods
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Have you ever read a review and asked yourself how the critic arrived at a different interpretation for the film? You are sure that you saw the same movie, but you interpreted it differently. Most moviegoers go to the cinema for pleasure and entertainment. There’s a reason why blockbuster movies attract moviegoers – cinema is a form of escape, a way to momentarily walk away from life’s troubles.

It’s an interesting point of view. Thank you for your opinion, Sourav!

EXCELENT COVERAGE!

Thank you, Mike!

Hi Rebecca,

Glad you liked the post. Sure thing, feel free to share the link with your audience!

All the best.

Film Analysis: Example, Format, and Outline + Topics & Prompts

Films are never just films. Instead, they are influential works of art that can evoke a wide range of emotions, spark meaningful conversations, and provide insightful commentary on society and culture. As a student, you may be tasked with writing a film analysis essay, which requires you to delve deeper into the characters and themes. But where do you start?

In this article, our expert team has explored strategies for writing a successful film analysis essay. From prompts for this assignment to an excellent movie analysis example, we’ll provide you with everything you need to craft an insightful film analysis paper.

📽️ Film Analysis Definition

📚 Types of Film Analysis

✍️ How to Write Film Analysis
🎞️ Movie Analysis Prompts
🎬 Top 15 Topics

📝 Film Analysis Example

🍿 More Examples

🔗 References

📽️ what is a film analysis essay.

A film analysis essay is a type of academic writing that critically examines a film, its themes, characters, and techniques used by the filmmaker. This essay aims to analyze the film’s meaning, message, and artistic elements and explain its cultural, social, and historical significance. It typically requires a writer to pay closer attention to aspects such as cinematography, editing, sound, and narrative structure.

Film Analysis vs Film Review

It’s common to confuse a film analysis with a film review, though these are two different types of writing. A film analysis paper focuses on the film’s narrative, sound, editing, and other elements. This essay aims to explore the film’s themes, symbolism , and underlying messages and to provide an in-depth interpretation of the film.

On the other hand, a film review is a brief evaluation of a film that provides the writer’s overall opinion of the movie. It includes the story’s short summary, a description of the acting, direction, and technical aspects, and a recommendation on whether or not the movie is worth watching.

This image shows the difference between film analysis and film review.

Wondering what you should focus on when writing a movie analysis essay? Here are four main types of film analysis. Check them out!

📋 Film Analysis Format

The movie analysis format follows a typical essay structure, including a title, introduction, thesis statement, body, conclusion, and references.

The most common citation styles used for a film analysis are MLA and Chicago . However, we recommend you consult with your professor for specific guidelines. Remember to cite all dialogue and scene descriptions from the movie to support the analysis. The reference list should include the analyzed film and any external sources mentioned in the essay.

When referring to a specific movie in your paper, you should italicize the film’s name and use the title case. Don’t enclose the title of the movie in quotation marks.

📑 Film Analysis Essay Outline

A compelling film analysis outline is crucial as it helps make the writing process more focused and the content more insightful for the readers. Below, you’ll find the description of the main parts of the movie analysis essay.

Film Analysis Introduction

Many students experience writer’s block because they don’t know how to write an introduction for a film analysis. The truth is that the opening paragraph for a film analysis paper is similar to any other academic essay:

Start with a hook to grab the reader’s attention . For example, it can be a fascinating fact or a thought-provoking question related to the film.
Provide background information about the movie . Introduce the film, including its title, director, and release date. Follow this with a brief summary of the film’s plot and main themes.
End the introduction with an analytical thesis statement . Present the central argument or interpretation that will be explored in the analysis.

Film Analysis Thesis

If you wonder how to write a thesis for a film analysis, we’ve got you! A thesis statement should clearly present your main idea related to the film and provide a roadmap for the rest of the essay. Your thesis should be specific, concise, and focused. In addition, it should be debatable so that others can present a contrasting point of view. Also, make sure it is supported with evidence from the film.

Let’s come up with a film analysis thesis example:

Through a feminist lens, Titanic is a story about Rose’s rebellion against traditional gender roles, showcasing her attempts to assert her autonomy and refusal to conform to societal expectations prevalent in the early 20th century.

Movie Analysis Main Body

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the film that supports your main idea. These aspects include themes, characters, narrative devices , or cinematic techniques. You should also provide evidence from the film to support your analysis, such as quotes, scene descriptions, or specific visual or auditory elements.

Here are two things to avoid in body paragraphs:

Film review . Your analysis should focus on specific movie aspects rather than your opinion of the film.
Excessive plot summary . While it’s important to provide some context for the analysis, a lengthy plot summary can detract you from your main argument and analysis of the film.

Film Analysis Conclusion

In the conclusion of a movie analysis, restate the thesis statement to remind the reader of the main argument. Additionally, summarize the main points from the body to reinforce the key aspects of the film that were discussed. The conclusion should also provide a final thought or reflection on the film, tying together the analysis and presenting your perspective on its overall meaning.

✍️ How to Write a Film Analysis Essay

Writing a film analysis essay can be challenging since it requires a deep understanding of the film, its themes, and its characters. However, with the right approach, you can create a compelling analysis that offers insight into the film’s meaning and impact. To help you, we’ve prepared a small guide.

1. Understand the Prompt

When approaching a film analysis essay, it is crucial to understand the prompt provided by your professor. For example, suppose your professor asks you to analyze the film from the perspective of Marxist criticism or psychoanalytic film theory . In that case, it is essential to familiarize yourself with these approaches. This may involve studying these theories and identifying how they can be applied to the film.

If your professor did not provide specific guidelines, you will need to choose a film yourself and decide on the aspect you will explore. Whether it is the film’s themes, characters, cinematography, or social context, having a clear focus will help guide your analysis.

2. Watch the Film & Take Notes

Keep your assignment prompt in mind when watching the film for your analysis. For example, if you are analyzing the film from a feminist perspective, you should pay attention to the portrayal of female characters, power dynamics , and gender roles within the film.

As you watch the movie, take notes on key moments, dialogues, and scenes relevant to your analysis. Additionally, keeping track of the timecodes of important scenes can be beneficial, as it allows you to quickly revisit specific moments in the film for further analysis.

3. Develop a Thesis and an Outline

Next, develop a thesis statement for your movie analysis. Identify the central argument or perspective you want to convey about the film. For example, you can focus on the film’s themes, characters, plot, cinematography, or other outstanding aspects. Your thesis statement should clearly present your stance and provide a preview of the points you will discuss in your analysis.

Having created a thesis, you can move on to the outline for an analysis. Write down all the arguments that can support your thesis, logically organize them, and then look for the supporting evidence in the movie.

4. Write Your Movie Analysis

When writing a film analysis paper, try to offer fresh and original ideas on the film that go beyond surface-level observations. If you need some inspiration, have a look at these thought-provoking questions:

How does the movie evoke emotional responses from the audience through sound, editing, character development , and camera work?
Is the movie’s setting portrayed in a realistic or stylized manner? What atmosphere or mood does the setting convey to the audience?
How does the lighting in the movie highlight certain aspects? How does the lighting impact the audience’s perception of the movie’s characters, spaces, or overall mood?
What role does the music play in the movie? How does it create specific emotional effects for the audience?
What underlying values or messages does the movie convey? How are these values communicated to the audience?

5. Revise and Proofread

To revise and proofread a film analysis essay, review the content for grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure the paper flows logically and each paragraph contributes to the overall analysis. Remember to double-check that you haven’t missed any in-text citations and have enough evidence and examples from the movie to support your arguments.

Consider seeking feedback from a peer or instructor to get an outside perspective on the essay. Another reader can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement.

🎞️ Movie Analysis: Sample Prompts

Now that we’ve covered the essential aspects of a film analysis template, it’s time to choose a topic. Here are some prompts to help you select a film for your analysis.

Metropolis film analysis essay . When analyzing this movie, you can explore the themes of technology and society or the portrayal of class struggle. You can also focus on symbolism, visual effects, and the influence of German expressionism on the film’s aesthetic.
The Godfather film analysis essay . An epic crime film, The Godfather , allows you to analyze the themes of power and corruption, the portrayal of family dynamics, and the influence of Italian neorealism on the film’s aesthetic. You can also examine the movie’s historical context and impact on future crime dramas.
Psycho film analysis essay . Consider exploring the themes of identity and duality, the use of suspense and tension in storytelling, or the portrayal of mental illness. You can also explore the impact of this movie on the horror genre.
Forrest Gump film analysis essay . If you decide to analyze the Forrest Gump movie, you can focus on the portrayal of historical events. You might also examine the use of nostalgia in storytelling, the character development of the protagonist, and the film’s impact on popular culture and American identity.
The Great Gatsby film analysis essay . The Great Gatsby is a historical drama film that allows you to analyze the themes of the American Dream, wealth, and class. You can also explore the portrayal of the 1920s Jazz Age and the symbolism of the green light.
Persepolis film analysis essay . In a Persepolis film analysis essay, you can uncover the themes of identity and self-discovery. You might also consider analyzing the portrayal of the Iranian Revolution and its aftermath, the use of animation as a storytelling device, and the film’s influence on the graphic novel genre.

🎬 Top 15 Film Analysis Essay Topics

The use of color symbolism in Vertigo and its impact on the narrative.
The moral ambiguity and human nature in No Country for Old Men .
The portrayal of ethnicity in Gran Torino and its commentary on cultural stereotypes.
The cinematography and visual effects in The Hunger Games and their contribution to the dystopian atmosphere.
The use of silence and sound design in A Quiet Place to immerse the audience.
The disillusionment and existential crisis in The Graduate and its reflection of the societal norms of the 1960s.
The themes of sacrifice and patriotism in Casablanca and their relevance to the historical context of World War II.
The psychological horror in The Shining and its impact on the audience’s experience of fear and tension.
The exploration of existentialism in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind .
Multiple perspectives and unreliable narrators in Rashomon .
The music and soundtrack in Titanic and its contribution to the film’s emotional resonance.
The portrayal of good versus evil in the Harry Potter film series and its impact on understanding morality.
The incorporation of vibrant colors in The Grand Budapest Hotel as a visual motif.
The use of editing techniques to tell a nonlinear narrative in Pulp Fiction .
The function of music and score in enhancing the emotional impact in Schindler’s List .

Check out the Get Out film analysis essay we’ve prepared for college and high school students. We hope this movie analysis essay example will inspire you and help you understand the structure of this assignment better.

Film Analysis Essay Introduction Example

Get Out, released in 2017 and directed by Jordan Peele, is a culturally significant horror film that explores themes of racism, identity, and social commentary. The film follows Chris, a young African-American man, visiting his white girlfriend’s family for the weekend. This essay will analyze how, through its masterful storytelling, clever use of symbolism, and thought-provoking narrative, Get Out reveals the insidious nature of racism in modern America.

Film Analysis Body Paragraphs Example

Throughout the movie, Chris’s character is subject to various types of microaggression and subtle forms of discrimination. These instances highlight the insidious nature of racism, showing how it can exist even in seemingly progressive environments. For example, during Chris’s visit to his white girlfriend’s family, the parents continuously make racially insensitive comments, expressing their admiration for black physical attributes and suggesting a fascination bordering on fetishization. This sheds light on some individuals’ objectification and exotification of black bodies.

Get Out also critiques the performative allyship of white liberals who claim to be accepting and supportive of the black community. It is evident in the character of Rose’s father, who proclaims: “I would have voted for Obama for a third term if I could” (Peele, 2017). However, the film exposes how this apparent acceptance can mask hidden prejudices and manipulation.

Film Analysis Conclusion Example

In conclusion, the film Get Out provides a searing critique of racial discrimination and white supremacy through its compelling narrative, brilliant performances, and skillful direction. By exploring the themes of the insidious nature of racism, fetishization, and performative allyship, Get Out not only entertains but also challenges viewers to reflect on their own biases.

🍿 More Film Analysis Examples

Social Psychology Theories in The Experiment
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader: George Lukas’s Star Wars Review
Girl, Interrupted : Mental Illness Analysis
Mental Disorders in the Finding Nemo Film
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest Film: Interpretive Psychological Analysis
Analysis of Spielberg’s Film Lincoln
Glory – The Drama Movie by Edward Zwick
Inventors in The Men Who Built America Series
Crash Movie: Racism as a Theme
Dances with Wolves Essay – Movie Analysis
Superbad by G. Mottola
Ordinary People Analysis and Maslow Hierarchy of Needs
A Review of the Movie An Inconvenient Truth by Guggenheim
Chaplin’s Modern Times and H.G. Wells’s The Island of Dr. Moreau
Misé-En-Scene and Camera Shots in The King’s Speech
Children’s Sexuality in the Out in the Dark Film
Chinese and American Women in Joy Luck Club Novel and Film
The Film Silver Linings Playbook by Russell
The Role of Music in the Films The Hours and The Third Man
The Social Network : Film Analysis
My Neighbor Totoro : Film by Hayao Miyazaki
Marriage Story Film Directed by Noah Baumbach

❓ Film Analysis Essay: FAQ

Why is film analysis important.

Film analysis allows viewers to go beyond the surface level and delve into the deeper layers of a film’s narrative, themes, and technical aspects. It enables a critical examination that enhances appreciation and understanding of the film’s message, cultural significance, and artistic value. At the same time, writing a movie analysis essay can boost your critical thinking and ability to spot little details.

How to write a movie analysis?

Watch the film multiple times to grasp its key elements.
Take notes on the story, characters, and themes.
Pay attention to the film’s cinematography, editing, sound, message, symbolism, and social context.
Formulate a strong thesis statement that presents your main argument.
Support your claims with evidence from the film.

How to write a critical analysis of a movie?

A critical analysis of a movie involves evaluating its elements, such as plot, themes, characters, and cinematography, and providing an informed opinion on its strengths and weaknesses. To write it, watch the movie attentively, take notes, develop a clear thesis statement, support arguments with evidence, and balance the positive and negative.

How to write a psychological analysis of a movie?

A psychological analysis of a movie examines characters’ motivations, behaviors, and emotional experiences. To write it, analyze the characters’ psychological development, their relationships, and the impact of psychological themes conveyed in the film. Support your analysis with psychological theories and evidence from the movie.

Film Analysis | UNC Writing Center
Psychological Analysis of Films | Steemit
Critical Film Analysis | University of Hawaii
Questions to Ask of Any Film | All American High School Film Festival
Resources – How to Write a Film Analysis | Northwestern
Film Analysis | University of Toronto
Film Writing: Sample Analysis | Purdue Online Writing Lab
Film Analysis Web Site 2.0 | Yale University
Questions for Film Analysis | University of Washington
Film & Media Studies Resources: Types of Film Analysis | Bowling Green State University
Film & Media Studies Resources: Researching a Film | Bowling Green State University
Motion Picture Analysis Worksheet | University of Houston
Reviews vs Film Criticism | The University of Vermont Libraries
Television and Film Analysis Questions | University of Michigan
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Film Writing: Sample Analysis

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Summary: A sample analysis of a filmic sequence that makes use of the terminology on the OWL’s Writing About Film page .

Written by Kylie Regan

Introductory Note

The analysis below discusses the opening moments of the science fiction movie Ex Machina in order to make an argument about the film's underlying purpose. The text of the analysis is formatted normally. Editor's commentary, which will occasionally interrupt the piece to discuss the author's rhetorical strategies, is written in brackets in an italic font with a bold "Ed.:" identifier. See the examples below:

The text of the analysis looks like this.

[ Ed.: The editor's commentary looks like this. ]

Frustrated Communication in Ex Machina ’s Opening Sequence

Alex Garland’s 2015 science fiction film Ex Machina follows a young programmer’s attempts to determine whether or not an android possesses a consciousness complicated enough to pass as human. The film is celebrated for its thought-provoking depiction of the anxiety over whether a nonhuman entity could mimic or exceed human abilities, but analyzing the early sections of the film, before artificial intelligence is even introduced, reveals a compelling examination of humans’ inability to articulate their thoughts and feelings. In its opening sequence, Ex Machina establishes that it’s not only about the difficulty of creating a machine that can effectively talk to humans, but about human beings who struggle to find ways to communicate with each other in an increasingly digital world.

[ Ed.: The piece's opening introduces the film with a plot summary that doesn't give away too much and a brief summary of the critical conversation that has centered around the film. Then, however, it deviates from this conversation by suggesting that Ex Machina has things to say about humanity before non-human characters even appear. Off to a great start. ]

The film’s first establishing shots set the action in a busy modern office. A woman sits at a computer, absorbed in her screen. The camera looks at her through a glass wall, one of many in the shot. The reflections of passersby reflected in the glass and the workspace’s dim blue light make it difficult to determine how many rooms are depicted. The camera cuts to a few different young men typing on their phones, their bodies partially concealed both by people walking between them and the camera and by the stylized modern furniture that surrounds them. The fourth shot peeks over a computer monitor at a blonde man working with headphones in. A slight zoom toward his face suggests that this is an important character, and the cut to a point-of-view shot looking at his computer screen confirms this. We later learn that this is Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a young programmer whose perspective the film follows.

The rest of the sequence cuts between shots from Caleb’s P.O.V. and reaction shots of his face, as he receives and processes the news that he has won first prize in a staff competition. Shocked, Caleb dives for his cellphone and texts several people the news. Several people immediately respond with congratulatory messages, and after a moment the woman from the opening shot runs in to give him a hug. At this point, the other people in the room look up, smile, and start clapping, while Caleb smiles disbelievingly—perhaps even anxiously—and the camera subtly zooms in a bit closer. Throughout the entire sequence, there is no sound other than ambient electronic music that gets slightly louder and more textured as the sequence progresses. A jump cut to an aerial view of a glacial landscape ends the sequence and indicates that Caleb is very quickly transported into a very unfamiliar setting, implying that he will have difficulty adjusting to this sudden change in circumstances.

[ Ed.: These paragraphs are mostly descriptive. They give readers the information they will need to understand the argument the piece is about to offer. While passages like this can risk becoming boring if they dwell on unimportant details, the author wisely limits herself to two paragraphs and maintains a driving pace through her prose style choices (like an almost exclusive reliance on active verbs). ]

Without any audible dialogue or traditional expository setup of the main characters, this opening sequence sets viewers up to make sense of Ex Machina ’s visual style and its exploration of the ways that technology can both enhance and limit human communication. The choice to make the dialogue inaudible suggests that in-person conversations have no significance. Human-to-human conversations are most productive in this sequence when they are mediated by technology. Caleb’s first response when he hears his good news is to text his friends rather than tell the people sitting around him, and he makes no move to take his headphones out when the in-person celebration finally breaks out. Everyone in the building is on their phones, looking at screens, or has headphones in, and the camera is looking at screens through Caleb’s viewpoint for at least half of the sequence.

Rather than simply muting the specific conversations that Caleb has with his coworkers, the ambient soundtrack replaces all the noise that a crowded building in the middle of a workday would ordinarily have. This silence sets the uneasy tone that characterizes the rest of the film, which is as much a horror-thriller as a piece of science fiction. Viewers get the sense that all the sounds that humans make as they walk around and talk to each other are being intentionally filtered out by some presence, replaced with a quiet electronic beat that marks the pacing of the sequence, slowly building to a faster tempo. Perhaps the sound of people is irrelevant: only the visual data matters here. Silence is frequently used in the rest of the film as a source of tension, with viewers acutely aware that it could be broken at any moment. Part of the horror of the research bunker, which will soon become the film’s primary setting, is its silence, particularly during sequences of Caleb sneaking into restricted areas and being startled by a sudden noise.

The visual style of this opening sequence reinforces the eeriness of the muted humans and electronic soundtrack. Prominent use of shallow focus to depict a workspace that is constructed out of glass doors and walls makes it difficult to discern how large the space really is. The viewer is thus spatially disoriented in each new setting. This layering of glass and mirrors, doubling some images and obscuring others, is used later in the film when Caleb meets the artificial being Ava (Alicia Vikander), who is not allowed to leave her glass-walled living quarters in the research bunker. The similarity of these spaces visually reinforces the film’s late revelation that Caleb has been manipulated by Nathan Bates (Oscar Isaac), the troubled genius who creates Ava.

[ Ed.: In these paragraphs, the author cites the information about the scene she's provided to make her argument. Because she's already teased the argument in the introduction and provided an account of her evidence, it doesn't strike us as unreasonable or far-fetched here. Instead, it appears that we've naturally arrived at the same incisive, fascinating points that she has. ]

A few other shots in the opening sequence more explicitly hint that Caleb is already under Nathan’s control before he ever arrives at the bunker. Shortly after the P.O.V shot of Caleb reading the email notification that he won the prize, we cut to a few other P.O.V. shots, this time from the perspective of cameras in Caleb’s phone and desktop computer. These cameras are not just looking at Caleb, but appear to be scanning him, as the screen flashes in different color lenses and small points appear around Caleb’s mouth, eyes, and nostrils, tracking the smallest expressions that cross his face. These small details indicate that Caleb is more a part of this digital space than he realizes, and also foreshadow the later revelation that Nathan is actively using data collected by computers and webcams to manipulate Caleb and others. The shots from the cameras’ perspectives also make use of a subtle fisheye lens, suggesting both the wide scope of Nathan’s surveillance capacities and the slightly distorted worldview that motivates this unethical activity.

[ Ed.: This paragraph uses additional details to reinforce the piece's main argument. While this move may not be as essential as the one in the preceding paragraphs, it does help create the impression that the author is noticing deliberate patterns in the film's cinematography, rather than picking out isolated coincidences to make her points. ]

Taken together, the details of Ex Machina ’s stylized opening sequence lay the groundwork for the film’s long exploration of the relationship between human communication and technology. The sequence, and the film, ultimately suggests that we need to develop and use new technologies thoughtfully, or else the thing that makes us most human—our ability to connect through language—might be destroyed by our innovations. All of the aural and visual cues in the opening sequence establish a world in which humans are utterly reliant on technology and yet totally unaware of the nefarious uses to which a brilliant but unethical person could put it.

Author's Note: Thanks to my literature students whose in-class contributions sharpened my thinking on this scene .

[ Ed.: The piece concludes by tying the main themes of the opening sequence to those of the entire film. In doing this, the conclusion makes an argument for the essay's own relevance: we need to pay attention to the essay's points so that we can achieve a rich understanding of the movie. The piece's final sentence makes a chilling final impression by alluding to the danger that might loom if we do not understand the movie. This is the only the place in the piece where the author explicitly references how badly we might be hurt by ignorance, and it's all the more powerful for this solitary quality. A pithy, charming note follows, acknowledging that the author's work was informed by others' input (as most good writing is). Beautifully done. ]

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Film Criticism

Reviews & General Sources

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Locate articles, film journals: pace subscriptions and open internet.

Evaluating Resources

"Scholarly or focused critical writing about particular films--both current and historical--can be found in an amazingly wide variety of sources, including film journals, and publications devoted to theater, history, literature, women's studies, ethnic studies, and other disciplines. Critical/analytic film articles tend to be more academic and substantive than reviews. These articles often discuss particular films in broad social, political, and historical context. Many times the focus of these articles is on a fairly specific aspect of a film or a film genre." (Source: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/filmstudies/filmreviewsintro.html )

To search the journal literature for more in-depth treatments of films, actors, actresses, directors, film genres, etc. try these databases:

NOTE: Remember these databases will also have information on the original written work if the movie was based on a book. You can search by movie title, actor names, director, or genre to find resources.

Fine Arts & Music Collection This link opens in a new window Articles from academic research and magazines on art and art history, drama, theater, music, dance and film studies. Years covered: 1980-present
Academic OneFile This link opens in a new window Contains the full text of the journal Film Criticism, and others.
Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new window In addition to movie reviews, this database includes articles from publications such as Cineaste and Cinema Journal.Limit your search to "Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals"
MLA International Bibliography This link opens in a new window Indexes articles in publications such as Cinema and Society; Film/Literature Quarterly; Film and Culture; Film Quarterly; and Quarterly Review of Film and Television.
JSTOR This link opens in a new window Be sure to limit your search to Type: "Article" and Language: "English"
Communication & Mass Media Complete This link opens in a new window Includes the journal Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Film and Television
Performing Arts Database This link opens in a new window Articles from popular and scholarly journals on all aspects of performance, including dance, theater, film, mime, opera, puppetry, radio, stagecraft, television, storytelling, video, and performance art. Years covered: 1998-present; some archived content as far back as 1864 (index/abstracts only)

There are also some good journals now available on the "free Web" including:

Bright Lights Film Journal "Bright Lights Film Journal began life as a print publication in 1974, published and edited by Gary Morris. In 1995, the magazine went online exclusively as brightlightsfilm.com. In April 2014, it retired its quarterly issue publication model in favor of a more contemporary approach and now continually pushes content live." more... less... Search the archive in upper right box; click on "Bright Lights Film Journal" to access current website version of publication.
Cinema Scope Critical essays on international cinema.
Images: Journal of Film & Popular Culture Not a peer-reviewed scholarly journal. Instead, includes review articles, short essays and interviews. Contents not dated and appears to end in 2014.
Jump Cut Critical essays often on political and ideological issues, film reviews, interviews.
Senses of Cinema Critical essays, film reviews, interviews.
Film Comment Full text coverage: Winter 1971/1972 (Vol. 7, no. 4) - present. Citation/Abstract coverage Winter 1971/1972 (Vol. 7, no. 4) - present, some exceptions more... less... Pace subscription journal, log in with Pace credentials. Published by Film at Lincoln Center, Inc.
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"Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted , shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." –Thirteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution

When the 13 th amendment was ratified in 1865, its drafters left themselves a large, very exploitable loophole in the guise of an easily missed clause in its definition. That clause, which converts slavery from a legal business model to an equally legal method of punishment for criminals, is the subject of the Netflix documentary “13th.” Premiering tonight at the New York Film Festival, “13th” is the first documentary to open the festival in its 54 year history. Director Ava DuVernay ’s takes an unflinching, well-informed and thoroughly researched look at the American system of incarceration, specifically how the prison industrial complex affects people of color. Her analysis could not be more timely nor more infuriating. The film builds its case piece by shattering piece, inspiring levels of shock and outrage that stun the viewer, leaving one shaken and disturbed before closing out on a visual note of hope designed to keep us on the hook as advocates for change.

“13th” begins with an alarming statistic: One out of four African-American males will serve prison time at one point or another in their lives. Our journey begins from there, with a slew of familiar and occasionally surprising talking heads filling the frame and providing information. DuVernay not only interviews liberal scholars and activists for the cause like Angela Davis , Henry Louis Gates and Van Jones, she also devotes screen time to conservatives such as Newt Gingrich and Grover Norquist. Each interviewee is shot in a location that evokes an industrial setting, which visually supports the theme of prison as a factory churning out the free labor that the 13th Amendment supposedly dismantled when it abolished slavery.

We’re told that, after the Civil War, the economy of the former Confederate States of America was decimated. Their primary source of income, slaves, were no longer obligated to line Southerners’ pockets with their blood, sweat and tears. Unless, of course, they were criminals. “Except as punishment for a crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted” reads the loophole in the law. In the first iteration of a “Southern strategy,” hundreds of newly emancipated slaves were re-enlisted into free, legal servitude courtesy of minor or trumped-up charges. The duly convicted part may have been questionable, but by no means did it need to be justifiably proven.

So begins a cycle that DuVernay examines in each of its evolving iterations; when one method of subservience-based terror falls out of favor, another takes its place. The list feels endless and includes lynching, Jim Crow, Nixon’s presidential campaign, Reagan’s War on Drugs, Bill Clinton ’s Three Strikes and mandatory sentencing laws and the current cash-for-prisoners model that generates millions for private bail and incarceration firms.

That last item is a major point of discussion in “13th”, with an onscreen graphic keeping tally of the number of prisoners in the system as the years pass. Starting in the 1940’s, the curve of the prisoner count graph begins rising slowly though steeply. A meteoric rise began during the Civil Rights movement and continued into the current day. As this statistic rises, so does the level of decimation of families of color. The stronger the protest for rights, the harder the system fights back against it with means of incarceration. Profit becomes the major by-product of this cycle, with an organization called ALEC providing a scary, sinister influence on building laws that make its corporate members richer.

Several times throughout “13th” there is a shock cut to the word CRIMINAL, which stands alone against a black background and is centered on the huge movie screen. It serves as a reminder that far too often, people of color are seen as simply that, regardless of who they are. Starting with D.W. Griffith’s “The Birth of a Nation”, DuVernay traces the myth of the scary Black felon with supernatural levels of strength and deviant sexual potency, a myth designed to terrify the majority into believing that only White people were truly human and deserving of proper treatment. This dehumanization allowed for the acceptance of laws and ideas that had more than a hint of bias. We see higher sentences given for crack vs. cocaine possession and plea bargains accepted by innocent people too terrified to go to trial. We also learn that a troubling percentage of people remain in jail because they’re too poor to post their own bail. And regardless of your color, if you’re a felon, you can no longer vote to change the laws that may have unfairly prosecuted you. You lose a primary right all Americans have.

“13th” covers a lot of ground as it works its way to the current days of Black Lives Matter and the terrifying videos of the endless list of African-Americans being shot by police or folks who supposedly “stood their ground.” On her journey to this point, DuVernay doesn’t let either political party off the hook, nor does she ignore the fact that many people of color bought into the “law and order” philosophies that led to the current situation. We see Hillary Clinton talking about “super-predators” and Donald Trump ’s full-page ad advocating the death penalty for the Central Park Five (who, as a reminder, were all innocent). We also see people like African-American congressman Charlie Rangel, who originally was on board with the tough on crime laws President Clinton signed into law.

By the time we get to the montage of the deaths of Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and others (not to mention the huge, screen-covering graphic of names of African-Americans shot by law enforcement), “13th” has already proven its thesis on how such events can not only occur, but can also seem sadly like “business as usual.” It’s a devastating finale to the film, one that follows an onscreen discussion about whether or not the destruction of Black bodies should be run ad nauseum on cable news programs. DuVernay opts to show the footage, with an onscreen disclaimer that it’s being shown with permission by the families of the victims, something she did not need to seek but did so out of respect.

Between the lines, “13th” boldly asks the question if African-Americans were actually ever truly “free” in this country. We are freer, as this generation has it a lot easier than our ancestors who were enslaved, but the question of being as completely “free” as our White compatriots hangs in the air. If not, will the day come when all things will be equal? The final takeaway of “13th” is that change must come not from politicians, but from the hearts and minds of the American people.

Despite the heavy subject matter, DuVernay ends the film with joyful scenes of children and adults of color enjoying themselves in a variety of activities. It reminds us, as she said in her Q&A with NYFF director Kent Jones , that “Black trauma is not our entire lives. There is also Black joy.” That inspiring message, and all the important, educational information provided by this excellent documentary, make “13th” a must-see.

"13th" is currently streaming on Netflix.

Odie Henderson

Odie "Odienator" Henderson has spent over 33 years working in Information Technology. He runs the blogs Big Media Vandalism and Tales of Odienary Madness. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

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Movie Review

Civil War is an arresting journalism film lacking a real thesis

Director alex garland’s new dystopian thriller seems like it has something to say about american society, but it doesn’t have the guts to articulate a cohesive, thoughtful point..

By Charles Pulliam-Moore , a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years.

Share this story

A woman wearing slacks, a long-sleeved shirt, a vest, and a camera attached to a shoulder around her neck. The woman is standing in an unorganized office in which the United States flag can be seen in the background.

In A24’s new dystopian thriller Civil War , you can almost hear writer / director Alex Garland working through a mountain of complex ideas about how the United States could collapse and what it means for combat reporters to document humanity’s ugliest moments. But rather than articulating nuanced thoughts about America’s political instability or the role journalists play in society, Civil War plays it safe with a story so hesitant to say anything meaningful that it often feels like Garland is out of his narrative depth.

Civil War is sprinkled with details alluding to how the United States descends into widespread chaos after an unnamed president (Nick Offerman) refuses to leave the Oval Office following his second term. But the film’s real focus is fixed on a group of journalists documenting what’s become of the country in the time since a coalition of rebelling states known as the Western Front has gone to war with the federal government. After years of covering other brutal conflicts, there’s very little about the US’s second civil war that seems to rattle seasoned journalists Lee (Kirsten Dunst), Joel (Wagner Moura), and Sammy (Stephen McKinley Henderson). But navigating America’s new reality is much more difficult for people like aspiring photographer Jessie (Cailee Spaeny), an audience surrogate who seems dead set on making horror movie-level dumb decisions that push the film forward.

With much of the nation’s infrastructure destroyed and countless towns decimated, there is no real sense of security — even for wealthier people in relatively stable places like New York City. Things are even more apocalyptic in Washington, DC, where the president and his loyalists have holed up in the White House as much of the surrounding city burns. As dangerous as traveling to the capital would be, Lee and her peers can’t help but feel like it’s a story they need to be there for, despite not having a solid plan to get the president to agree to an interview. But the dream of securing that scoop is enough to convince them to set out on a potentially deadly cross-country road trip.

Though Garland’s script is clearly inspired by pieces of American history like Donald Trump’s presidency and certain states’ flirtations with secession , you’re not meant to know many of the details that led up to Civil War ’s eponymous confrontation. We’re never shown scenes of the “antifa massacre” that Lee covered earlier in her career or told which political party the sitting president belongs to, because those are things that everyone in the film knows. Instead, the movie uses its main characters to explore how journalism can — but sometimes does not — help people make sense of their reality when it feels like it’s being torn apart.

The movie’s trio of older journalists paints a fascinating picture of what the profession is and what it can do to people over time. Dunst leads with a stony hauntedness that makes Lee feel like a person weary after years of compartmentalizing the images in her mind. Both Lee and Sammy vacillate between grim stoicism and steeliness in ways that speak to their deep understanding of the danger they’re putting themselves in just by identifying themselves as press at a time when it’s not uncommon for journalists to be shot on sight just for doing their jobs. They, like interviewer Joel, also know that there is power in being able to see history reported out as it’s happening. But Civil War uses Joel to complicate its framing of journalists as heroes and emphasize how easy it can be for some media types to become fixated on thrill-seeking rather than telling important stories.

Civil War has the makings of a fascinating examination of the role of journalists as chroniclers of history as the reporters first encounter hollowed-out strip malls and militia-controlled towns that all feel like photo-worthy snapshots of what’s happening across the country. But as arresting as Civil War ’s imagery is, the movie becomes narratively hollow once the journalists start making pit stops to join groups of WF soldiers on missions to root out enemy combatants.

War correspondents are sent to the front lines because that kind of proximity gives them the ability to report their stories with an invaluable level of firsthand experience and perspective. But Civil War never manages to articulate anything solid about how the subjects of Lee’s photos feel about the larger society-in-collapse situation they’re living through. Garland seems to be interested in getting viewers to contemplate how, conceptually, all wars can be considered fights between groups of people fearing for their lives. That’s what a WF sniper duo tells Lee as the journalists unknowingly wander into a standoff between the soldiers and an unseen deadshot barricaded inside a house.

But much in the same way that calling the real Civil War the “war of northern aggression” obscures the Confederacy’s pro-slavery motivations, Civil War ’s attempt at waxing philosophic about how characters on both sides of the conflict are just Americans trying to survive makes it seem as if Garland doesn’t have the confidence to engage with the substance of the images he’s cavalier about putting on-screen.

As Civil War ’s journalists follow soldiers into battle with their cameras at the ready, the movie intensifies its action but also slows its visuals down to dramatically staged freeze-frames in order to show you the photos Lee and Jessie are capturing. As action set pieces meant to make you feel stomach-turning peril, those scenes work because Garland shoots them as desperate, chaotic situations where it’s never certain that people will survive.

But many of the still images Civil War draws your attention to — of Black people being immolated, lynched bodies hanging along freeways, crowds of displaced people begging for water — echo very specific historical events. And that history feels like it’s being evoked for shock value rather than substance because of how insistent the film is about leaving much of the social and political context building up to the war unexamined. This becomes even more the case as Civil War begins to incorporate archival protest and riot footage attributed to news sources like The Associated Press and Getty as well as far-right influencer Andy Ngo .

Civil War is largely shot from Lee’s perspective, and there’s an argument to be made that she’s not thinking about those things as she contemplates her role in mentoring the next generation of journalists. Lee, Civil War tells us, is a consummate war correspondent like the real Lee Miller, who reported on World War II for Vogue . But for all the time Civil War uses the pair to gesture at the importance of photojournalism, the film never seems interested in pondering what it means to take a “good” photo of war or what is being celebrated when we award journalists for capturing images of people in their most desperate moments.

Garland understands that there is an exploitative element to the journalistic act of turning people’s images and voices into content. And yet, that concept goes unexamined as Civil War races to a climactic finish that, while haunting, feels like a letdown in its matter-of-fact simplicity. Civil War is working with an abundance of powerful ideas worth mulling over, but the film itself isn’t interested in thinking all that deeply.

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Crafting a Powerful Thesis Statement for a Movie Review: Examples and
A thesis statement in a movie review presents the main argument or opinion that you will be discussing and supporting throughout your review. IT typically appears near the end of your introduction and should be clear, concise, and thought-provoking. The thesis statement should provide an overall evaluation or interpretation of the movie ...
Crafting a Winning Thesis Statement in Film Analysis: A Step-by-Step
Forming a thesis statement in film analysis is vital in creating a compelling and well-structured essay. By understanding the film's context, closely examining its elements, and crafting a clear and arguable thesis statement, you'll be well on your way to conducting a thorough and insightful analysis that will engage your readers and deepen ...
How to Write a Movie Review (with Sample Reviews)
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. 2. Start to talk about the film's technical and artistic choices. Plot is just one piece of a movie, and shouldn't dictate your entire review.
How to write a perfect thesis statement for your movie essay review
A good thesis statement represents your thoughts properly. Take care of the introduction. You need to implement your thesis statement in the structure of the movie review correctly. When you create an introduction, quote the film's title and mention the significant people who made the movie. Then you can proceed with the thesis statement.
How to Write a Movie Review
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! ‍.
PDF Film Review
The film review is a popular way for critics to assess a film's overall quality and determine whether or not they think the film is worth recommending. Film reviews differ from scholarly ... review does not have to contain a thesis or main claim, but it should focus on a central analysis and assessment. 2) Plot Summary ...
How to write a movie review [Updated 2023]
Step-by-step review writing tips. 1. Watch the movie. The first time that you watch the movie, look for overarching themes or patterns, and establish what the film is primarily about. Take note of the main characters, as well as the setting. 2. Watch the movie again and take notes.
Step By Step Guide On Writing Powerfully Persuasive Film Review Essay
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.
PDF Writing Center Quick reference Thesis Statements
SAMPLE: IN A FILM REVIEW In a film review, the thesis provides a summation of the author's thoughts on the movie. It should give the reader a general idea of what to expect from that movie, as well as including the author's own critical opinion. These days, when most Hollywood types want to get political, they write checks or talk to
Film&Movie Review Examples and Samples
Writing a movie review is an engaging process that combines film criticism, analysis, and personal opinion to create an informative and thought-provoking piece. ... 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.
Do it Right: The Basics of Film Review
A standard review should be insightful, but do not feel as if you have to make a deep point about the film. Your thesis could be as simple as "(Given film) treats the topic of gender difference in a humorous, humane, and understated way." Points: Once you have an idea of your thesis (which should be informed by what you found most notable in ...
Thesis Statement for Review
Tips for Writing a Review Thesis Statement. Stay Concise: Brevity is key. Ensure your thesis is one to two sentences long and clearly encapsulates your main argument or perspective. Use Active Voice: Active voice makes your statement sound more decisive. For instance, "The film delivers a powerful message about resilience" is preferable to ...
Thesis Statement Movie Reviews Samples For Students
Essay 1: Auteur. X-Men series of film is an institution in its amazing way. Bryan Singer pioneered this popular comic characters and brought them to the silver screen. It is a very gigantic task to convert the fictional fantasy of an existence of a superhuman into a realistic visual treat.
How To Write a Movie Review Essay
When answering "what is a movie review," consider that these essays should be seen as far more than a summary of the film. Reviews can be works of art in and of themselves. They should entertain, educate, and persuade, and your written thesis should be original and compelling without necessarily spoiling the movie.
Movie Review Essay Examples Papers and Topics
Topics: Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Feminism, Holly Golightly, Marx's theory of alienation, Marxism, Movie Review, Sex industry, Sex worker, Social class. 1 2 … 18. Perfect and absolutely free movie review essays. Find the best movie review essay examples and relevant topics for inspiration in our database.
Film Analysis
Writing a film analysis requires you to consider the composition of the film—the individual parts and choices made that come together to create the finished piece. Film analysis goes beyond the analysis of the film as literature to include camera angles, lighting, set design, sound elements, costume choices, editing, etc. in making an argument.
How to Write a Film Analysis Essay: Examples, Outline, & Tips
Introduction: This includes the basics of the movie, including the title, director, and the date of release.You should also present the central theme or ideas in the movie and your thesis statement.; Summary: This is where you take the time to present an overview of the primary concepts in the movie, including the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why)—don't forget how!—as well as ...
Film Analysis: Example, Format, and Outline + Topics & Prompts
A film analysis paper focuses on the film's narrative, sound, editing, and other elements. This essay aims to explore the film's themes, symbolism, and underlying messages and to provide an in-depth interpretation of the film. On the other hand, a film review is a brief evaluation of a film that provides the writer's overall opinion of ...
Film Writing: Sample Analysis
The piece's opening introduces the film with a plot summary that doesn't give away too much and a brief summary of the critical conversation that has centered around the film. Then, however, it deviates from this conversation by suggesting that Ex Machina has things to say about humanity before non-human characters even appear.
Library: Film Criticism: Finding Articles: Analysis & Criticism
Criticism & Analysis. "Scholarly or focused critical writing about particular films--both current and historical--can be found in an amazingly wide variety of sources, including film journals, and publications devoted to theater, history, literature, women's studies, ethnic studies, and other disciplines. Critical/analytic film articles tend to ...
13th movie review & film summary (2016)
The film builds its case piece by shattering piece, inspiring levels of shock and outrage that stun the viewer, leaving one shaken and disturbed before closing out on a visual note of hope designed to keep us on the hook as advocates for change. Advertisement. "13th" begins with an alarming statistic: One out of four African-American males ...
How to Designate Thesis Statement of a Movie Review
How to Designate Thesis Statement of a Movie Review. By: Angeliki Coconi Updated September 15, 2017. Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images . By: Angeliki Coconi Updated September 15, 2017. Share It.
Civil War review: dystopian journalism thriller in need of a thesis
Movie Review; Civil War is an arresting journalism film lacking a real thesis. Director Alex Garland's new dystopian thriller seems like it has something to say about American society, but it ...

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Crafting a Powerful Thesis Statement for a Movie Review: Examples and Tips

Introduction

What is a Thesis Statement in a Movie Review?

Examples of Powerful Thesis Statements

Tips for Crafting a Powerful Thesis Statement

1. Can I include my personal opinion in the thesis statement?

2. Should I mention the title of the movie in my thesis statement?

3. How long should my thesis statement be?

4. Can I change my thesis statement after writing the review?

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Crafting a Winning Thesis Statement in Film Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide

Understand the Film's Context

Watch the Film Multiple Times

Identify Key Themes and Elements

Formulate a Research Question

Brainstorm and Organize Ideas

Craft a Thesis Statement

Dreams as a Narrative Device

Blurring Reality and Perception

Challenging Conventional Notions of Truth and Subjectivity

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How to Write a Movie Review

Sample Movie Reviews

Writing an Intro for a Movie Review

Composing Your Review

Polishing Your Piece

Studying Your Source Material

Community Q&A

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How to Write a Movie Review

Writing a Film Review

What is a Movie Review?

How to Write a Good Movie Review

Watch the film!

Express your opinions

Think about your audience

Research the actors

Do background research

Research the professionals

Draft an outline

Introduction

Conclusion

Write your review

Struggling with the Film Review?

How to Write a Film Review

Summary of the story

Plot elements

Creative elements

Did you like our Film Review Guide?

Mistakes to avoid

Not focusing on the film

Not providing evidence

Using personal pronouns

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How to write a movie review [Updated 2023]

What is a movie review?

How to write a movie review

Step-by-step review writing tips

2. Watch the movie again and take notes