Film critics have existed as long as films have. As filmmaking became an art, the role of critics evolved. In the beginning, reviews were published in magazines and newspapers as short, descriptive articles. James Agee and Andre Bazin shaped the discourse surrounding cinema. Today, film critics such as Roger Ebert and The New York Times A.O. Scott and The New York Times’ Manohla dargis continue their legacy in the world of film.
How to Write a Movie Review
YouTube and TikTok critics like Red Letter Media, Deepfocuslens and DoMo Draper do more than just write film critiques. They also shoot videos and perform skits. They offer unique and refreshing perspectives through their creative formats while creating communities of film and television fans. By learning to write movie reviews, aspiring filmmakers can begin to watch movies intentionally, whether they choose to do so for their own blogs, websites or social media channels.
1. At least watch the film once.
It’s impossible for new reviewers to cover everything in a single viewing. It is easy to improve your review by watching the film and then taking notes. It will be easier to remember your reactions and thoughts at the time.
Christian Blauvelt reviewed Charlie Chaplin’s silent film The Circus ,. The film has no sound so it is important to pay close attention when critiquing it. The film’s cinematography and storyline are important to take in. Blauvelt’s statement about The Circus is not a criticism but rather an observation gleaned after more than one viewing.
While every film critic has their own style, many prefer to watch the film multiple times to give it the best review. Image of The Criterion Collection.
2. Support your criticism and express your opinion.
Professional reviewers are not afraid to share their opinions on a film, whether it is good, bad or indifferent. Candice Frederick, ‘s reviewer for the film “Mother! “, describes the film as being “uncomfortable” and “controversial”, helping viewers to understand the tone. Frederick enjoyed the film but her honest assessment of how the movie would affect audiences was crucial in writing the review.
You should be able to give specific examples, such as a poor performance, beautiful cinematography or a difficult piece of material that makes you think. Professional reviewers must explain why they made their criticism.
3. Consider your audience.
Do you write for a news or fan site? You can choose what aspects of the film to emphasize by knowing who will read it and their interests. Take these two reviews of the movie ‘Synecdoche New York’ as an example.
Alonso Duralde wrote the first review for Today Show. It was around 500 words. The film is based on bullet points, including characters, plot and a concise summary. The second review has over 3,000 words, and was published in the Critical Critics blog. This review is incredibly detailed (and includes spoilers), and provides a great deal of analysis. The first review is geared towards casual moviegoers, while the second one is aimed at cinephiles. Each review has a specific purpose.
4. Acting is a topic that you can discuss.
It’s important that you take time to talk about the performances when reviewing a movie. Is the film starring a veteran actor playing a new role, or is it a stellar performance by a rising star. What was the acting like? Brett Milam’s review of the award-winning film Whiplash goes into great detail about both Miles Teller, who is a rising star in Hollywood, and JK Simmons, an experienced professional.
Milam says of Teller: “This is an performance.” The analysis of their acting is based on his words “This is art” and “I found Simmons fascinating to look at.” The film focuses mainly on their relationship, Miles and JK, as protagonists and antagonists, so the review fits well with the plot: student and instructor going head-to-head in an intense, determined showdown.
You can describe the performance of actors in a film by describing how they handled the script and the dynamics within the ensemble.
5. You can also call out cinematographers and special effects.
Reviewers can support their critiques by including highlights and missteps made by directors, cinematographers and costume designers. Reviewers can provide a more thoughtful review by highlighting what you thought worked, what you were surprised about, and what didn’t meet your expectations.
Monique Jones has crafted a piece for A Twist in Time that diplomatically highlights the film’s missteps. Jones offers a fair critique of the film, pointing out the CGI quality, camera techniques and inconsistencies with the rules of fantasy. It helps to be familiar with the filmmaking process in order to properly evaluate the screenwriting and cinematography. You can also assess the special effects, the acting, the script, etc. Image via Disney.
6. No spoilers.
Writing a film review has the purpose of generating interest in a movie. It’s best to avoid spoilers when writing a movie review. Robert Daniels takes a creative approach to this. In his review Annihilation ,he offers commentary on what could be considered spoilers. He places this part of the review in the end of the article, under a bold image or header that warns readers that he is about to spoil the movie. This is a great way for reviewers to tease and reveal the whole film to those who haven’t yet seen it.
7. Learn from the experts.
The more you read about writing, the better. There are many reviewers who can be studied, especially in the modern world of film reviews, which goes beyond just writing to include content creation on social media platforms. Decide what type of reviewer and medium you would like to be. For example, if you want to write on Medium, it is a good idea to study the existing reviewers.
Read film reviews of some of your favourite films. Decide which review style you prefer. Use your critical eye and ask why a reviewer may have a hundred thousand fans, while another has only two. You can use the guidelines of the publication you want to submit your work to as a guideline for writing your review. Some examples of professionals who review films include Rotten Tomatoes Roger Ebert and Film Comment.
8. Reread, rewrite and edit.
Even though film criticism is written in the opinion of the critic, and the style follows, it’s important to edit the work. The writer should make sure that the grammar and spelling are correct. Even if a writer has a great opinion, it will be ignored if the director’s name is not spelled correctly. Hemingway editor and Grammarly are great tools for finding and correcting areas that require improvement.
9. Find your voice.
The best film critics have a unique personality that is evident in their writing. Los Angeles Times Film Reviewer Carlos Aguilar wrote a passionate piece about Beatriz at dinner and went into great detail about his experience working in the movie industry. The review is made more personal by sharing his experiences with racism and connecting them to the protagonist of the film.
Aguilar writes: “If I have to keep my guard high when people ask me if I am allowed to attend a film fest in a progressive place like Los Angeles – how can the voiceless feel respected or hopeful?”
It takes time for new reviewers to develop their own unique style. Take every opportunity you get to write to improve your writing. Image from BBC.
10. Know your taste.
It can be useful to know your tastes in films as a film critic. Reviewers who are aware of their preferences, strengths and biases can provide nuanced criticisms to audiences that will resonate and give them valuable advice on films they may enjoy. It also helps maintain credibility and integrity for a critic by ensuring assessments are authentic, and reflect personal cinematic tastes.
Explore different genres, directors and themes to find out what you like. You can define your tastes by observing the stories you enjoy.