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Film Review Format
I. Introduction:
A. Introduce your review appropriately. Identify the director, the title, the main
topic or issue presented in the film, and the director's purpose in writing the book.
B. Explain Relationships. Establish your position as the reviewer (your thesis
about the film's argument). As you write, consider the following questions:
• What type of movie is this? (documentary, biography, drama, etc)
• Who is the director? What is the director's approach to the main theme (as a
journalist? a historian? a researcher?)?
• What is the main topic or problem addressed in the film? How does the work
relate to a discipline, to a profession, to a particular audience, or to other works on
the topic? OF COURSE IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE THE CONNECTION
WITH OUR CLASS. Who’s the audience for this film?
• What is your critical evaluation of the work (your thesis or stance)? Why have
you taken that position? What criteria are you basing your position on?
C. Provide an Overview. What are the film’s basic premises? What issues are
raised, or what themes emerge? What situation(s) provide a basis for the director's
assertions? List any background information that is relevant to the film and should be
placed here rather than in a body paragraph.
II. Evaluate the film. This is the heart of your film review. You should discuss a
variety of issues here:
• How clearly is expressed the film’s argument?
• Did the director achieve their goal? How did they do this or fall short?
• What are the film's most important points? List at least two examples of how the
movie proved or did not prove points it was trying to make.
• What possibilities does the director/film suggest for the viewer?
• What did the film leave out?
• How the film compares to others on the subject?
• What personal experiences do you have relating to the subject?
• What did you like best about the film?
• What did you like least about the film?
Make sure that you distinguish your personal views from that of the director.
III. Conclusion. Tie together any issues raised in the review and provide a concise
comment on the film and how it relates to our class and whether or not you would
recommend this film to someone else.
