29 Film Criticism

Chapter & Discussion

This chapter includes a presentation that can be navigated in a classroom setting or independently. You can access the presentation via the link below.

Guide to Film and Television Analysis

Work through the different sections of the chapter and discuss ideas and topics as they arise. If you’re working independently, take notes instead. Notes and active discussion will be helpful in navigating this week’s assignments.

Overview

The goal of this guide is to offer suggestions on how you can watch film and television to make you a better reader.

Film and television are narrative forms, which means they follow the same rules as novels, and share many of the same elements.

The most important part of the process is that you give yourself an opportunity to think critically about what you watch, and that you have a chance to talk about it.

You can do this through a paper, but the best way to go is through a conversation.

Goals

The first thing to do when analyzing a film is to identify its goals.

If you can figure out what the director was trying to do, you’ll have a much easier time evaluating whether or not they achieved it. Ask yourself:

• Who is the audience for this film?
• Does it have a specific genre?
• What emotions does it want to evoke?
• What does the movie want you to think about?

If you are comparing two films, remember to discuss a shared goal that they both have.

Technique

Next, break down the technical elements of the film. Make sure that for each, you ask yourself “How did this help the film meet one of its goals or communicate a theme?”

Technical Elements:

• Cinematography (the camera work, shots, and images)
• Lighting and Color
• Costume and Makeup Design
• Production Design (things they build)
• Sound and Music
• Editing
• And of course, the acting

Message

Finally, you’ll need to ask yourself “What did this film have to say?”

Identify the movie’s themes and talk about how the director tried to explore them.

Look at the use of devices like figurative language, motifs, and flashbacks. How did these help the director speak on the movie’s themes?

Ultimately, you are trying to get at these questions: What was the movie trying to say to its audience? And, did it do a good job?

Assigned Reading

Here are this week’s readings. Additionally, please read for your own personal enjoyment for 1/2 hour each day. This will be called your “Reading Zone” reading and it will coincide with many upcoming activities.

How to Watch a Movie by Russel Sherman (via Moving Pictures)