Instruction
in a Word document, complete your "Critical Film Review" in the following format:
Font size: 11 or 12 pt. font
Font style: pick one easily readable font (Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri, New Courier), not a handwriting style or an ornate font
Margins: top and bottom of 1”; right and left margins of 1.25”
Line spacing: 1.5 or 2.0
Utilize the CMS Citation Method
The "Critical Film Review" should adhere to the following order:
Full CMS citation for the film. (Make sure to identify the film type: documentary, feature film, etc.)
Brief Summary of the Film (8-10 sentences)
Briefly identify the director and main actors.
From what point of view is the story told?
Does the film employ flashbacks or narrative voice-overs?
Audience (3 sentences)
Who is the intended audience?
Why was the film made? What is its purpose?
What is the viewpoint of the director?
Does the director assume that the audience will have some knowledge of the subject matter? How you can you tell?
Credentials (3-5 sentences)
If the film is a documentary, note the academic credentials of the experts who provide the commentary. If it is a feature film, determine whether the filmmaker made use of professional historians as consultants.
Analyze the interests and concerns of the director, producer, and screenwriter. Note any other films they have produced, directed, or written that might help the viewer understand their interests and biases.
Evidence (3-5 sentences)
What evidence does the film present to back up or support the main point of the piece?
Do you think the evidence is reliable? Explain.
Does the film address counter-evidence that contradicts their main point? If so, how is that counter-evidence portrayed?
Do you find the main point of the film to be convincing? Explain.
Historical Accuracy (5-10 sentences)
Examine how the images presented in the film enhance our understanding of the subject and the period.
Do the costumes and sets accurately portray the historical reality of the period?
Does the film help us understand the material culture of the period?
Does the film accurately represent language and word usage from the period?
Cinematic Techniques (10 sentences)
Is the film shot in black and white or in color?
How does the filmmaker use lighting to convey a mood or to make a symbolic point?
How is one set of images juxtaposed with another to create an impression?
What kind of camera angles are used, and why?
What kind of music is used in the soundtrack? Was it composed specifically for the film, or are classical or popular pieces used?
Comparative Analysis (5-10 sentences)
If the film is based on a play or a specific text, compare the film with the original source. Are any themes or concepts portrayed more effectively in the film than in the text? Conversely, are any elements of the source eliminated or distorted in the film?
Compare the film with other films, books, and articles on the same subject.
Final Evaluation (3 sentences)
Discuss what you find particularly useful in the film.
Discuss what is lacking in the film.
Identify who would be interested in the film.
Be sure to include CMS citations for any outside material that you cover in your critique. T