Description
Step 1. Learn about the elements of filmmaking
Once again, please don’t feel like I am expecting you to become a film studies major overnight; just get acquainted with the different features that critics refer to in analysis, and refer back to the glossary or readings as needed when you are writing your essay. When you write your essay, do not try and use unfamiliar vocabulary like mise en scène unless you feel comfortable with the term. It is fine to talk about the way a scene is shot or staged, or the use of light, or the connection between the actors, etc., using everyday language.
The Grammar of Film and Television (Links to an external site.)
This webpage offers a quick and easy explanation of the key aspects of filmmaking with helpful illustrations.
How to Analyse Movies” lessons (Links to an external site.) at filminquiry.com.
This site offers brief but helpful explanations of the features of filmmaking. (NOTE: you may encounter the message “Sorry! This article is part of our Premium Content. Please subscribe to unlock .” Don’t worry. Just ignore the message and keep scrolling. The content should display. If it does not, please let me know.
Step 2. Use the movie analysis worksheet
from “How to Analyse Movies,” by Manon de Reeper (filminquiry.com)
Before you start the movie
Take notes of the following:
Name of the movie
Its year of release
Director
Genre (romantic comedy, sci-fi, thriller, children’s film, adventure, etc.)
Three of the lead actors’ names
Importantly, write down your expectations—you’ll have expectations beforehand because marketing, reviews, or even word-of-mouth have shaped them. If it’s an older movie, your expectations will have been shaped because of what you know of the era (et cetera).
While watching the movie
Take notes while you’re watching the movie. While it is hard to simply watch the movie and consider all the little elements and still see the bigger whole at first, it’ll get easier when you practice this more often. You’ll get attuned to it! Pause the film while you’re making notes if you’re afraid to miss something.
Performances
What about the performances stands out to you?
Direction
Is the film cohesive? How is the script visualized? Are the actors well-cast, and how is their performance, was proper direction given to them? How is it filmed? Consider all creative elements of the film
Story
Think of flow, construction (acts), beginning and end, moral, et cetera
Genre and Iconography
What elements are used to set the genre of the film
Mise-en-Scène
What elements do you see in individual shots that add to the story and the overall effect to the film? What purpose and what effect do they have, how were they created? Is a certain element repeated between shots?
Cinematography
What shot types and camera angles are used and to what end, also consider camera movement
Lighting and Sound
What types of lighting are used and to what purpose; what about sound, is there a lot of diegetic sound (or not) and to what purpose?
Score
Does the score fit the film, what does it do for mood?
Editing
Think about continuity, types of cuts, and what their purpose and effect are
Realisticness [note: I would use believability, or realistic, not “realisticness”]
How is realisticness achieved?
Signs and Code
Seeing these require the most practice. Signs are small elements that signify certain meaning. Codes are groups of signs which can create bigger, more significant meaning. You’ll want to keep track of signs throughout the film.
Conventions
Consider conventions used in the film — e.g. that what we take for “normal” in film, but may not actually be normal in reality [e.g., in a romantic comedy, women drinking wine, a funny best friend, lots of visible emotional reactions]
After finishing the film
Final thoughts
Make notes of your last thoughts, your feelings, how did the ending impact you, how did the filmmakers achieve this feeling? Did the film meet your expectations?
The Message
Now, after you’ve finished the movie, consider all your notes. What is the intended message of this film? What are you supposed to take away from it? How do the filmmakers achieve it?