Film Reviews

Purpose of a Critical Film Review “Reviews of this kind generally provide a brief description of the film while focusing on the analysis and evaluation of the film's artistic merits” (Twyman-Whitney). For the purpose of this assignment, the film’s “artistic merits” will be how accurately it portrays the qualities of a Shakespearean tragedy.

Structure of a Critical Film Review Adapted from the University of Chicago Part I: Create your own trailer. Capture the reader’s attention by re-telling a moment or scene from the film that relates to the purpose of your review (i.e. a scene that illustrates an aspect of Shakespearean tragedy particularly well, or one that epitomizes the relevance of the film to its representation of Shakespearean drama).

Structure of a Critical Film Review Adapted from the University of Chicago Part II: The basics. Tell the audience the title of the film, the director, the production company, when it was made, and the major actors. Also include a brief statement of what it’s about (like, in a sentence or two).

Structure of a Critical Film Review Adapted from the University of Chicago Part III: The who and what. Summarize the basic setting and plot in more detail than in the previous paragraph. Include the major characters.

Structure of a Critical Film Review Adapted from the University of Chicago Part IV: The Shakespearean element(s). Introduce the key element or elements of Shakespearean tragedies you will address in your film review, and explain how the film portrays it. For example, you might explain that you will be addressing the gender roles as portrayed in Macbeth, and you will describe how, in the film, Lady Macbeth is presented as bloodthirsty and manipulative, which would usually only be attributed to men during this time, giving specific examples.

Structure of a Critical Film Review Part V: The analysis. Now that you have explained how the film presents your Shakespearean element or elements, you will explain how well the film’s portrayal of that element lives up to the common presentation of that element in Shakespeare’s time. For example, you might argue that, while the film version of Macbeth does present Lady Macbeth as portraying qualities typical of men, the film fails at illustrating the extent to which Lady Macbeth criticizes her husband’s manhood. You would, of course, give specific examples.

Structure of a Critical Film Review Part VI: Conclusion. Write 4-5 lines summing everything up. This is where you revisit (but not restate!) the Shakespearean element you analyzed, how well the film portrayed it, and, generally, whether you thought the film was an accurate representation of a Shakespearean tragedy overall. Leave the reader with something to think about!