Watching a film's moving image, other than just for pure entertainment's sake, is usually enhanced by viewing it with an informed awareness of how a film works, and with some understanding, skill and background training in the elements of the craft of film-making. Each film viewer or movie-goer should strive to be a 'critic' (in the best and most general sense of the word) and be receptive to the full experience.
Viewing a film critically and attentively means to realize cinema with greater thought and awareness, and to elevate one's celluloid experience. It also means possessing an informed knowledge of the film's complex and dense 'language,' its conventions, codes, symbols, cinematic attributes, and other factors. Furthermore, it means to stay alert, to take apart the film's components and interpret how it was all intentionally assembled together. Anyone can learn the language, techniques, and structure of cinema of both the past and present.
How to Watch a Film
This short list is provided for the average movie-goer to stimulate thought about film. It gives helpful hints on the art of reading, analyzing, watching, critically viewing, and deconstructing a film. Here are some simple suggestions for viewing a film intelligently:
* Viewing:
Watch a deserving film more than once, and preferably with others so that the experience may be discussed afterwards. (Note: Not all films deserve such scrutiny.) During the first viewing, become familiar with the basic plot, main characters, important action, etc. - in other words, acquire a brief synopsis of its story including time and place, the characters and their interactions, and the film's main themes without taking notes. The second time (if necessary), pay more detailed attention to what is being projected; take notes and make observations; begin to think in a more concentrated way about the film's structure, acting, directing, the camera shots and angles, etc.
* Dialogue:
Use the closed-caption feature with DVDs, in order to better understand the dialogue. (Note: Oftentimes, the subtitles are abbreviated and do not match the actual spoken words.)
* Film Extras:
Play the added special features of most DVDs, including audio commentary, the original theatrical trailer or teaser, deleted scenes, and other related material.
* Title and Credits:
Consider a film's main title and its opening credits: Why was the specific title chosen (were there any other alternatives considered?), and how do the credits establish a tone or mood? What are the first sounds and images in the film? Can you find any motifs in the credits? Do the end credits have any unusual features (e.g., out-takes, gags, additional footage, etc.). [Note: Up until the 1950s, films had a very set format for the credits: (1) credits at the start, (2) a "The End" title card following the film, and (3) a cast list with character names. Recently, most films immediately begin with a plot sequence, with 'opening' credits ("main title") super-imposed over them after a few minutes, and extensive rolling 'full credits' ("end title"), usually white text on a black background, after the film concludes.]
* Freeze-Frames:
Be prepared to pause (the freeze technique allows one to 'see' how everything is positioned in a frame) and to replay various scenes, shots, or sequences.
* Soundtrack:
Prepare to listen carefully to the film's soundtrack and how the music and score enhance the actions of the characters and the film's mood.
* Screensize:
Understand that films made before the late 1950s had a width-to-height aspect ratio of 4:3 (or 1.33:1) called 'Academy Ratio,' similar to a television screen, while more modern films have non-standard, wide-screen ratios (that are often viewed in the pan-and-scan mode). Watch a film in a movie theater, if possible, where it was designed to be projected, or purchase the film in a 'wide-screen' format.
* Film Stock:
Consider why the film was made as either color or black/white (if a choice was possible); how is color used?
* Production Values:
Does the film have high-production values (with a glossy and expensive look), or is it considered a low-budget, amateurish, B-film?
* Running Time and Timeline:
Know the entire run time of the film. Keep track of the timeline of the film's parts - with the digital counter of a VCR or DVD player.
* Overall:
View the film as a whole, realizing that it is composed of the sum of all of its parts. Some individual parts may be 'great' but the film must hold together, and be cohesive and meaningful in its entirety.
* Objectivity:
Maintain objectivity to what is being presented, without pre-judging the film based on what you've heard about it (from critics or friends), your preconceptions about the actors in it, the reputation of the director, etc.
Major aspects of films - Contextualising
* the key film theories, movements, and genres
* aspects of film history
* various slang, lingo or buzzwords
* kinds of film-making equipment
* the basics of cinematography and stylistic information (types of camera shots)
* numerous industry-specific terms
* the various movie crafts (screenwriting, directing, special effects, sound, editing, etc.)
* the personnel involved (including actors, writers, directors, producers, designers, and behind-the-scenes technicians)
List of elements to make note of
Here are additional, more detailed components to discover when critically viewing a film, to improve one's cinematic sensibility and literacy, and to unpack further layers of meaning:
* The Basics:
The film's title, year of release, main stars/performers, director, rating, running time, genre classification (see some of these factors below), and brief summary.
* Studio:
Know the studio responsible for the film; why was the film made?
* Production:
Know the film's dates of production; study the production credits to learn more about the film's production; research any interesting facts about the 'making of' the film.
* Marketing:
Discover how the film was marketed and/or distributed - what were its taglines, posters and trailers?
* Budget and Box-Office:
What was the film's budget? did it go over-budget? how did the film do at the box-office?
* Film's Context:
What was the social, political, and/or historical context for the film? Was there any controversy surrounding the film's release?
* Film Ratings:
Consider the film's official MPAA rating (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17, or unrated) and/or its critics' ratings (i.e., stars, "thumbs-up", letter grades, number ratings, etc.) in your evaluation.
* Initial Reception:
What was the film's original reception, and how is the film perceived today?
* Reviews and Critics:
Discern what major reviewers, press reviews, or critics have said about the film.
* Lasting Influence or Referential:
Learn if the film had an influential impact on future films, or whether it paid homage to (or referenced) a previous film in some way.
* Genre:
Decide on the film's principal type, its genre and sub-genre categories (such as action, adventure, musical, comedy, or a hybrid); how does the film fit (or not fit) into its conventional, recognizable classifications?
* One-Liner:
If you were to write a short 'one-liner' summary to describe the film (often called a synopsis or film treatment), what would it be?
* Type of Film:
Read about whether the film is a sequel, prequel, re-make, a spoof, an homage film, etc.; are there other versions of the film's story or tale?
* Narrative Origins and Script:
Read about the narrative origins of the film (literary or otherwise) - is it adapted from some other work, or based on an original idea? If adapted, how well does it follow the original? If original, how fresh and innovative is it? Learn about the script-screenwriter (and other works) - if a screenplay is available, compare it to the actual film. Does the film's screenplay effectively communicate the story through action and dialogue?
* Fact or Fiction?:
If the film is based upon an historical event or person, how true to life is the film? is the film fact or fiction? does it mythologize an historical event or period?
* Plot or Story:
How is the film structured? decipher how the story's plot is told (through normal exposition, by flashback, with a narrator, chronologically or linear, character-driven, objectively or subjectively, or otherwise); what is the vantage point from which the film is presented? determine the film's pivotal scene(s), and if parallelism exists between two or more scenes (the film cuts back and forth between two scenes that are happening simultaneously or at different times); are the transitions between scenes effective? is there a climax and resolution (and denouement)? does the film's narrative provide continuity from scene to scene, and is there closure by film's end?
* Special (Visual) Effects:
Learn about the special (visual) effects within the film and determine how skillfully they are handled - consider whether the advanced, computer-generated technical aspects of the film are essential to the film's plot, or whether their unrestrained use overwhelms the dramatic, story-telling elements and sacrifices substance - namely, the plot and/or characters.
* Awards and Honors:
Find out about the film's major awards (i.e., the Academy Awards), nominations, or other honors bestowed upon it.
* Theme(s):
Look for the film's central theme, motif, idea or dominant message, as well as the film's sub-text (the message 'beneath the surface'); identify prominent symbols and metaphors within the film and determine their purpose and overall effect; what popular ideologies are reproduced and reinforced in the film? does the film have an original theme or a traditional one? is the film's theme adequately or successfully supported by the story, acting, and other film elements?
* Style and Tone:
Decide the overall style and tone of the film (noirish, sophisticated, suspenseful, slapstick, etc.).
* Characters and Acting Performances:
Write down the film's main characters (are their names significant?), a brief description for each one, their major motivations or ethical values/assumptions, and character development; is there a hero or anti-hero? are the characters believable and three-dimensional? is the acting memorable, exceptional, or inferior? also consider a few of the minor characters and how they are used; ask yourself about 'star quality' - why were specific performers (or stars) chosen (or cast) to play each role - were they appropriately cast (i.e., the right age or size, or with the proper accent)? were their performances appropriate for the roles? was the acting professional or non-professional? does one performer steal the spotlight from others?
* Stereotyping:
Were the popular stereotypes (attitudinal or imaged) about different kinds of people (fathers, gays, Native Americans, the elderly, women, the mentally-ill, blacks, rural folks, etc.) challenged or reinforced? Were there any caricatures?
* Directing:
Learn about the director's entire repertoire of films, stylistic characteristics, and favorite techniques; is the director a veteran or a novice? how has the director shaped, auteured, interpreted or controlled every aspect of the film's making, and the telling of its story?
* Cinematography:
Identify the film's cinematographer, stylistic and visual characteristics, use of lighting and color (or black and white) to create a mood, use of a static or moving camera, amount of closeups, and favorite techniques - overall, is the cinematography effective?
* Score and/or Soundtrack:
Identify the film's composer, and listen carefully to how the music/score functions within the film to underscore the action and the emotional tone or mood - is the film's soundtrack appropriate, subtle and effective, or inappropriate, overwhelming and domineering? Note if silence is used, at times, in place of sound.
* Mis-en-Scene:
Understand the 'mis-en-scene' of the film - how were the scenes 'orchestrated' or set up for the camera? (Mis-en-scene includes the setting, costumes, make-up, lighting, and camera positioning and movement)
* Locations or Settings:
Identify the settings (geographical and temporal), locations (on-site) or studio sets used throughout, and important props - are they appropriate and effective?
* Film Conventions:
Notice the typical conventions used in the film, for instance, (1) cars that crash will almost always burst into flames, or (2) all telephone numbers in America begin with the digits 555.
* Visual Clues:
Be attentive to visual clues, including establishing shots (the initial shot in a scene), camera lighting (diffuse, high-key, low-key, muted, highlighting, spot-lighting, use of light and dark areas), focusing (zooms, rack-focus, blurry, deep-focus), camera distance and framing (full shots, medium shots, closeups), compositions (positioning of elements, symmetrical vs. asymmetrical, use of shadows, doors, low ceilings, windows, mirrors, etc.), camera angles (tilted, wide angle, telephoto, POV shots, low/high angled, etc.), camera movements and shots (dolly shots, crane shots, pans, tracking, hand-helds, freeze-frames, reaction shots, the number and order of shots, the use of shot/reverse shots in conversations or interviews, etc.), colors used (or color filtering), and film speed (reversed, or fast/slow-motion); also compare screen time to 'story time.'
* Editing:
Note the film's transitional edits (i.e., jump cuts, wipes, fade-ins, fade-outs, fade-to-black, dissolves, lap dissolves, mixes, use of montage or rapid cutting between shots), juxtapositions (cross-cutting, cutaways, match cuts), aural editing (how music, noise, or transitional dialogue creates the illusion of continuity between cuts), and the pace and rhythm of editing (the typical length and speed of sequences or shots); is the film seamlessly and smoothly edited?
* Audio Clues:
Listen for the film's audio clues, including sound effects, music, dialogue or voice, and silence; study the use of sound bridges, on-screen vs. off-screen sounds (to provide an impression of 3-D space), and post-synchronized sound vs. direct sound; note when sound transitions do not match shot transitions; distinguish between diegetic sound (i.e., dialogue and sound effects) and non-diegetic sound (i.e., the musical score, narrative voice-overs).
* Costuming:
Concentrate on the use of period costumes, body physiques, hair-stylings, etc.
* Dialogue:
Identify the most important line(s) of dialogue; note how the dialogue is delivered (fast, mumbled, overlapping, loud/soft, etc.); are there any recurring lines of dialogue and how do they function?
