Film Review Guidelines

Film Review Guidelines

Preface your review with bibliographic information about the film: director, production company, date, main actors.  Also give it a star rating out of 4. 

I.         Open with a general review of the film: briefly summarize the plot (if it’s not one of the novels we read in class), and/or state your general thesis about the film—whether or not it’s a successful adaptation of Jane Austen (or her life) and if it works on various levels.  Don’t go into too much detail yet, but give us a sense about how the movie struck you and what you intend to say about it.

II.        Focus on a few specific details that you feel are successful or unsuccessful about the film.  Be sure to use scenes/dialogue from the film for support.  Don’t just say “this is a bad adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.”  Show us why and explain what might be lacking.  Likewise, if you feel it is successful, show what elements make it successful.  Feel free to use a novel to support your reading here (if one of the books from class).  You might consider how a film can be ‘faithful’ to a novel, and if such fidelity is even a good quality.  Do films need to ‘add’ material to make it seem more believable/acceptable?  Or should the novel text be more like a screenplay itself?  Consider casting as well—do we believe that Actress X is really Emma Woodhouse?  Anachronistic elements (things that seem out of place, such as music, cinematography, dialogue, etc.) are also useful to focus on. 

III.      Discuss how the movie underlines some of the basic themes from class.  Consider ideas such as the education of women, the marriage market, sense vs. sensibility, satire, elements of Jane Austen’s life, Romance (the genre, that is), ideas from A Room of One’s Own, etc.  Consider how the movie fits into our class and could be one of our course texts.   Is it critically aware of its place in the Austen universe, or does it seem oblivious to the themes and ideas of Austen criticism?  You might also consider if it is too aware of being a version of Austen rather than simply a film in its own right. 

Your review should be at least 2-3 pages, but can be more if you choose.  Be concise, but say something meaningful.  Don’t be vague and beat around the bush.  Give us a useful guide to watching and enjoying the film.  Happy reviewing!