Q&A for How to Analyze a Movie

Pay attention to the interactions between the actors, including how they move, their expressions and gestures, and how they deliver their dialogue. Other production elements to examine include the blocking, editing, and camera movement in the film.

When you're studying a film, look at the cinematography, which is the use of lighting and the camera to create the images you see. There's also the script, which is the dialogue and, in some cases, notes about how the characters should move or deliver certain lines. You might also pay attention to the actors' performances, the editing, and the production of the film.

Watch the movie over and over until you know it inside and out. Make inferences during the movie and take note of important events that might affect a characters attitude. For example: In "Hacksaw Ridge," Desmond Doss swore to never touch a gun, because he almost shot his father when he was younger. That experience led him to think in another way that would keep him from making the same mistake.

Consider the character's flaws and how a scene displays their reactions to certain experiences.

A good idea is to initiate an open discussion. Give them some questions and then require them to create questions of their own. Then, you start discussing.

Figure out what it is the commercial wants to convey or convince you of and write that down. Use specific actions or quotes within the commercial to support your explanation about the point of the commercial.

Learn more about film theories, the way movies are made, how a director directs, which method actors use, who produced it, where was it shot, who wrote it, who distributed it etc.

I think criticism from a cinephile would be very helpful! It's good to have insight from someone who knows a lot about movies.