Film Review and language features

Before you write your own film review, you are to analyse the language used in the reviews you have been given.

The point of this exercise is for you to be able to identify how the writer is using language to convince you of their opinion about the film, and then to be able to achieve this yourself.

Film reviews are a very specific kind of persuasive writing and one that is more openly subjective than other forms. It is also often a very personal form of writing in as much as the writer includes themselves in the writing (uses first person) and adopts a distinctive voice or personal style.

When identifying language features you are looking for obvious things like

first person narration
direct address /second person narration (use of you, your etc)
inclusive language (use of we, our, us etc)
colloquial or informal language
jargon or filmic terminology

You are also looking for more subtle language use

reference to other films
a "chatty" tone - including short or incomplete sentences
humour
sarcasm
descriptive, emotive or "flowery" language
cliches

You are also looking for the way the review has been structured

Is there a plot summary?
What aspects of cinema are commented on? (acting, direction, cinemotography, script, lighting, soundtrack etc)
Are there spoilers or a conscious effort to avoid them?
Where is the opinion or recommendation?

There are other things to consider...

Does the reviewer have an intention beyond presenting their opinion? ("family-oriented" film reviews, educational film reviews etc)
Is the reviewer an expert or professional or just someone who has seen the film?
What type of publication is this in?

Obviously you don't have to include all of these things and there are other features you could examine. On the whole you are looking for all the same features you usually look for when examining persuasive writing but you are looking for tone and voice as well...

Good luck and feel free to ask questions if you need help!!