Writing a Film Review

Word of mouth is a powerful influence medium in cinema. We scurry for film reviews in newspapers or watch Rajeev Masand’s opinion before buying the tickets. What makes Rajeev’s or Taran Adarsh’s reviews quite accurate & dependable, is their overall analysis. But most reviews today happen on the faster and seamless online media. And in the online space, there are very few dependable writers whose opinion really matters. Many reviews I read seem worse than the film itself that the writer has criticized much. And we cannot ignore the bland taste of such opinions which are read by more people online than all TV channels and Newspapers together in India.

So while a handful of reviews do justice to a film, most are restricted to the plot and use of hunky dory words. And the inexperience is clearly visible in the choice of words and overall content. Some reviews are totally mixed up, no clarity. Some are a spurt of redundant words. Some only talk of limited aspects failing to give an overall picture. While there are no rules of thumb followed to write a review, here are some things which make a review a ‘good’ review:

a) View and then review. Don’t go by second hand googled-up opinions to rehash and make your own remake. It’s easy to get a million of them online, but as a reviewer you have an online reputation to take care of!

b) Watch and understand the film from various aspects: Story & storytelling (script, pace, texture etc), Actor performances, Technical points (cinematography, direction, art direction, dialogue culture etc.), Music et al/ reading up a bit or learning a little about the art of film making helps.

c) Give the plot, not the story away.

d) While you speak of all the cinematic aspects with a balanced tone, end with YOUR opinion. The reader wants to know your final take on the film

e) Include certain important details like the genre, suitable for which audience type (like a list of the cast and the makers, date of release etc.)

f) While there is no rule, again, but a word limit of about 600-700 words is good. Cybermedia is not like newspapers – it has the mouse as its remote

g) Use humour / wit to soften your negative comments. Constructive criticism is a better approach rather than mindless attack (though some films truly deserve it)

h) Use the right words for overall description such as  (racy / cheesy / fastpaced /thriller / socialist / dramatic / romantic / slice of life) etc. Don’t get SEOed for the greed of google crawls.

i) Weave in references of the original film, if the one you are reviewing has takes from that (which usually is the case)

j) Mention the nuances and highlights-  maybe a dialogue you liked or a scene you enjoyed or didn’t. Makes it more interesting.

While the list can get longer, let’s cut this short. Very important to remember that be honest and not biased in your opinion. Give the facts, but also form an opinion. Don’t make a choice for him / her, help

The Month Gone By

The last 30 days beginning August 10 2009 have zoomed by. The day I ‘launched’ my writing and communication service as an independent professional with this website and blog et al, I felt like an underachiever – because there’s a world to conquer and things to do before I leave. I might have met 2 dozen new people, potential clients and bagged a few projects as well. At times I felt the pinch of not having the luxury of that fixed fat month-end credit. But the reverse was challenging. Hunting to earn your pennies is hardkicking. Working more than ever before (yes, even in the toughest of jobs), letting go of weekends, typing away into early mornings….an independent career as a writer has been anything but a cakewalk. Call it a tightrope walk instead. What I learnt most in the past few weeks is there is immense scope and opportunity for the kind of work I do, which keeps my hopes pinned high…but keep the expectations as low…the work might not materialise – the proposal might sound too expensive for some, or they might simply not answer your followups. Strange. But the key to all this worriedness not affecting you and walking on, your path with as much confidence as the Lion in his forest. No one can defeat him, he has the courage to rule.

The excitement is in bagging new projects – seemingly interesting and so different from the other. Plus the facility of flexi-time (and overtime a lot) has got me balance things out – my home,my health etc. So while taking a different career path to follow, covered with gravel, snow or boulders it takes courage to walk. Sometimes alone, sometimes not. The fact is I have chosen this untread path, not knowing how many miles to go before I taste the first grain of success. Or how many boulders to crack and mountains to cross.  As a Writer, an independent writer,  with a brand name I can call my own (unless someone decides to pay a hefty fee and steal the copyright legally. But otherwise, my own trumpet to blow away into the winds of the mystic valley. The 31st day begins now.

Why The Brand Name ‘ The Word Jockey’