The Riot Club film review from Empire magazine (in detail)

2. Discourse of overall review
We have the title of the film in a red box with white coloured font to stand out from the rest of the review,
and draw the audience’s attention to it making it clear it’s the title of the film. We then don’t have a
subtitle, but a small paragraph about the plot of The Riot Club. This gives readers insight into the actors and
which character they are playing, while including adjectives or descriptions before their name to give the
audience some background on the character. We then have the main part of the review, which is separated
into small paragraphs making it manageable to read. The small paragraph at the bottom in bold is the
verdict or summary of the film. Which is given in short simple sentences while having a large impact on the
readers and gives them something to think about after they’ve read it. The ideas of the review are
dominantly illustrated in the main part of the review, with the writer giving their opinion on the film. Giving
the overall article a good flow when reading as explanation of the film and opinions are coherent
throughout. There is a clear beginning, middle and end of the review, which is separated effectively as a
whole by changes in graphology. This makes the review more appealing to read as it looks manageable, and
although headings aren’t used subtle lines are used to separate the review. Furthermore, the opening of
the article sees the writer directly address the director of The Riot Club’s previous work and compare it to
this film. It clearly explains how Lone Sherfig has made this filmto represent university-aged teenagers and
their huge aspirations, with having no doubt. Generating an impression of the director and her work on the
film straight away. As the opening focuses on the production and ideas of the filminstead of the characters
primarily. The closing of the review highlights the themes present throughout its narrative as it lists the
common ones. However it then leaves on the note that the film doesn’t do well to represent them in
enough detail. This almost leaves the filmreview on a negative note when it’s normally seen to be left on a
positive one. This could be due to the writer’s personal opinion, or to make the audience think about how
the film has been produced to convey these themes. Overall the review has a informal and relaxed tone to
it which could attract a certain audience, and make them feel more comfortable with the writer. This could
then build a relationship with the readers, and other Empire Magazine readers. I believe that this tone of
writing is more dominant in Empire reviews as this is the writer’s style of writing. Additionally, the pros and
cons of the filmare demonstrated within the review while explaining the background of the two main
characters. But once we get to the middle of the review the main part of the film is explained in more detail
with formal words used in every part. Anaphoric cohesive links to are used to refer back to the filmand the
characters roles. While cataphoric links are used after referring back to a part of the film, as comments on
the director’s decisions or how certain themes were represented, are mentioned.

3. The image usedrepresentsthe filmasitshowscharactersthat looklike they’refromanupperclassbackground.Thisis
shownthroughthe mise-en-scene of theirclothingof three piece suitsandbow ties.Bythe characters wearingall the same
costumesshowstheirunityandemphasisesthatthese charactersare part of a club.Therefore byhavingthe actorslooking
unifiedwiththe titleof the filmbelowthe image,itsignifieshow these charactersare mostlikelytobe partof The Riot
Club.The facial expressionsthe charactersare showingare of seriousness,withtheirbodylanguage showingthemas
standingupstraight.Thishighlightshowtheytake theirrolesintheirclubseriouslyandconveystheirhigherclass,asthey
are seentobe well educatedand‘posh’due tohowtheyare portrayingthemselves.The charactersall have similarhairasit
islongbut parted and combedback,creatingthe stereotypical richboylookwiththe smarthairstyle.Additionally,the
setting/locationof the image isthe keysettingforthe filmandwhere the disruptionismeanttohappen.The brickwalled
buildingismade tolooklike apubwiththe name of the pub.As well asshowingthe windows,the streetlampandgreenery
aroundthe buildingconveyingthatthe settingmaybe setinan upperclass part of Englandwhichisrespected.The film
reviewimage representsthe actorsas beingmaybe successfulactorsas theyare in thisfilmwhichmaybe differenttoother
filmstheyactedin.The image couldrepresentthe actorsina positive lightasthe filmgivesoff aprofessionalandserious
impressionaboutitsgenre andnarrative.Furthermore,the image usedeffectivelyrepresentsandportraysthe theme of the
filmwhichisupperclassunearnedprivilege andarrogance.Asinthisimage itis made to seemthatthe image isactuallya
photothat’sbeentakenbysomeone,andnota still fromthe filmitself.Highlightinghow thismaybe an aspectof the film
and couldbe a traditionof the club. There are alsono propsshownto signifythe importance of the characters,asincluding
propswouldtake the focusoff of themand the purpose of the picture.
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The mid shotusedshowsthe charactersat a slightlylowerangle creatingthe impressionof powerandsignificance above
everyone else.Signifyinghowthe charactersfacial expressionsandangle of the shotappearto show them toweringover
the persontakingthe photo,and metaphoricallythe lowerclasses.Thisthencreatesatheme of social arrogance and
egotistical attitudes,whichisbrieflytouchedoninthe review,butalsoiseffectivelyportrayedinthisimage.Additionally,
the positioningof the charactersshowshowthe picture ismaybe somethingthatisregularlydone,suchasa traditionof
The Riot Club.Therefore the casual posingof the charactersforthe picture couldconveythis,astheyare familiarwiththe
procedure.Andalthoughthisisdemonstratedinthe image thattheyare comfortable andlaidbackabout the photo,italso
showstheirseriousexpressionsandsenseof pride inbeingpartof the RiotClub.Furthermore,bythe charactersnotbeing
placedinany kindof orderor positioncouldsignifythe ideathatthe RiotClubisn’tas traditional asitmay appear.That
there isa sense of the characters beingarrogantand chauvinistic,andthatthe club’sappearance isa veil tomaskthe real
actionsof the RiotClub.Additionally,the costumesthatthe characterswearrepresentthatit’smaybe arequirementor
uniformof the club.By wearingthe three piece suitsshowshow the uniformmaybe expensive,whichportraystheirwealth
as a club and as individuals. The brightlightingusedcoulddemonstrate goodnessandlight-heartednessof the narrative and
the club.Althoughthe brightlightingmakesthe characterssuitsstandoutanddominate the image,representingthatthe
characters are potentiallythe darkpartsto the film,orthat theyall have dark/evil sidestothemselves.The lightingalso
showsthat itsday time inthe photo,meaningwe cansee the characters forwho theyreallyare,sotheycan’t hide behind
the darknessof nighttime.Finally,the mise-en-scene hasbeenusedwelltohighlightthe representationof the filmasit
createsa theme of chauvinisticignorance,andthe stereotypical ideologiesof the upperclassdue tothe settingandactors.

4. Social networkinglogostofollowEmpire magazineonthese
sites.Aswell asinformationaboutthe filmgivingbackground
information.Suchasrelease dates,runningtime and
certificate.Also showingintergradedadditional information
withthe restof the review.Thisaspecthasworkedwell for
thisreviewasitprovidesquickandeasyto readinformation
aboutthe film,nexttothe more detaileddescription/analysis
of the film.Informationputina box to separate itfromthe
review,asadditional information.Titlesare boldtostandout
to the audience,todirectthemtolookat the brief filmdetails
first.The fontsize issmallerthanthe reviewfontbutisthe
same font.Thisit to create a theme throughoutthe review
and to showthat’sitsapart of the review.
Adjectivesare usedtocreate a certainimpressionof
the character, withthe actors name inbrackets.The
adjectivesbefore givessome backgroundtothe
character for the beginningof the review,settingthe
review upforpeople whomaybe haven’twatched
the film.Simple sentence usedtogive abroadand
brief plotof the film, includingthe maincharacters
and the actors whoplaythem.Using the word
‘charming’createsa positive andfriendlyimpression
of the character MilesRichard.While usingthe word
‘chip-on-his-shoulder’createsanegative andalmost
bitterimpressionof the characterAlistairRyle.
Informationonthe directorof the film,
meaningthatthiscreatesa different
viewpointtocertainreaders.If theyhave
heardof the directorand knowherwork
meanstheymaysee the filmina more
positive ornegative waydependingontheir
opinion.Therefore hasasubjective meaning
and isa declarative sentence.
Referringtothe ‘social
ladder’emphasisesthe
theme of social classes
and superiorityover
othersdue to the
statusthe RiotClub
givespeople.Implied
by saying‘upthe social
ladder’thattheir
talkingaboutthe
upperclass.
Star ratingof the
film,showinghow
Empire reviews
theirfilm.Empire
has givena3 star
rating,meaning
theybelievethe
filmis‘good’on
theirscale of
ratings.
Rule of three,jargon/
technical language of
‘casting’,withaninformal
and relaxedtone
throughoutthe review.
Createsa positive image
of the directorandthe
choicesshe made inthe
filmtoportray certain
messages. Implied
meaningthatfilmisn’t
excellentevenwithother
goodfactors to the film.
Alliteration,and
simple sentencesused
to showhumourand
abruptnesstothe
descriptionof the
narrative.Use of the
word‘debauchery’
demonstratesthat
there’s excessive
indulgence insex,
alcohol,ordrugs
shown,and‘ensue’
showsitwill happen,
makingitdefinite/final
Word ‘traditional’and‘contours’means
that stereotypesof ateenmovie is
representedatthe beginningof the film.
Generatingacultural allusionforreaders
who’ve watchedalotof films,andare
aware of mediastereotypesandfilms
aimedat a youngeraudience due tothe
narrative andactors.
Syntax showsthe wordusedto describe
someone,withthe explanationin
brackets.Alsoshowslinesquotedfromthe
filmtoconveythe theme/ideasof the film
e.g.explicitlanguage andcorruption.
Uses ‘piss’whichisexplicitlanguage with
representationof Englishaccent
throughoutreview.Keepingwiththe
theme of upperclassBritain,and‘posh’
people.Cultural allusionsof initiation
ritualsandwhat ceremoniesare involved.
Anaphoric links to the film as it explains what
happens, includes central part of the film and
briefly explains it. Uses unspecific words to not
spoil all of the film for people who haven’t seen
it. Using the word ‘bacchanalia’ conveys the
characters celebrate drunkenly with each other.
The word ‘prism’ conveyshow the filmisshotin
a particularway andrepresentingacertainsocial
group,whichisthe Britishsocial class.Gives
audience clearunderstandingof themeswithin
the film, andhintstowardsthe narrative.

5. Jargonof media/filmproductionwiththe word
‘juxtaposition’.Whichconveysthe contrasting
effectof The RiotClub,and The Bull Headpub.
Whichcouldbe seeninthe film, asthe image
usedisthe Riot Cluboutside the pub,while
explainingthatthe clubenjoydebauchery.Rule
of three toshow some of the aspectsinthe film,
draw differentaudiencestowatchthe film.
Declarative sentence sayingthatthissection
doesn’tgoany furtherfromwhere it’sderived.
Maybe showingthe film’snarrative aslimited,or
underwhelmingasthe filmbuildsupto
somethingveryslowlyordissipatesquickly.
Declarative sentence withapersonal meaning,asthe review is
someone’sopinion/pointof view. Punctuationseparatesthe
simple sentence fromthe statementatthe endof the
sentence.Createsanabruptandsuddenchange inthe review,
as negative aspectsare incorporated.Creatingimplied
meaningsof analmostdramatizedfilmillustratingcontrasting
representationsof the upperclass.Aslowerclasspeopleare
stereotypicallyseentobe violentandreckless.Althoughthe
endof the filmcrescendosintoanalmostdull ending,and
doesn’tmeetuptoexpectationsof the stereotype.Byusing
the word ‘horrific’itexaggeratesthe ideaof the filmbeing
unpleasant,andgreatsa verynegative impressionof the film.
Quotingfromthe filmto
give readersaglimpse into
the script,the kindsof
characters there are inthe
filmanditsgenre.Orderof
writingshowsthe character
and small descriptionof him,
supportedwithlinesfrom
the filmputin bracketswith
punctuationmarksto
illustrate dialogue.
Clearlyexplainsthe
mainideasof the film
and howit’s
representedthrough
itsnarrative.Implied
meaningthatthe
upperclasswhichis
clearlypresentedin
thisfilm,believethey
are more superior
than everyone due to
theirstatusinthe Riot
Club.Wordssuch as
‘elitism’and‘male
posturing’emphasise
thisand showhow
these themesare
clearlyportrayed.By
usingthe word
‘fascinated’signifies
that these themesare
shownthroughout
frequentlyandin
detail.
Explainshowthe film
conveysthe mainsubject
of the RiotClubcreatinga
positive impression.But
thenusesthe punctuation
of a comma to separate
the sentence tomake a
declarative statement.
Directlyaddressesthe film
by itstitle andvaguely
expressesthatthe film
doesn’tclarifyorexplain it
well.Usingthe colloquial
word‘really’createsa
shiftinformality,and
recallingtothe readers
the review issomeone’s
opinion.Explainsthatthe
filmdoesn’t‘doenoughto
illuminateit’,creatinga
negative impressiontothe
filmsoverall narrative.
Using‘illuminate’conveys
that the theme istouched
upon/litup.Butnot fully
conveyed,asthe ideaisn’t
exploredindetail.
Declarative sentence statingthe positiveopinionof the film.
Usingthe filmsfull title tosummarise the review upand
reiterate whatthe article isabout.Usingthe word
‘entertaining’connotesthatit’senjoyable andprovides
amusementtoitsaudience.Usingthe word‘glimpse’
illustrateshowthe filmbrieflytouchesuponthe upperclass
and theirattitudestowardsotherclasses.Showinghow the
filmprovidesthe audience amomentaryviewof thisidea
throughthe film,while beingenjoyable asafilm.Implied
meaningof sinisterthemesof the upperclassbysaying‘the
dark side of privilege’hintingtowardsthe filmsnarrative.
Usingthe word‘lack’indicatesthatthe filmhasn’tgotenoughinsighttobe more than an
entertainingfilm.Asitdoesn’texplore whyandhowthe upperclasshas become sosocially
arrogant. By havinga more negative declarativesentence itsumsupthe filmina more
underwhelmingsense,asthe film’smise-en-scene,marketing,trailersetc.have been
effectivelypromotedtobuildasuccessful imageof the film.Whereasitsreviewhascredited
the film’screativityandproduction,buthasprovidedaalmost honestreview of the films
underliningissuesandunexploredthemes.There isalsoashiftof formalityatthe end,to
bringthe reviewtoa seriousclose asthe writergivestheirhonestopinionquitesimply.