This document provides guidance on how to write a persuasive film review essay. It instructs the writer to include an introduction that establishes the audience and purpose, which is to convince the reader to see or not see the movie. It also recommends including background information on the film's genre, plot summary, and criteria used to evaluate the film in forming a thesis. The body should analyze aspects of the film like plot, acting, and directing to support the thesis, and address any opposing views. It concludes by advising the inclusion of specific evidence and a works cited page with at least two disagreeing reviews.

1. PERSUASIVE WRITING
Essay 1 Film Review

2. AUDIENCE & PURPOSE
Who is your audience?
• Assume that s/he has not yet seen the film.
• Convince your reader either to see the movie
or not.
• How many stars do you give the film?

3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
PLACE EARLY IN THE ESSAY
• What kind of background information does
the reader need in order to understand the
review? Place this information in a separate
list, either at the beginning or end of your
1. Genre; type of film essay:
2. Basic thematic information
 Title of film; director; year released
3. Other relevant information  Principal Actors
 Major awards won - - if any.
 The amount of stars you have given the
film:

4. PLOT SUMMARY/OVERVIEW:
PLACE EARLY IN THE ESSAY
• Yes, you do want to provide a brief overview
of the plot, but . . .
Don’t reveal the ending!
Don’t spend more than 4-6 sentences telling the
reader “what the movie is about.”

5. FILM CRITERIA:
THESIS/CLAIM
• Remember: Criteria will vary depending upon
the genre of the film.
 Comedy vs Drama
 Action vs Sci-Fi
 Documentary vs Feature Film

6. SOME BASIC QUESTIONS USED TO
FORM A JUDGMENT/ ARRIVE AT A
THESIS/CLAIM
A. Realism--does the film conform to our view of reality? Does
it seem to ring true to life as we live it, in its
settings, conflicts, storylines, etc.?
B. Plausibility--does the action make sense within the world of
the film? Esp. applicable to a non-realistic film, such as fantasy
or action.
C. Coherence--does the film "hang together" and make sense in
some unified way, even if the arrangement is complex? Esp.
appropriate for narrative structure.
D. Aesthetic value--is the overall form of the film pleasing?
Especially, appropriate for a focus on techniques.

7. MORE QUESTIONS
E. Ethics--does the film affirm or reaffirm important social
values?
F. Relevance--does the film seem relevant to our times and
concerns? Does it deal with important social, political, or other
types of issues?
G. Complexity & originality--does the film engage us beyond
superficial concerns and make us think? Is it original in its
story, structure, technique, or?

8. NOW, SUPPORT YOUR CLAIM:
BODY OF THE ESSAY
• Why, exactly, do you like/dislike this film? Analyze
your reasons.
Examine some of the following areas and relate them back to
your thesis/claim.
 Plot
 Script
 Acting
 Main “message”
 Directing
 Visual elements including lighting, camera angles, etc.
 Sound track
 Other elements that may be important to a particular film

9. PROVIDE SPECIFIC EVIDENCE
• Provide specific evidence from the film to back
up your argument.
• Example: Heather Ledger does a great job as the Joker in The Dark
Knight.
• Evidence: Heath Ledger’s Joker is a shambling, hissing, lipsmacking lago in
facial scars and clown makeup, and one of the scariest nihilists ever to
slither into a summer popcorn film. (Ledger deserves all the posthumous
accolades he’s received . . .) – Ross Douthat

10. DO NOT FORGET
• Address the Opposing Side (Those critics with
whom you disagree.)
Although Roger Ebert says, “Ledger is
magnificent . . .”
While Roger Ebert’s observations about Heath
Ledger’s acting are mostly valid . . .

11. SOME MODELS FOR ADDRESSING
THE OPPOSITION
Many critics found the movie _______________________.
While the movie is _____________, I would argue that _____________
because ___________.
Roger Ebert claims that______________________, and I have mixed feelings
about this view. On the one hand, I agree that_____________________. On
the other hand, I still insist that _______________________.
Though I concede that_______________________.
I still maintain that _______________________.

12. WORKS CITED PAGE
• Include at least two reviews that disagree with your
point of view (at least in some ways.)
• You may include a third review, perhaps one that
agrees with you.
• If you do any research about a particular film, please
include the source of any information you provide.
DO LIST ROTTEN TOMATOES OR THE
INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE if you use
information about the movie aside from: date of
release, actors, year of release, awards. You do not
need to cite this information for this essay.