Look at the background and set pieces

The job of a cinematographer (or director of photography) is to create the proper atmosphere for the film. When you watch a film for analysis, try to ignore the actors and dialogue for a few minutes. Pay attention to the shapes and colors of the scenery, sets and costumes. They should all be working together to create a specific mood or ambience. The use of light and darkness can be very important, as can other atmospheric effects such as shadow and fog. In a good film, the background information should enhance the scene but not overwhelm it. When cinematography is not handled well, the audience might focus on distracting elements in the background. When analyzing a film, ask yourself if the setting and background added more to the story or distracted you from it.

The performance of individual actors should be considered.

It can be easy to look at a particular lead character’s performance and fail to notice the supporting actors’ efforts. When analyzing a film, pay attention to what other characters are doing when they are not part of the main action. A good actor understands that his or her role is to drive the plot forward or establish a character in the audience’s mind. The actor portraying a villain, for example, must be a formidable opponent for the actor portraying the hero. Supporting characters may not have much dialogue, but their presence can still be felt by the audience. When analyzing the performance of actors, ask yourself if they successfully portrayed the character and provided something for other actors to work against.

Analyze film direction.

Directors put distinctive fingerprints on their films. While much of a director’s job begins and ends with film production, his or her vision should still be apparent in the look and feel of the finished movie. A good director understands the intentions of the scriptwriters, the capacities of the actors and the skills of the crew. Thus, director’s feelings, thoughts, and ideas are apparent in the movie. When analyzing a film, it often helps to research the director’s body of work and details of his or her distinctive style. How do they get the best performances from their actors? What is their reputation among other filmmakers? Two different directors could film the same scene and an informed audience member should be able to tell the difference. When analyzing the director’s contribution to a film, look for signature elements such as familiar actors, edgy dialogue, unique devotion to particular camera angles or perspectives, or creative background music. Every director has at least one distinctive feature, so look for it when analyzing a new film.

Consider the editing.

Editing is an integral part of the finished film. Many film critics say the real movie begins in the editing room. Sometimes a potentially good film is less successful because of poor editing. In this case the essential parts of the movie are entirely cut out or the scenes of the film that contribute nothing to the move are left in the final cut. If editing is done right, it should be nearly invisible. When analyzing the editing of a film, look for anything that jars or confuses you. Scenes with dialogue should cut seamlessly between actors speaking the lines and others reacting to them. Action scenes should maintain a steady, exciting pace that builds to a climax. A good film should flow from scene to scene without denying the audience enough information to follow the arc of the story.

Use Freeze Frames.

Using freeze frames involves pausing the movie at different points to grasp their place and role in the movie. This will require a list of the elements and ideas you are looking for. The first element to be analyzed is shots and cuts. Identify what shots the director uses in each frame; the length of the shot; the angles used and the reason for using them; the way the shot contributes to the story. Secondly, the color and light style should also be analyzed. The darkness and light in the scene; the source of light; the dominant color and the color of certain objects and their role in reflecting the mood the director and cinematographer try to convey. Then identify the movement of the camera, it’s spanning in and out and the reasons for the movement. The sound is also very important. Analyzing the sound of the scene will entail all the sounds and noises incorporated apart from the dialogue (i.e. sound effects). It is vital to understand their relevance to the scene and their correct application. Identify if they add or deduct value to the scene. Every single frame should be subject to a critical review to state its relevance to the movie meaning.