What is a Film Analysis?
While not as appealing to the general public as film reviews may be, and there for not
seen as much in mainstream media, film analyses go much further into a film than reviews are
able to. Analysis is defined as “a detailed examination of anything complex in order to
understand its nature or to determine its essential features.”(Analysis, 2020) When it comes to
film analyses the only thing that needs to be added to this definition is that the film is
dissected in terms of mise-en-scene, the elements of the film (cinematography, etc…) and
contextual analysis, (basically it needs to add that a film analysis can look at every single
facet of the film).
Unlike a film review, which can be written by any joe blow with an opinion and a
computer, a film analysis, a competent one, must be written by someone with intimate
knowledge of not only films and story structure but also film theory itself. This is due to the
fact that an analysis is not meant to be an opinion-based look at a film or its elements but, an
analytically focused dissection of the film in question taking apart a specific element or
elements of the film, any symbolism contained within, an underlying commentary on society,
etc… The focus of the analysis is entirely up to the writer responsible for the work. Like a
film review a analysis can focus on the positive or negative aspects of the film in questions
like sound editing, character design, acting choices, editing and narrative consistency, etc…
but, unlike in a review the writer is not just going to spout off who was responsible for the
element in question and why they find it to be praise worthy or up for bashing, someone who
is analyzing the film and its element will go in-depth into the techniques used, what it may be
paying homage to, the deeper meaning behind the use of certain colors or articles of clothing,
and countless other possible focuses.