Film review analysis 3

Film review 3

Magazine: Total Film 
Issue: Summer 2012
Film: Moonrise Kingdom

Layout

- Large image from the film heading the page. But unlike the other reviews it doesn't extend to to the top of the page.

- The title is the second largest text on the page behind the title of the feature.

- Again there is a comment underneath the title of the film offering a humorous (extremely brief) idea about the film. 

- A star rating out of 5

- The box with key information as a lot smaller than in the other reviews and is at the end , almost as if it was an after thought. It contains the similar information as the previous two reviews: Certificate, Director, Cast, Screenplay, Distributor and running time. The release date is elsewhere (next to the star rating). 

- A summary (entitled 'the verdict') condenses the review to two sentences. Again this allows the reader to get the draft of the review without reading it. 

- A box containing three films that the target audience for this film may have enjoyed. 

- The comment at the top of the picture is a funny sentence, like the 'Bruce Springsteen' comment in the previous review. 

- The 'Talking point' box contains a bit of trivia about the film

- The 'Predicted interest curve' (copyrighted by the magazine) plots the most interesting moments in the film along a continuum. This narrative only falls between the 'thrilled' and 'entertained' boxes.

The text is either black, grey or red in colour. Red is the colour also used minimally background.

Content

A quick run down of each paragraph.

Paragraph 1: Talk about the director and his previous works. This won't be as relevant for me as I am not an  accomplished director with a previous body of work. 

Paragraph 2: Sets the scene of the film and introduces the main characters and their qualities. This is followed by the disruption to the equilibrium. 

Paragraph 3: Comments about supporting actors. In the case of this film the supporting actors (Bruce Willis, Bill Murray) are more famous than those of the main characters (Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward). However as the main characters is important to talk about them first. 

Paragraphs 4&5: The directors use of cinematography and the use of soundtrack.

Paragraph 6: Ending comment focused on the director.

Language

Again, like in the previous to articles, the language is very creative and complimentary. This sentence starter for example "Scrupulously composed". Suggesting the film was lovingly crafted with ultimate precision (I'm not saying it wasn't. Just that this is how the language comes across). When stripped to the bare bones what does it mean though? It means 'made'. He made a film, and yet the lexis chosen creates this impression of grandeur and spectacularity. This is a trend that has run through all three of the reviews I have analysed.

Rhetorical questions directly address the reader to make them think about the ideas presented in the review. Complicated polysybalic words are frequently used i.e. embodiment, tragicomic, precocious. Such language hints at the target audience for the review. This article is trying to attract an intelligent audience. 

My thoughts

Although in a different publication many of the same conventions are featured in this review as were in the reviews from Empire magazine. This is really interesting and incredibly useful: it means I can identify staple components of a review that the reader will expect to see, hence I should include. I prefer the general layout of the Empire reviews, this one looks too busy. Also I wouldn't be able to use the predicted interest curve. I like it but their is really no point in it with regards to my five minute film as their is one narrative strand. Also, it is trademarked to the magazine.