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HOW TO CRITICALLY WATCH A FILM

From our friends at The San Diego Film Critics Society

They say that everybody's a critic. Whether or not that's true, anyone can think like a critic, or learn to watch a movie like one. In fact, if you can start going to the movies with a critic's eye, you might start exercising analytical parts of your brain that often go unused, and acquiring skills that can, believe it or not, carry over into other parts of your life.

So, how do you watch a movie like a film critic? Here are some tips.

• If you liked a movie—or didn't like it—figure out why. It's crucial to understand your own aesthetic, and to be able to express why some films or filmmakers appeal to you and others leave you cold.
• Pay close attention to what goes into making the story. Does the dialogue seem honest and believable, and do the actors carry it off? Is the plot solid, or does it have as many holes as a piece of Swiss cheese?
• Do you think the director had a cohesive vision for the entire movie, and if so, can you express what you think it was?
• Do you feel like the movie is photographed well? Does the cinematography enhance or distract from the story itself? What about the costumes or the sets?
• Try a movie you think you might not like. Catch a horror film, sample a romantic comedy a shot, don't be afraid of subtitles, and watch something that has no movie stars in. A good critic has to be open to everything.

Of course, all this seems like common sense, but it's tougher to do than you might think. But if you can, well, you'll be able to discuss a movie with the kind of insight and knowledge that'll either impress your friends or make them tell you to shut up. And the next time someone says that everybody's a critic, you'll know exactly what they mean.

The San Diego Film Critics Society is a nonprofit organization made up of locally-based film critics, dedicated to providing diverse critical opinion about movies, advancing film education and awareness, and recognizing excellence in cinema. We can be reached at sdfcs.org.