Read film reviews, film criticism and books about the history of the film industry. Film critics are well-read about films and movie making and this helps to make critiques more authoritative and convincing. Read Pauline Kael's article "Outside the Circles, or What is A Film Critic." Kael wrote film reviews for The New Yorker and is considered one of the more important film critics. Review film critiques in The New Yorker, the New York Times and other major newspapers. (See Resources).
Take a small notebook and pen with you to the theater. Jot down impressions and observations as as you watch the film about the plot and storyline, the quality of the acting, directing and the cinematography. Write down interesting plot twists or turns that catch you off guard. Make a note about cliches and tricks that the film employs.
Go online to the Internet Movie Database to find specific details about the director, actors, screenwriter and cinematographer. This eliminates the time and effort of writing down a string of names in the dark and it ensures that the spelling is correct.
Write down your general impressions and feeling about the film. Decide if the film is interesting, boring, entertaining, thought-provoking, unique or typical. For example, is there some aspect or quality about the film that is original?
Write a first draft of the review after taking time to reflect on the film. Summarize your general impression of the film in one sentence. Analyze the good and weak points of the film in one to three paragraphs. A strong and interesting film critique should be able to compare and contrast the film with similar films in the genre, work by the same director and actors and so forth. Placing the film in its particular cultural and political context also helps provide a critical overview and understanding of the film.
Allow the draft to sit for a day and then approach it with fresh eyes. Write the final version of the film critique. Concentrate on making the critique interesting and engaging. Avoid repetition and cliches in your writing. People enjoy reading film critics for their writing style almost as much as they for the critique itself.