REVIEWS

Reviews are usually written for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, etc. and their style (formal
or semi-formal) depends on how serious this publication is. The purpose of a review is to give
your opinion about a book/film/play/CD/etc. You might be asked to do a combination of the
following:
 describe (i.e. the characters in a play, the songs on a CD, the style of writing, etc.);
 narrate (i.e. the plot of a film/book, etc.);
 explain (i.e. why you think the book/play was (not) successful);
 compare (i.e. two characters/two films/two CDs/etc.)

A review should contain:

 An introduction in which you give the main details (i.e. names of film/book,
writer/director, main stars/characters, etc.).
 A main body which focuses on the details requested (i.e. description, narration,
analysis, etc.).
 A conclusion which can contain a summary of the main body and/or a
positive/negative opinion. The conclusion usually contains a recommendation.

Present tenses are normally used for reviews (i.e. The action takes place in a small place in a
small cottage in the country).
Past tenses can be used if you are writing a personal account of a performance you have attended
(i.e. We arrived just before the curtain went up; I thought the first act was spectacular) or to
describe the making of a CD/ writing of a book/ etc. (i.e. The band spent six months in the studio
before they were satisfied with these remixes).

When writing review, you need to use a variety of adjectives (i.e. a marvellous performance, an
interesting plot, etc.). To add emphasis, you can use adverbs such as extremely, completely,
absolutely, etc. (i.e. The performance was absolutely marvellous). Some adverbs (i.e. really)
collocate with both gradable and non-gradable adjectives. Since not all adverbs and adjectives
collocate, you should be careful to avoid mistakes such as extremely breathtaking, totally
moving… Have a look at the following table and the examples below:
Adverbs Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives

incredibly enjoyable absolutely breathtaking

extremely moving totally magnificent
exceptionally convincing completely ridiculous

i.e. This is an exceptionally enjoyable film with an incredibly moving story and absolutely
breathtaking scenery.
One of the problems with this film is that the main character is extremely shallow and
unconvincing. The plot, however, is absolutely riveting.

Books, Films and Plays

Character(s) shallow, unconvincing, likeable, convincing, believable
Plot overcomplicated, predictable, absorbing, gripping, riveting, bizarre
Special Effects cheap, laughable, stunning, staggering, astounding
Photography poor, amateurish, breathtaking, incredible, impressive
Acting/performance wooden, appalling, natural, powerful, spectacular
Writing/Script contrived, confusing, realistic, thought-provoking, compelling
 Music
Songs/tracks outstanding, impressive, remarkable, weak, dull
Music stimulating, moving, inventive, over-the-top, unimaginative
Lyrics thought-provoking, profound, meaningful, clichéd, awful

Categories:

Book (Fiction)
Types Thriller, mystery, whodunit, romance, science fiction, fantasy, historical
Elements Character, plot, dialogue, setting, atmosphere, author, novelist, writer

Book (Non-fiction)
Types Coffee table book, cookery book, travel book, encyclopaedia, dictionary, manual
Elements Chapter, section, index, glossary, illustration, author, editor

Film
Types (as for fiction) + adaptation, comedy, animation, musical
Elements Screenplay, script, set, role, costume, design, photography, special effects,
animation, soundtrack
People Cast, actor, director, producer, scriptwriter

Play
Types (as for film) + farce
Elements Act, scene, set, role, costume, lyrics, music, design, stage
People (as for film) + playwright, composer

Concert
Elements Song, lyrics, tune, piece, symphony, concerto, cantata, score, stage, theatre, hall,
auditorium
People Songwriter, composer, conductor

Exhibition
Elements Painting, sculpture, photography, furniture, design, handicrafts
People Gallery, catalogue, displays

TV Programme
Elements Series, documentary, soap opera, drama, situation comedy, chat show, debate,
current affairs programme
People Presenter, host, director, producer, scriptwriter, cast, actor

Useful language:

 Providing Background Information:

“A horse of a different colour” is Michael Gordon’s fourth novel/ second film/ first major
role/ second individual exhibition.

 Introducing a Brief Account of the Plot:

Set in the 18th century London, the film tells the story of/ recounts events in the lives of
three sisters.
In the breathtaking landscape of northern Canada, the book examines the themes of
solitude and intimacy.
 Commenting Critically:
I found the plot rather conventional/predictable/contrived/completely
bizarre/absurd/incomprehensible.
The novelist has succeeded in creating an extremely intricate/complex plot/entirely
believable/ life-like characters.
A particular strength/weakness of the productions was the set design by Marcelo
Camilleri.

 Providing a Recommendation:
I would strongly advise you not to miss/waste your money on “Ain’t got a clue”.
I would definitely recommend seeing/ visiting/reading/having a look at “Melbourne: a
sentimental journey”.
For those who enjoy contemporary music, “Tropical String” are not to be missed.
Go and see “Momix”. You’ll be amazed.
Unfortunately, “Meet the pets” fails to live up the expectations.

 Comparing and Contrasting:

While/Whereas/Although/Despite the fact that/ In spite of the fact that characterisation
was particularly strong, the plot gradually lost credibility.
Both films are likely to appeal to younger audiences, but “Postmortem” will be
especially appealing.
Neither the novel nor the film fully convinced me, though the character of Margo really
comes alive on the screen.
FILM REVIEW

ALL IN THE MIND

The real-life struggle of brilliant minds with paranoid schizophrenia and
Alzheimer’s disease may not sound like the ingredients of an entertaining
afternoon’s viewing. But Russell Crowe’s stunning performance as mathematical
genius John Nash in A Beautiful Mind and Judi Dench’s moving portrayal of
philosopher and novelist Iris Murdoch in Iris, will have you rushing out to buy
the books on which these two Oscar-winning films are based.
It is their thematic content that the two films resemble each other most.
Both focus on the withdrawal of the protagonists into their own inner world and
the effect this has on their long-suffering but devoted marital partners. Also
common to both films is the fact that we witness the two academics in their
youth and old age. Hats off here to Crowe’s make up team- he is remarkably
convincing as the sixty-six-year-old Nash receiving his Nobel Prize in 1994.
Iris differs from A Beautiful Mind in this respect, relying instead on other
actors to play the vivacious young Iris- a very credible Kate Winslet- and her
stuttering companion, John Bayley. In addition, unlike the more linear American
film, flashbacks are used to good effect to switch backwards and forwards
between the two contrasting stages of Murdoch’s life.
The strength of Iris lies in its powerful acting and mundane realism, with
the novelist seen doing the shopping or watching children’s TV in her cluttered
Oxford house. However, if, as I do, you favour something more visually
appealing, but not less plausible, then A Beautiful Mind is a definite must-see.
 BOOK REVIEW

SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS

The death of a fisherman off the west coast of America
in the years following the war is the central event of this
story. A Japanese American is put on trial for the murder and
the ensuing investigation is observed by a reporter for the
local paper, himself secretly in love with the acused’s wife.
The tense plot overlaps with a bitter-sweet love story
exploring the often strained relations between two cultures
on a small, weather-beaten island and tracks the history of
Japanese Americans living in the United States during the
Second World War.
This is a cleverly constructed novel with eloquent
writing and well-drawn characters. These are people we can
all believe in, going about their daily lives, making a living
from the often hostile environment in which they live and
thrown into chaos by forces beyond their control. These are
characters whose very ordinariness makes them special; they
become as familiar to us as are our neighbours. This novel is
set at a time we should all know about and relates events we
should try to understand and strive to avoid in our own world.
The book is written in a style immediately accessible to
any reader. The language is plain in the best tradition of
story-telling but at the same time its simplicity is its poetry.
Gutterson’s descriptions of life across the years and
generations on this lonely island are beautifully observed.
This is easily the best book I have come across this year.
A wonderful read I just couldn’t put down.