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An Example of Movie Review Analysis

Sundown
UK Film Review
Directed By: Ryan Hendrick
Starring: Frazer Hines, Caitlin Blackwood
Short Film Review by: Jack Bottomley

Sundown

“Life is a gift” many have said it and many have felt it. No matter what is thrown
at you in life, the very nature of experiencing the living world is a gift we all receive
and make what we can of it. “Life is a gift” may be an opinion many have but it is also
the opening statement in Writer/Director Ryan Hendrick’s short film Sundown, a film
that very much harnesses this ethos through a tender human tale. Sundown is a
meditation on what it is to live and appreciate all that comes with it.
The film starts at sea, as William (Frazer Hines) travels by boat to the shores of
an island community to meet young lady Abi (Caitlin Blackwood). On this trip, he
learns how to cope with issues in his own life and discover more about life itself. So
often films that tackle the subject of death, living or loss are very heavy and grief-
stricken but it is to the testament of this short, that such subjects are undertaken in a
thoughtful and reassuring fashion.
Written by Hendrick and Clare Sheppard, Sundown is very philosophically
inclined, narrated largely by Blackwood’s character - who comes to have even more
depth and poignant relevancy in the minimal, reflective and emotional closing moments
of the film – as she encourages us to think about our very existence. Chances are you
will already have an idea that there is more to this visit than catching up with a friend
for William but the story is so familiar because of the human burdens it deals with.
Arguably echoing the experiences of many viewers, Sundown is a meaningful journey
of dealing with what awaits us next by instead just respecting/living the moment. The
film achieves a real solace by addressing that none of us really can say what it is like to
die but all of us can say what it is like to live.

The story is genuine and not over dramatized or over sentimentalised, Hendrick
and Sheppard instead opt for a far slower, warm and discussion-based approach
and Sundown, like the changing skies, passes welcomingly, methodically and with time
for you to think about all it expresses. This is made all the more effective by the film’s
gorgeous assembly, which is expert. From Hendrick and Urszula Kocol’s fantastic
editing, which intercuts the dialogue with short flickers of natural peace, to Director of
Photography John Rhodes’ quite sublime setting, which is rich in lapping waters,
 brightly coloured fields, unusual rock formations/colours and gentle breezes. Visually,
this film is perfect and the soulful and calm scoring by Stephen Wright only adds to the
contemplative aura of Hendrick’s short film.

Sundown is an excellent viewing, made so by the aforementioned points and by a

superb pair of leads in Blackwood and Hines, who many may recall appeared in Doctor
Who. In fact the role of Abi was written for Blackwood and she is a powerful presence
in the part and works well as a beacon of strength for Frazer Hines’ anxious and unsure
William. The two help to make this a very intimate human story that picks up on
feelings many of us come to encounter in our lives.

The concept for Sundown apparently came about when Hendrick visited the Isle
of Iona (the absorbing location in which this film is shot), on the western coast of
Scotland, in 2008 and witnessed the sunset that concludes the film and inspires its title.
Like Hendrick undoubtedly felt at the time, this film allows us all to bask in this
beautiful event and in turn question the very nature of being alive, just like the
characters onscreen.

Sundown is really quite a beautiful little short, with an introspective power to it.

https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/single-post/2018/04/09/Sundown-short-film

Movie Review : Sundown reviewed by Jack Bottomley

https://www.ukfilmreview.co.uk/single-post/2018/04/09/Sundown-short-film
Text Analysis:
Components Meaning Evidence
Social Function The purpose is to (Sundown is an excellent viewing, made so
advertise the movie by the aforementioned points and by a superb
by giving the pair of leads in Blackwood and Hines, who
positive opinions many may recall appeared in Doctor Who).
throughout his In addition the reviewer also gave the reader
review about the slight information regarding the
actor characteristics that brings the curiosity
to the reader. (Sundown is an excellent
viewing, made so by the aforementioned
points and by a superb pair of leads in
Blackwood and Hines, who many may recall
appeared in Doctor Who. In fact the role of
Abi was written for Blackwood and she is a
 powerful presence in the part and works well
as a beacon of strength for Frazer Hines’
anxious and unsure William. The two help to
make this a very intimate human story that
picks up on feelings many of us come to
encounter in our lives.). Another purpose of
this text is to tell the lesson learned from this
movie, the viewer said it in the very
beginning of the paragraph that by watching
this movie you will appreciate the life that
has been given to you (a film that very much
harnesses this ethos through a tender human
tale. Sundown is a meditation on what it is to
live and appreciate all that comes with it.)
Generic Orientation Paragraph 1: Introduction about the movie
Structure
This paragraph begins with the introduction
about the fundamental thing about the movie
that is fro one sentence “life is a gift”. The
reviewer told the reader every value that the
will get after they watch the movie (“Life is a
gift” many have said it and many have felt it.
No matter what is thrown at you in life, the
very nature of experiencing the living world
is a gift we all receive and make what we can
of it. “Life is a gift” may be an opinion many
have but it is also the opening statement in
Writer/Director Ryan Hendrick’s short film
Sundown, a film that very much harnesses
this ethos through a tender human tale.
Sundown is a meditation on what it is to live
and appreciate all that comes with it.)

Paragraph 2: Background events

In the second paragraph the reviewer said the
setting of the place and the event that
preluded the entire story. He said that it
started when William travels by boat to the
shores of an island community to meet young
lady Abi. He also gave his opinion toward the
piece of movie afterwards.
 Evaluation and Paragraph 3-end: Reviewer’s Opinion and
interpretative suggestion
recount

The reviewer stated most of his positive

opinion after he gives the piece of movie. He
gives the clear comments toward the story
that he slightly given. he doesn’t only
comments about the story but also how the
plot is very philosophically inclined, narrated
largely by the blackwood’s character. He also
gave his opinion and slight information about
the character in the story. (Written by
Hendrick and Clare Sheppard, Sundown is
very philosophically inclined, narrated
largely by Blackwood’s character - who
comes to have even more depth and poignant
relevancy in the minimal, reflective and
emotional closing moments of the film – as
she encourages us to think about our very
existence. Chances are you will already have
an idea that there is more to this visit than
catching up with a friend for William but the
story is so familiar because of the human
burdens it deals with. Arguably echoing the
experiences of many viewers, Sundown is a
meaningful journey of dealing with what
awaits us next by instead just
respecting/living the moment. The film
achieves a real solace by addressing that
none of us really can say what it is like to die
but all of us can say what it is like to live.)
Language This review text Written by Hendrick and Clare
Features mostly uses the Sheppard, Sundown is very philosophically
present simple inclined, narrated largely by Blackwood’s
since it gives a lot character - who comes to have even more
of facts regarding depth and poignant relevancy in the minimal,
the movie. reflective and emotional closing moments of
the film – as she encourages us to think
about our very existence. Chances are you
will already have an idea that there is more to
this visit than catching up with a friend for
William but the story is so familiar because
of the human burdens it deals with. Arguably
echoing the experiences of many
viewers, Sundown is a meaningful journey of
dealing with what awaits us next by instead
just respecting/living the moment. The film
achieves a real solace by addressing that none
of us really can say what it is like to die but
all of us can say what it is like to live.