How to Review a Film, good and proper

A good review will always contain the following three elements:

1. A brief overview of the characters and story, without going to the point of spoiling.
Characters are, usually, the driving force of the film. Without a protagonist or antagonist, it's hard for a story to go much of anywhere. Most of the time in a review can be spent going over the characters.

2. Realistic rating of the actor's ability to act.
No one wants to watch a movie with bad acting, lest they be a masochist. This isn't the black comedy "The Room," so leave the bad acting out of it.

3. A description of the general atmosphere, or mood, of the film.
Is it a melodramatic, slow-paced film -- or a fast-paced, empty-minded action flick? This is important. A movie about a warrior isn't necessarily an action film.


I will now review a film by doing what I just said.

Project X (2012) is not a very well-shot, well made, or interesting film; it is, however, a fairly standard modern comedy. Our film stars three teenagers who are throwing a party, trying to be cool: the main character, a nerdy kid who never really gained any popularity, and who didn't want to throw a party in the first place (coincidentally, it's his birthday), a wannabee-gangsta who's friends with the main character and is throwing the party for him, and the obligatory fat kid. Together, they throw "the party of the century," which ends up as a cesspool of teenage filth, apparently making it good.
The acting isn't bad, but it's not good either. None of the actors in this film are the next Morgan Freeman, or even William Shatner. Frankly, they are college-aged kids acting like college kids. There's not much "acting" to be had! For what it's worth, it's not absolutely horrible acting, but it's just not spectacular.
The film is shot in a shaky "mockumentary" style. It's supposed to be a home movie of the main character's birthday party. In that sense, it's successful, as that's what it feels like. The camera style and the scenes shot give off a very "party-like" feeling, a feeling that I don't care much for. Frankly, it's tiring to watch.
If you enjoy seeing women portrayed purely as sexual objects, films with a lot of shiny things in them and very little character development, loud and obnoxious hip hop music, and generally seeing how far we've fallen as far as culture is concerned, you might like Project X. However, if you enjoy being intellectually challenged at any level, if you enjoy good storytelling, if you like character development -- DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE.

Rating:
Writing: 1/10
Acting: 2/10
Filming: 2/10
Overall: 2.5/10