Film reviews explain and summarize the contents of creative expression. The results of an influential director’s efforts include a potent message. A film can donate an original idea to a culture’s growing lexicon. A review takes those ideas and puts them in a broader context. Film analysis is its own style of literature.

Film reviews not derived from a separate work would stand on their own. Rather than describing a released movie, it presents ideas from an imaginary film. It offers the film as an allegory or commentary while actually containing only the reviewer’s ideas.

A clever review can couch an important idea in a compact form. The review framework deflects the responsibility for the ideas to an imagined director. Generally, a review is neutral conduit for an idea. However, the text may adopt the review vehicle and make it a discussion about a controversial topic.

A successful review of a potential movie might be more palatable to our modern 5-minute attention span than a 3-hour cinematic masterpiece. Some essays might succeed as an analysis of potential films. An ingenious review could contain its own powerful message.