Talking pictures : how to watch movies / Ann Hornaday.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-267) and index.

The Screenplay- Acting-Production Design- Cinematography - Editing - Sound and music - Directing - Was It Worth Doing? - Documentaries and Fact-Based Dramas- Acknowledgments - Notes - Bibliography and suggested Reading - Index

Whether we are trying to impress a date after an art-house film screening or discussing Oscar nominations with friends, we all need ways to watch and talk about movies. But with so much variety between an Alfred Hitchcock thriller and a Nora Ephron romantic comedy, how can everyday viewers determine what makes a good movie? In Talking Pictures, veteran film critic Ann Hornaday walks us through the production of a typical movie - from writing the script and casting to the final sound edit - and explains how to evaluate each piece of the process. How do we know if a film is well-written, above and beyond snappy dialogue? What constitutes a great screen performance? What goes into praiseworthy cinematography, editing, and sound design? And what does a director really do? Full of engaging anecdotes and interviews with actors and filmmakers, Talking Pictures will help us see movies in a whole new light - not just as fans, but as film critics in our own right.