Suggested Databases
- Academic Search Complete This link opens in a new windowSearch by putting the title of the film in quotes and adding motion picture review.
For example: "million dollar baby" and motion picture review - Gale Academic OneFile This link opens in a new windowSearch by putting the title of film in quotes and adding motion picture review.
For example: "crash" and motion picture review.
Hint: if too many results not applicable to the film come up, add the name of a featured actor or the director, such as "crash" and Haggis and motion picture review. - Nexis Uni (formerly: LexisNexis Academic) This link opens in a new windowOn the initial Search page, click on the tab “Search by Subject or Content”
- Select “All News”
- Enter the film title (and, if needed to narrow down, an actor's name)
- Select Advanced Options
- Under article type, select: “Movie Reviews”
- Click Apply
- Click on Search
- Historical New York Times (ProQuest News & Newspapers) This link opens in a new windowGood resource for reviews of older films. It is helpful to have the date the film was released.
Finding Reviews in Periodicals
Some journals/magazines include film reviews. If you know the journal title, check to see if the library has access:
Film Review Sources
- IndieWireIndieWire is a leading news, information and networking site for independent-minded filmmakers, the industry and moviegoers alike.
- Movie Review Query EngineMRQE.com – the Movie Review Query Engine, founded in 1993 by Stewart M. Clamen, is the Internet’s largest database of movie reviews for over 100,000 titles.
Selected Books
There are several books that include reviews. You can find them by using the library catalog and doing a basic search for film reviews. Try the subject heading Motion Picture Reviews.
Many of these books are in the PN1993 to PN1995 area of the library's book collection. Don't be afraid to browse the shelves.
Some examples are:
Contemporary Japanese Film (1999). Call number PN1993.5 J3 S37
New York Times Film Reviews, a selection from the seven volume set for films 1912-1970 (1971). Call number Ref. PN1995.A43
Figures of Light (1971). Call number PN1995 K296
Graham Greene on Film...Collection of Film Criticism 1935-1940. (1972). PN1995 G68
Field of View (1986). Call number PN1995 K295
Celluloid Power: Social Film Criticism (1992). Call number PN1995.9 P6 C44
Movie Love: Complete Film Reviews 1988-1991 (1991). Reviews of renowned New York Times film critic Pauline Kael. Call number PN1995 K245
New York Times Film
Reviews and articles about film from the New York Times: