Film Criticism: How To Evaluate Acting

How does a film critic evaluate a film's acting?

It's hard to say how a film critic evaluates acting in a move. Film acting is very different to stage acting. Film acting is a lot more subtle: it's really close up and film critics are looking for people who are acting without trying. You're not looking for impersonation, you're looking for somebody who really embodies a character. In a movie like 'Ray', for instance, you see Jamie Foxx inhabit Ray Charles. That's not mimicry, that's like a note-perfect performance. That's a really good example, actually, where people play someone famous, and they do it so incredibly well so that it almost shifts so the real person and who they're playing on film are imperceptible. Helen Mirren in The Queen is another example of good film acting. There isn't a false note there. It's not like I've spent time with the Queen; I wouldn't know what she's really like, but you get a sense from this performance, this less-is-more style that you're watching acting greatness. Film actors are intuitive in front of a camera. I think it's a unique skill set.