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Book & Film Reviews

This guide identifies databases, reference books and internet sites for finding film and book reviews.

Where can I get more help?

Contact the OSU Libraries Information Desk

Things to keep in mind

  • Reviews come out when a film premieres.
  • It's fairly easy to find reviews of current films using an online database or the internet.
  • It's not so easy to find reviews of films that came out before 1980, and the older the film, the more places you may have to look.
  • Knowing the year a film came out will make your work easier,  especially if you're looking for reviews of older films.
  • If you're not sure of a film's title,  you can search by director or actors or other people associated with the film.

Finding Published Reviews

  • Variety  Online in LexisNexis Academicm July 19, 1993 to present
  • People  AP2 .P417 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Jan. 10, 1994 to present
  • Rolling Stone (fllm, music, concerts) AP2 .R73 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Aug. 09, 1990 to present
  • Film Comment  PN1993 .F438 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Nov. 01, 2002 to present
  • Sight and Sound  PN1993 .S5, 4th floor The Valley Library
  • Opera News ML1 .O6, 5th floor The Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  May 01, 1990 to present
  • Gramophone (classical music) ML5 .G65, 5th floor The Valley Library
  • Variety  Online in LexisNexis Academicm July 19, 1993 to present
  • People  AP2 .P417 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Jan. 10, 1994 to present
  • Rolling Stone (fllm, music, concerts) AP2 .R73 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Aug. 09, 1990 to present
  • Film Comment  PN1993 .F438 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Nov. 01, 2002 to present
  • Sight and Sound  PN1993 .S5, 4th floor The Valley Library
  • Opera News ML1 .O6, 5th floor The Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  May 01, 1990 to present
  • Gramophone (classical music) ML5 .G65, 5th floor The Valley Library

Start with:

Academic Search Premier for reviews in magazines and journals.

  • Limit by "entertainment review."  Show Me

LexisNexis Academic for reviews in newspapers and transcripts of radio and tv broadcasts. 

  • Check Search within US and World Publications" and "TV and Radio Broadcast Transcripts."  Search.   Then open View Results: Subject: Movie Reviews. 

 

If you don't find reviews in the databases, use an index that covers the date your film first appeared:

  • Film Review Index, 1882 - 1985.  (4th floor) PN1995.F461
  • New York Times Film Reviews, 1913-1968.  (4th floor) PN 1995.N4
  • Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, 1890-present. AI3.R4 (6th floor).  Look under the subject "Motion Pictures Reviews" or "Moving Pictures." 

You'll find a citation to the review, not the review itself.  Use the OSU Libraries Catalog to see if we have the magazine or newspaper with the review. 

  • Variety  Online in LexisNexis Academicm July 19, 1993 to present
  • People  AP2 .P417 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Jan. 10, 1994 to present
  • Rolling Stone (fllm, music, concerts) AP2 .R73 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Aug. 09, 1990 to present
  • Film Comment  PN1993 .F438 Microfilm, 3rd floor Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  Nov. 01, 2002 to present
  • Sight and Sound  PN1993 .S5, 4th floor The Valley Library
  • Opera News ML1 .O6, 5th floor The Valley Library, Online in Academic Search Premier,  May 01, 1990 to present
  • Gramophone (classical music) ML5 .G65, 5th floor The Valley Library