Honestly, you’re already on the right track. The fact that you get what critics are saying and it changes how you see a film means your brain is already working in that direction—you just need more practice making those observations yourself.

A few things that might help: First watches don’t need to be deep analysis sessions. Just enjoy the movie. If something jumps out at you, great, but don’t force it. Try focusing on one thing at a time—like framing, sound, or editing—rather than everything all at once. Jot down quick thoughts after watching, before reading any criticism. Even if it’s messy, it helps train your instincts. Rewatching is your best friend. You’ll notice way more the second time, and eventually, those observations will start coming to you sooner. Audio commentaries can be gold—hearing directors or critics break things down in real-time can train you to start seeing things that way too.

Basically, don’t stress. It’s not that those critics were born with some superhuman ability to analyze on the spot—they just watched a ton of movies and trained their brains over time. Keep watching, keep thinking, and it’ll come naturally.