Think of the last movie you watched. Did you like it? What would you say if someone asked why you did or didn’t like it?

In my experience, most people answer this question by pointing either to visual elements of the film, such as CGI effects and locations, or to the acting and casting. Some talk about the story, but most do so either in emotional terms, saying things like “I just enjoyed it,” or “it made me sad”; or on a superficial level, commenting on whether they could follow the story or that they liked a particular twist or payoff.

These are all important aspects of a movie and are all. . .