Film Review

Writing Assignment II

Guidelines for the Film Review

Purpose: To evaluate and argue for or against the film, Snowden

Length: At least three (3) keyboarded pages, plus a work cited page with at least four

entries (Total: 4 pages)

Value: 200 Points

Assignment: Write a three page film review, that is, six-to-seven well developed paragraphs, in which you research and synthesize at least three film reviews you find in the library or on the Internet of the screened film, Snowden.

The film review must include the following five (5) components in the following sequence:

· An introduction, which includes background and contextual

information, such as the name of the film studio, origin of the screenplay, release

date, director, actors, actresses, and any awards received

· A claim statement that presents your argument. Underline in your paper.

· A plot summary of approximately one-to-two paragraphs

· An analysis of three elements of the film, such as characters, acting, theme, setting, pace, music/sound, cinematography, and director. Develop each of these in a separate paragraph or paragraphs. You must have at least three (3) documented instances of evidence to support your position. See Chapter 47,

“Using MLA Documentation and Format,” on pages 634-82, in The Little,

Brown Handbook, or see our class on E-campus/Blackboard and the “MLA

Documentation” item.

· A conclusion that answers the bottom-line question evidenced in the claim statement: Does Snowden provide a worthwhile viewing experience? Does the story have moral, social, psychological, or some other kind of value beyond

entertainment? How? Is the entertainment value enough for you to recommend

the film?

Requirements:

· MLA Format. See pages 680-81 in The Little, Brown Handbook.

· A film review three (3) pages in length, containing six-to-seven paragraphs.

· The use of at least three (3) in-text (parenthetical) documented secondary sources

and the primary source, which is the film. See Chapter 47, “Using MLA

in-text citations,” on pages 634-43, in The Little, Brown, Handbook.

· A “Works Cited” page containing the primary source, that is, the film, and at least

three (3) secondary sources used in the film review. See “Writing the MLA list of

works cited,” on pages 644-79, of the Little, Brown Handbook.

Outline for Writing a Film Review

I. Introduction

A. Introduce your review (try to engage readers) and give title and date of film.

B. State your thesis of your review.

C. Consider using a thesis that indicates the organization of your support.

Example: Birdman appeals to viewers through the depth of characters, excellent

acting, and powerful theme.

II. Summary

A. Present an objective summary of the film in one paragraph. “Objective” means

do not include your own opinions. You will share these in the analysis section

of the paper.

B. Write the summary using present verb tense.

III. Analysis of Three Film Elements

A. Analyze one film element at a time. Sequence the elements according to their

order of importance, as you see them.

B. Use evidence from the film to show what you mean. Use the present verb tense

in your analysis.

C. Within your analysis, refer to your sources: (1) the film—the primary source, and (2)

the professional film reviews—the secondary sources. Quote at times from these

sources. Use a signal phrase when you first use a source. Summarize from the sources.

Do not rely on direct quotes too often. Use the present verb tense in your analysis.

“Ebert writes,” not “Ebert wrote.”

D. Use clear topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs.

Example: The acting stands out in Birdman, especially Michael Keaton’s

generating much of the pathos appeal.

IV. Conclusion

A. What is your overall judgment of the film? Why does the film succeed or not?

Why does it matter or not? Does the story have moral, social, psychological, or

some other kind of value beyond entertainment? How? Is the entertainment value

enough for you to recommend the film. Avoid summarizing in your analysis.

B. Use a hook to return to your introduction in some way; repeat an idea or image.

C. Try to end with an especially well-worded or thoughtful sentence.

V. Works Cited

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Evaluation: Your grade will be determined by how well you do the following:

1. Wrote an introduction that brings the reader quickly into the film

2. Stated your view of the film in a clear claim statement (underlined)

3. Provided background or contextual information

4. Wrote a brief summary of the story containing only essential information that does not reveal or give away surprises, twists, or the ending

5. Evaluated three (3) elements of the film

6. Provided evidence to support your view of the film

7. Wrote in a professional and lively voice, without using clichés

8. Wrote for a specific audience

9. Concluded strongly with a clear bottom-line evaluation of the film

10. Attributed sources correctly, according to MLA format

11. Edited the paper carefully for errors

Movie Review Sources

Databases:

Academic Search Complete

Provides full text articles from 5,300 magazines, journals, and newspapers.

Use Advanced Search, with ‘movie title’ and ‘Motion Picture Reviews.’

General OneFile

Indexes articles in 2,089 full-text magazines, journals, and newspapers.

Use Advanced Search, with ‘movie title’ and ‘Movie Reviews.’

Humanities Full Text

Contains full-text articles and images from 200+ scholarly journals and numerous art

magazines. Select HI and RG full-text from options. Type Movie (Motion Picture),

select ‘Subject’ descriptor.

New York Times Newspaper

Provides full-text coverage of this newspaper, 1980+. From the Advanced search

Screen, type ‘motion picture -- title,’ select ‘Subject’ descriptor.

Websites:

All Movie Guide : <http://www.allmovie.com>

Film Critic: <http://www.filmcritic.com>

Independent Critics: <http://independentcritics.com>

Internet Movie Database: <http://wwwimdb.com>

Metacritic.com: <http://www.metacritic.com/>

Movie Review Query Engine : <http://mrqe.com>

New York Times Film Reviews : <http://www.nytimes.com/library/filmarchive>

Rotten Tomatoes : <http://www.rottentomatoes.com./>

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Guidelines for Writing a Film Review

· Good reviews briefly sketch an outline of the plot and inform (perhaps remind)

readers about the characters.

· More importantly, good reviews look at both weakness and strengths. Consider

whether to address weakness or strengths first. If you love a film, but see some weakness in, it is usually best to present the weakness first and then concentrate on the strengths. Presenting weaknesses first will suggest to your readers that you are fair-minded. If you dislike a film but see some strengths in it, present the strengths first and then concentrate on the weaknesses. You can also offer criticisms and then rebuttals within paragraphs.

· Ideally, try to find some insight into the movie that most readers may not have considered before. A good review should help readers discover new and deeper understandings.

Elements of Film

characters: In serious films, the characters are realistic, complex human

beings with strengths and weaknesses. Real characters are an

important part of the plot. The audience must care about the

characters and what happens to them. When characters are too

predictable or stereotypical, critics say they are flat, cardboard

characters. Are the characters believable? How?

acting: The more realistic an actor’s actions and reactions, the better the

acting. If audiences think an actor is trying too hard to act, they

will not value his or her performance. Is the acting natural,

believable, credible? Is the acting particularly interesting or

distinctive in some way? How?

setting: The time and place of the story is the setting -- anything that

creates the illusion of time and place: clothing, costuming,

makeup, buildings, automobiles, countryside, backgrounds.

How does the setting reinforce the plot, the characters, the

theme?

pace: Few viewers enjoy a movie that takes too long to unfold its story.

Does the film’s pace work well or drag? Why?

music/sound: Sound, or the absence of it, helps create tone, mood, atmosphere.

Sound reinforces special visual effects too -- the music in Jaws

warns you when the shark is coming. You believe what you see

in part because of what you hear. How does the music, sound, or

silence contribute to the film?

cinematography: Cinematography refers to camera work. If you think of a movie

as a series of still photographs, each “shot” set u[ perfectly to

illustrate the setting, the plot development at that moment in the

film, and so on, it may be easier to understand what the

photographers and the technical crew contribute to the film.

Movies are rarely filmed straight through from beginning to end;

therefore, matching lighting and camera angles becomes

important. Special effects, too, involve camera work. Many

films such as Avatar and 2012 are created with computer graphics.

How does the cinematography contribute to the film?

director: The director is usually in charge of everything you see and hear on

the screen. Camera shots, for example, are usually set up by the

the director. The actors cannot see what they are doing, but the

director can. Has the director done a skillful joy? How?