Select a film that was viewed in class this semester along with a particular actor or actress who you believe excelled in their role and write a brief review of what made the film worthy of best picture award-do the same with the individual. These are two separate subjects. Be specific in recognizing/justifying your selections-mention what characteristics made the film/individual special. Incorporate within each work a short (1 or 2 sentences) critical statement that validates your selection. Due Friday.
Second Semester 2017 FILM: -students will research and review films-this class focuses upon gathering research, note taking and writing critical papers.
1/31: Students will complete Hitchcock's Psycho 2/1 and their initial review will be due on Friday 2/3-I have given them an example of a review that is posted on this site. The next film will be Mike Nichols' The Graduate. Graduate research is due Wednesday 2/2.
11-20-16 -RESEARCH-Students will research each film prior to viewing the film-students will locate research about film, read research and TYPE a short bio of significant information involving the film (ten significant facts about the film should be listed 1-10)-this will be discussed and collected prior to the start of the film. THERE MAY BE A QUIZ WHERE STUDENTS ARE ASKED TO RECOGNIZE SIGNIFICANT INFO PRIOR TO DISCUSSION. This research is not the student review of the film (that follows viewing the film). Ten points will be awarded for this research. No late work will be accepted except for students who are absent from class. This will not be negotiated.
REVIEW-Following the film, students will review the film watched. They will receive a list of the elements that should contained within their review. Review will be written in a third person perspective and will be submitted the CLASS FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE FILM unless otherwise instructed. Students can opt out of two film reviews during the semester. While watching the film, students will TAKE NOTES that will be used to write their review. Notes MUST be attached to the review-Notes are worth 5 points and the review is worth 25 points. Reviews can be submitted late for a reduced grade. The review IS NOT a PLOT SUMMARY of the film.
Tentative film's for the semester are: 1. Citizen Kane (students will not be required to review but WILL RESEARCH Citizen Kane. 2. On the Waterfront 3. Psycho 4. Rocky 5. The Graduate 6. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 7. The Sting 8. Million Dollar Baby 9. Cinderella Man 10. Life is Beautiful 11. Slumdog Millionaire 12. Frost Nixon 13. Bridge of Spies
Following The Battle Over Citizen Kane, students started watching the film Citizen Kane today. They will not write a review of Citizen Kane since I want to take them through this first film and the proper way to write a review-remembering that this is not a plot summary. They have the guidelines for their review papers. The open for the Citizen Kane paper can be: Citizen Kane (1941) was directed, co-written and starred 25 year old Orson Welles in the role of Charles Kane; the film was nominated for nine Academy Awards (name those awards) but won only for best original screenplay (Welles and Herman Mankiewiez). Kane is considered by most film institutes as the greatest American film of all-time. The controversial film, is said to mirror the life of newspaper giant William Randolph Hearst; Hearst attempted to purchase the film and have it destroyed. Welles' innovative use of film techniques (name those techniques) has influenced generations of film-makes. The film also stars (name other stars) Include a quote from another critic and document the source of the quote internally. " The fresh, sophisticated, and classic masterpiece, Citizen Kane (1941), is probably the world's most famous and highly-rated film, with its many remarkable scenes and performances, cinematic and narrative techniques and experimental innovations (in photography, editing, and sound). Its director, star, and producer were all the same genius individual - Orson Welles" (Tim Dirks, AMC Filmsite) Conclude with YOUR view of the film. Although Kane has had a great impact on the film industry, it moves too slowly for a young 21st century audience. The film's greatest merits are in its surprise ending, refined film techniques along with its definable role in the history of film-making.
Film Reviews: Each Review should include: The Release date of the film The director The cast-the significant performers Is the film an adaptation of a book-if so name the book and its author Include a critical review (one or two sentences from a critical reviewer) citing the source (internal citation works) What major awards (Academy Awards) was the film nominated for? What awards did the film win? Did the film have any social impact? Discuss the use of any significant filmic techniques (shadowing, close-shots, freeze frame, etc. Clearly state your opinion of the film-like or dislike only-written in third person Discuss the strengths of the film if you like the film; discuss the weaknesses of the film if you dislike the film. This is not a summary of the plot You can opt out of 2 reviews-one each quarter-students cannot use both opt outs in the same quarter Papers can be emailed if there are problems printing If a paper is submitted by email-it must be submitted prior to the start of class-the time of submission appears on the email cover-if it is submitted after the start of class, it is considered late and will not receive full credit Reviews not submitted on the due date can be submitted late-one class period following the due date-for partial credit-each review is worth 25 points Take notes on each film and attach these notes to your review-5 points-notes will not be accepted late Prior to viewing the film, students will print a review-read the review and list ten significant facts about the film -no opt out on this research-and no late research will be accepted-each research is worth 10 points