Topic: Film Analysis
Order Description
Instructions for Film Analysis
–For this assignment, you will analyze a film. Your film must be selected from the list next to the Guidelines.
–Although you may offer an evaluation of the film–that is, render a judgment as to the success or effectiveness of the film, this analysis is not merely a film review. Your objective is not a simple “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” or “a four-star movie” or even “I liked it” or “I did not like it.” It is a formal, comprehensive analysis of various elements used in the film, through which you will ultimately answer a meaningful question: What is the film’s theme? That is, does it present a point, offer an idea, an insight into life? What does it say to its audience and how does it say it? To arrive at your answer, you must deconstruct the film, examining a number of elements within the body of the essay:
1) Plot: Your essay must present a plot summary. However, this summary must be brief–no more than 150 words–and it must be purposeful. That is, you must make a point about the plot (related to your thesis). The essay therefore is not simply an extended plot summary.
2) Character: Your essay must identify and analyze the central characters. What are they like? Are they recognizable “types”? How do they comprise the film’s conflict? How are they relevant to the director’s central idea or impression he/she is attempting to convey? All dialogue must be documented properly. You must therefore include numerically, in parentheses, the point at which the dialogue you are presenting and analyzing appears on the tape or DVD.
3) Film techniques/aesthetics: You are not expected to be a “film expert,” completely familiar with technical elements such as lighting, editing, camera angles, sound, music, etc. However, using your own ability to closely observe an aesthetic environment, you must analyze one or more of the above elements in at least one important scene that you believe contributes to the effect of the film on its audience. This scene(s) must be closely and thoroughly scrutinized and documented properly. You must include numerically, in parentheses, the point at which the various elements you are presenting and analyzing appear on the tape or DVD. This analysis should comprise a substantial part of your essay.
4) Theme: Ultimately, you must consider the point/theme of the film. The film’s theme is not the facts of the film, but the impression or idea the film maker wants you to have after viewing the film. This theme is developed through the use of the film elements (1-3 above).
–Your essay must be at least 1000 words. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a below-average grade for the paper.
–Your essay must include, on a separate page, a list of film credits/information
–This is NOT a research paper. You may NOT incorporate research into your paper. All words and ideas must be your own. See Plagiarism Policy below
–For more information and resources on the more technical elements of film and writing about film:
https://clem.mscd.edu/~fornsbro/guide.htm
https://www.studyguide.org/fillmterms.htm#Film%20Review%20Guidelines
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:hs_G_-ZMB9UJ:uwp.duke.edu/wstudio/documents/film.pdf+Strategies+for+Viewing,+Analyzing,+and+Writing+about+Film&hl=en&gl=us&sig=AHIEtbTdjuvo9-9vO39K4sIVMjCuQVV9-A
https://hercules.gcsu.edu/~ablazer/Common/OSU/Analysis.htm#Film
–For examples of this form of analysis, see the posted sample essays
–Your essay must be double-spaced, one-inch margins all around, twelve-point size type, Times New Roman font and submitted as a Microsoft Word attachment
