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Essay Instructions: Film Review Essay Assignment (click on this title and scroll down to submit your paper)
Imagine you have been hired as a film critic for a newspaper. Write a two to three-page paper (double-spaced, 12-pt. font in Times New Roman and that meets MLA format specifications) discussing the merits of a film of your choosing. At least one time but no more than three times, cite (quote or paraphrase) Roger Ebert or a similar recognized film critic on this movie.

Be sure to include a discussion of three of the following elements: the plot, casting, directing, diction (type of language), filming techniques (such as special effects, lighting, music), or acting. Each one of these three areas you choose to write about should be introduced with a topic sentence, and that topic sentence should reference your thesis. (If your thesis asserts that the film is exceptionally reflective and thought provoking, then your topic sentence might read like this: The casting in this film also made the movie thought provoking because the cast ....)

Do you recommend that your audience see this film? Why or why not? Your answer is the thesis of your essay. It should be the third sentence in your introductory paragraph. Please italicize that sentence. Why the third sentence? I want you to write what is called a four-step introduction paragraph. (Remember that this is one paragraph, not four little paragraphs).

How to write a four-step introduction paragraph.

The first sentence (or step) of your essay should catch our attention (it could be a fact or detailed description about the film or even a quote if you say who said it).
The second sentence (or step) of your opening paragraph should name the topic of your essay (the name of the film should be part of it).
Then you follow that with your italicized thesis statement that seeks to persuade the readers to your viewpoint using the elements from your discussion (casting, directing, etc.).
Your fourth and last sentence of the introductory paragraph should be a preview sentence. For this paper, it should say something like this: This essay looks at how the plot, filming techniques and directing all came together to … (reference your thesis position here lightly). (See http://www.ehow.com/how_5204693_write-introduction-four-easy-steps.html for one professor's explication of a good introduction.)
Write in paragraphs. Give your essay a two-part title that is separated by a colon (probably the name of the film in quote marks, and on the other side of the colon your angle on that film). Use a running header. Write using MLA formatting. Make the writing interesting and engaging. Use specific examples to support your statements. At the end of the essay have a Works Cited that lists in proper form the movie you reviewed and the other source you quoted from (Need help on MLA? Google "The OWL, MLA" and read around that website.)

File management is very important. To avoid being confused about which version of an essay you have, and to be clear to others, always include your first and last name and the modle and the assignment: JohnSmithM1FilmReview VersionA

Essay Instructions: Film Review Essay
Purposes:
Your goal in this essay is to evaluate a film and entertain your readers
Audience: The audience for your review is intelligent adults.
Relevance: You will use evaluation skills in future college classes and in many professional situations (e.g., critiquing a company policy or practice).
Choosing a Film: You may review a current or older movie. Choose a movie that has some depth even if it is a comedy.

1. Your introduction paragraph should begin with an effective ?hook", mention the film's
title and include a clear thesis statement that indicates if the movie is good, bad or in between.This paragraph should consist of 8 or fewer lines.
2. Your next paragraph should provide a general overview of the story. This paragraph should consist of 10 or fewer lines
3. Your body paragraphs should support your thesis statement by explaining how multiple components of the film contribute to or detract from the film?s quality.
You may choose to analyze some of the following components (or other relevant topics):
Story Elements (Screenplay)
-how characters are written
-dialogue
-plot (what happens in the story)
-themes (major ideas throughout the film that relate to human nature, insights about life,etc.)
Acting
Direction
-pacing
-camera angles and movement
-lighting
Setting (can include outdoor and indoor locations, props)
Sound track/Score
Costumes
4.A brief conclusion (3-4 sentences) that answers the main question: is the film worth seeing?

EvaluationChecklist:
Created an introduction that contains an effec
tive ?hook?
Stated your opinion of the film in a clear thesis statement
Wrote a clear, general story overview in 8 or fewer lines
Conveyed clear, logical well developed and in-depth ideas to support your thesis statement
Focused on a clear main idea in each paragraph (paragraph unity)
Organized your ideas smoothly and logically
Chose effective words and phrases
Used a lively, professional voice appropriate for the intended audience
Concluded strongly with a clear bottom-line evaluation of the film

DO NOT DO ANY RESEARCH FOR THIS ESSAY
NO PLAGIARISM

Essay Instructions: Film Review;
("Lost in Translation") Bill Murray, Scarlette Johanson; 2003
-- about "two Americans in Tokyo [experiencing] a unique friendship that helps them to deal with the confusion, loneliness and hilarity caused by cultural and language differences."
(answer these questions)
1 - what are some of the "non-linguistic [i.e. visual/cultural] cues" early in the film that suggest from the outset that the main characters are lost in a culture and language they cannot possibly understand? How do these issues direct to the context of language philosophy?
2 - what role in the film is played be Bob's wife, and her communications to him? [H: in what way is she the exemplar of correspendence theory, embedded in a film that deals more with coherence theory? How is she "reality in the background"?
3 - why is the bar in the hotel an important meeting point for the main characters? In what way is it meant to point out the limits of their understanding of the culture in which they find themselves?
4 - why does Charlotte's visit to the Shinto shrine bother her so?
5 - what (if any) role has the red-headed lounge singer in the plot?
6 - What [in your view] keeps Charlotte and Bill from connecting, almost to the bitter end? What is the problem re: the nature of language that affects them so desperately at the individual [private experience] level?
7 - what do you think Bill whispers in Charlotte's ear in the last scene? Why would it [whatever it was] allow them both to walk away from each other with a smile?
8 - How might you apply the film to the notion of real life...of your life?

Essay Instructions: WRITER CATHII ONLY!!!

WE WILL PAY $200 for this one!!

Specific guidelines: Prior to viewing this film, familiarize yourself
with the historical context in which the film, The Pianist, is situated.
View the film several times. Concentrate on major organizing segments
or scenes and significant visual and sound messages. Select one major
segment or scene [about ten minutes] for careful analysis. Complete a
detailed sight-sound skim [i.e., a "T" chart summarizing the visual and
sound elements] for this segment. Use information from this analysis
to compose paragraphs which answer each of these questions: What are the
messages of the film? How do the visual and sound components
communicate these messages?
Carefully examine the content, production, and reception of the
film. Find and use evidence from at least two scholarly assessments of the
treatment of the subject matter, and at least five articles and reviews
that deal with the production and reception of the film.
Useful sources include: "Film Reviews." American Historical Review.
"Movie Reviews." The Journal of American History.
Use information from these sources to compose paragraphs which
discuss the following questions. What influences [background of the
film-makers, agencies of government, film industry, political and social
climate] helped shape the messages of this film? How did various audiences
[historians, film critics, the public] react to and evaluate the film?
Reexamine your analysis of the messages of the film together with
your findings about its content, production, and reception. Use the
following questions to think about and evaluate the film as a representation
of historical personalities, eras, events, and themes. Then compose
paragraphs which discuss each question.
To what extent does the film present a thoughtful, coherent, and
historically sound interpretation of the individuals, issues, and events
portrayed? To what extent are the characterizations and relationships
depicted in tune with the historical period, or have they been modernized
to appeal to contemporary audiences? How would you evaluate the film
as an interpretative representation of the past?
Assemble your analysis and evaluation of the film. Include an
initial paragraph which introduces the film, indicates your reasons for
selecting it, and communicates your overall assessment. Use foot or end
notes to credit all sources of words, information, and ideas. Attach the
sight-sound skim and a Bibliography or Works Cited identifying sources
used. The film is The Pianist, directed by Roman Polanski and starring
Adrien Brody.