Film Review Guidelines

? The list of approved films, and a sample film analysis are under the "Announcements" in Canvas

? Project is due on within 48 hours from now

? Paper must be 4-5 pages, 12 pt font, times or arial, 1" margins, double spaced. Please have a cover sheet for your paper (see sample)

? Use present tense. The film/story continues to exist - you could even see it in the future! So instead of writing "At the end the hero died", you should write "At the end the hero dies". If you really want to reveal that much...

Use characters' names, not actors', when describing the plot. Only use the actors' names when you are talking about the work or significance of the actors themselves. For example: "Edward Norton himself has no intention of becoming a neo nazi".

Use underlining or italics for film titles: American History X, or American History X

? You must cite a minimum of two primary sources and two secondary sources. A primary source can be a review of the film the year it came out and a secondary source can be an article about the film from years later.

? A good review is not just a summary of what you watched, but a critical analysis of why and how that film failed or succeeded in interpreting/presenting a historical event or time period.

? Consider who was the audience the film was intended for--academics? Regular movie goers?

? Assume that I have never seen this movie.

? Does the film provoke you? Enchant you? Confuse you?

? How does it consider the political issues of the time? Or does it not address that in the film at all? SAY SO AND WHY!

? How does it consider the social issues of the time?

? How does it consider the economic issues?

? How well does the film portray an historical event or time period? Elaborate on this!

? How did the choice of actors, music, dialogue, scene, and other film elements help or hurt the movie?

? Have a central thesis:

Tell your reader what to expect in the paper

EX: Downfall (2004) is a film that explores not only the final days of Adolf Hitler and his closest advisors in their bunker during the Battle of Berlin, but offers an intimate look at the troubled Nazi leader and the unwavering loyalty of some of his followers, while others questioned their compliance with the terrors of the regime.