Movie Review Essays (Examples)

Movie and Movie Review

MONSTE with Charlize Theron and Christina icci

MONSTE" starring Charlize Theron is worth seeing if for no other reason than the compelling acting and tremendous transformation the lead actress underwent to play Aileen Wuornons, a well-known Floridian serial killer. The movie is compelling, detailing the life of a woman who never experienced love, and subsequently turned to hate and murder for comfort. "MONSTE" successfully tells a story. It tells the story of a woman ravaged by violent acts and abuse, who turns to murder as a means to make things right with the world. Aggressive and somewhat brutal, the movie was not written for the feint of heart. ather this movie compels audiences to acknowledge that desperate times often due result in desperate measures.

The movie, though fictional, is based on the real life story of Ms. Wuornos, who was convicted of murdering six men during the late 1980's and…… [Read More]

Movie Review of the Tin Drum

Tin Drum 1979

Film Review: The Tin Drum (1979)

The film The Tin Drum (1979) is like nothing I had ever seen before. It was loud, offensive, and in your face; yet, lightly laced with an incredible depth that reflected the sentiment of a still broken nation. In the midst of the Cold War, with Berlin still divided amongst East and West, director Volker Schlondorff created a true masterpiece in a world without a true sense of hope.

There were a number of visual and cinematographic elements that I feel were harsh and really date the film. The entire production is very loud, filled with clamor at the most seemingly random times. It is definitely not afraid to offend anyone, as it is completely in your face. This is achieved most by Oskar's most notorious talent, his ability to scream so loud he can break glass. The ear piecing sound…… [Read More]

Kill a Mockingbird Movie Review

But even though the film's camera work is mainly conventional, it does feature some surreal-looking shots and sequences, e.g., Boo Radley's shadow hovering over Scout's older daredevil brother Jem, as Jem, having intruded on the Radleys, cowers on their front porch in terror.

The storytelling is interesting but like the camera work, not especially unconventional on the whole. The story is told in two ways: (1) in voiceovers as Scout, now an adult, looks back; and (2) through the action of the story itself. Even in 1962 this was not a new storytelling technique in film and certainly is not one now. But what is remarkable about these dual storytelling techniques is how well they work together and that with this continuous going backward and forward in time that the movie employs as a narrative strategy, the film never seems jumpy.

Since the story is told entirely through Scout's eyes,…… [Read More]

Popular Movie Reviews Chinatown Chinatown

Their methods, however -- regicide, then more murders to cover up the first one, and finally a desperate civil war in an attempt to kill the throne -- are not exactly worthy of nobility. All prophecies are eventually fulfilled; though Macbeth reigns as king, his line ends with him.

Are Shakespeare's witches symbolic or real?

Though tempting to interpret the witches as a sort of symbolic force, there can be little doubt that Shakespeare intended them to be real. There are hallucinations in the play, and they are reacted to quite differently. Macbeth and Banquo both converse with the witches early in the play, and their words motivate much of the action. Though there might be symbolism in their characters -- the inner whisperings of greed, etc. -- the figures themselves are very real.

What do we learn of Love, Greed, and Power?

All three, especially unchecked, will only lead…… [Read More]

Reds Movie Review Reds 1981 Opens in

Reds Movie Review

Reds (1981) opens in 1915, when John Reed (Warren Beatty) meets his future wife Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton) in Portland, Oregon. Reed was already a famous journalist at that time, having covered the Mexican Revolution and the First World War, while Louise was married to a dentist but hoping for a new career as a journalist. Reed persuades her to leave her husband and come to New York, where they live in the Greenwich Village as part of a Bohemian and radical circle that included Max Eastman, Emma Goldman, Eugene O'Neill and Margaret Sanger. Although they both claim to believe in the socialist ideal of free love and personal independence, their marriage was damaged by jealousy as a result of their affairs, including one that Louise had with O'Neill. In the film, the famous writer, played by Jack Nicholson, is in love with Louise and claims that…… [Read More]

Fahrenheit 911 Movie Review Michael Moore's Political

Fahrenheit 911: Movie Review

Michael Moore's political documentary, Fahrenheit 9/11, about the Bush administration's first four years in office has generated a lot of controversy and in the process broken all box-office records for the genre.

The film, described as an "op-ed" piece by Moore, is anything but a run-of-the-mill documentary. Michael Moore, the producer, writer, director and narrator of the movie has no intention of looking at the "other side of the picture" while judging President George W. Bush and his performance in office. As a result, the movie was bound to offend (and does offend) the Bush supporters. At the same time, it raises some very provocative and thought-provoking questions about the Bush administration's handling of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and its aftermath. Not all of the charges against President Bush are new but have been presented in an innovative manner on film.

The Bush family is accused…… [Read More]

Movie Review Schindler's List

Schindler's List is based on the novel by Thomas Keneally, with the film released in the United States in December 1993. Directed by Steven Spielberg, the movie includes a cast of stars including Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Kingsley, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagalle and Embeth Davidtz. It was produced by Steven Spielberg, Gerald R. Molen and Branko Lustig, with screenplay by Steven Zaillian, cinematography by Janusz Kaminski and music by John Williams.

Schindler's List was the winner of seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Liam Neeson, Best Supporting Actor for Ralph Fiennes, Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Original Score for John Williams. Further accolades include winning seven British Academy Awards, winning the Best Picture Award from the New York Film Critics Circle, winning the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Golden Globe Award and Spielberg winning the Directors Guild of…… [Read More]

Movie Review Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia

This movie uses the vast desert as the setting for the adventures of T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence succeeds in enlisting desert tribes to fight on the side of the British -- and against the Turks in orld ar I. The point of the military aspect is that the Arab Revolt was being helped by the British, as the British wanted to defeat the Ottomans and drive the Turks out of Arab lands. Lawrence was a big part of the elimination of the Turks, and in the process he becomes a very strange hero. Among the most riveting, poignant scenes in the film is after Lawrence has made a miraculous crossing of the desert -- a crossing that would take the life of ordinary people because of the boiling hot sun and sand -- but just as he is about to reach of…… [Read More]

Bliss Movie Review

Film Questions and Bliss Analysis

There are a number of photographic properties in any film shot. It is essentially a piece of the puzzle, and the way the shot is handled by the director can add meaning or dimension to the scene. For example, the contrast between dark and light can be used to set the mood. Striking contrasts between dark and light, or other color hues can increase the sense of gloom and darkness within the scene. There are additional elements as well. For example, the shot can be framed either from a mobile or static position. In a mobile framing, the shot is moving along with the scene and increases the sense of action taking place in the scene. Panoramic shots often use a slow mobile framing that backs out of the scene to reveal more of the world within it. Static framing also impacts the way the…… [Read More]

The Coen Brothers Comedy Raising Arizona

Evaluation of a Movie: Raising Arizona
My criteria for judging a film comedy is that the material should be original while conforming to the rules of the genre. A comedy should be funny, down-to-earth, and ultimately have a happy ending. It should also have good music in it, because music can truly make or break a movie. Comedies should also have elements of low-brow humor, high-brow humor and innocence. The Coen Brothers’ Raising Arizona is the kind of movie I love, because it fits the bill on all the criteria. It is off-the-wall zany, yet grounded in reality, and completely in love with innocence and goodness at heart. Even though the characters are less than ideal by any standard, what makes them all sympathetic is that beneath the layers of gunk and ignorance, there is something good to be found. The only character who seems to lack any authentic goodness…… [Read More]

Movie review of Elf

In my view, Elf is the perfect movie for family fun. It is a rare Christmas comedy with a heart, a mind and a rather outlandish sense of humor. It is a great charmer. It includes some rather unexpected casting. The movie is definitely worth watching.
Star rating: 3
Star names: Mary Steenburgen, Will Ferrel, James Caan and Zooey Deschanel
Director Name: Jon Favreau
Rating: PG
Movie length: 97 minutes

Introduction

The plot of the movie is fairly standard. It has to do with a conflict at the publishing company owned by the old man and a demand for a children’s best seller. The movie also contains some interesting subplots involving Michael ( Daniel Tay) ; Buddy’s new little brother. Buddy has an awkward but rather deep and genuine little romance with a store girl (Deschanel). And then, there is the unfinished business at the North Pole (Ebert para5).

Buddy,…… [Read More]

Boys Don't Cry Movie Review

In some ways, this was the paradox of Brandon's ambiguous identity. Brandon was not a politically correct or socially aware transgendered person. S/he was very much a part of the highly 'gendered' society of the American est, where men were men and women were women. Part of Brandon's confusion lat in the fact that he did not know anyone else like 'himself,' he only knew that no available female identities suited him, so he assumed the persona of maleness. Maleness for Brandon still meant hanging out in bars, drinking, and hanging out with petty criminals. Ultimately, Brandon Teena's story and the movie "Boys Don't Cry" condemns the stifling limits of American cultural conceptions of both maleness and femaleness, as well as the limited mindset of the characters that victimize and act violently towards Brandon and Lana.

orks Cited

Boys Don't Cry." Directed by Kimberly Peirce. 1999.… [Read More]

Erin Brocovich Movie Review Erin

Even when citizens ban together to form a lobbying group and the group's influence should theoretically not exceed the numbers of the group's membership, quite often the faction's ability to have influence depends upon the financial and social status of its membership.

However, it is not enough to merely blame interest groups. The fact that Erin Brockovich was able to succeed demonstrates that the American political process can work. The fact that the problems of environmental pollution are often invisible, and difficult for the lay person to understand is an explanation, but not an excuse for why so few people take positive and proactive action. This is why people must not be paralyzed by fear like the California community before Erin begins to investigate -- instead, they must speak up for their own welfare and the welfare of their children.

orks Cited

Erin Brockovich." (2000). Starring Julia Roberts.

Dye, T.R.…… [Read More]

Film Review of the Movie the Breach

Breach

For a criminal investigator, analyzing key evidence is an important part in being able to establish a pattern of behavior for the suspect. The film the Breach, is discussing the obert Hanssen case and its long-term impacts on U.S. national security. To fully understand how criminal investigators were able to catch him requires carefully examining the film. This will be accomplished by focusing on: the facts of the case, the parties involved, the victim's information, the suspects, the evidence, investigative mistakes, procedural errors, interview mistakes and the life of obert Hanssen. Together, these different elements will highlight how a series of critical blunders led to one of the largest national security breaches in U.S. history.

The Facts of the Case

In the film, Eric O'Neal is assigned to work undercover as a clerk for obert Hanssen. Set in the late 1990s, O'Neal's job is to keep an eye on…… [Read More]

Film Review Using Historical Context of Lai Shi China's Last Eunuch

Lai Shi, China's Last Eunuch

The movie Lai Shi, China's Last Eunuch was directed by Chi Leung "Jacob" Cheung which has been nominated for 4 awards at the Hong Kong Film Award. The story mostly follows the young Lai Shi on his quest to become a eunuch for the Manchu Emperor. The story is adapted from a somewhat autobiographical novel.

Lai Shi's quest of becoming a eunuch is very noble; the main goal behind his decision of castrating himself in order to become a eunuch was to be able to earn more money for his family to survive. The eunuchs were usually recruited from lower classes and castration was a necessary element for anyone wishing to become a eunuch during this era (Scholz, 131). In this regards, it would be true to say that Lai Shi is defined as the real hero archetype, as he was ready to do a…… [Read More]

Film Review House of Mirth 2000

House of Mirth

The film revolves around the early years of the 20th Century and the changing faces of the economy hence the social response to such changes. It is predominantly a depiction of the lifestyle that most ladies opted for with the increase in urbanization and amassing of wealth by a few individuals.

Lily Bart, the chief character in the movie, is depicted as one who is highly influenced by the change in the social aspect of life due to urbanization. She is a pretty, intelligent young woman who sets out on a primary mission of getting a man who is wealthy and prominent for a husband. The young lady sets out in pursuit of her dreams regardless of the measures she takes.

Lily is swallowed by the social hypocrisy that is predominant at that time in New York. She takes advantage of her age and beauty to attract…… [Read More]

Karmen Gei Senegalese Film Review

Film Analysis orksheet Karmen Gei / ednesday October 14, 2015

Karmen Gei

Director, Year

Joseph Gai Ramaka, 2001

Mode (for instance, adaptation)

Adopted from novel; influenced by Carmen.

Approximate time code (beg. -- end.) of selected scene

Title or brief description of sequence

Opening dance scene

Number of shots in selected sequence

hat happens, at the level of plot or narration, in this sequence?

As a musical sequence, it sets the tone for the film and introduces the audience to the main character and the overarching themes including sexuality and the cultural constraints upon women of color. The dancer seduces a female prison guard into dancing, and when that happens, the entire group of women express their joy through their bodies.

hat role does this sequence play within the larger action of the film (e.g. rising action, climax, turning point, exposition, character development, motifs, patterns, etc.)?

This scene is critical…… [Read More]

Film Behind the Lines Is

He was twenty-five when he died." ("ilfred Own," 2005)

One figure, however, besides the more aristocratic poets, who is entirely fictional is a working class man named Billy Prior, a who had risen through the ranks to become an officer, but is now mute. This character is used, not for historical accuracy, but as a symbolic state of the working class during this period, and as a contrast to the highly articulate, and also upper-class experiences of Sassoon and Owen. The film thus transposes reality, when it is visually or verbally suitable for conveying its theme, with occasionally flights of fictional 'poetic' reality. In other words, it would have been dishonest to only show the experience of psychotherapist, poets, and the upper classes of a war that was fought by large numbers of ordinary working class men, many of whom became officers like Prior, as more of the aristocratic 'officer…… [Read More]

Film United 93 Directed by

It also says a lot about our society that so many people went to see the film and endorsed the film. It is not because this film is about heroes or heroism. It is because the film's ultimate message is to never forget the people who died in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It was a time when the people of the country came together in support and grief, and a time that made the country and its people just a bit closer to one another. It was an epic time in history and this film makes everyone remember, ultimately so they will never forget.

In conclusion, this is an important and emotional film. It is certainly not easy to watch, and it is easy to demonize the terrorists and fault the military because of their scrambled messages and inaction. However, the director does not demonize the terrorists or…… [Read More]

Movie Snapshot Then Elaborate Typeface Printin

movie ( snapshot). Then, elaborate Typeface printin

The 2009 film Typeface, which was directed by Justine Nagan and produced by Kartemquin Films, is a thoroughly fascinating documentary about the decline of traditional woodblock type and printing. The movie also focuses on the ramifications of that decline, which occurred in the wake of the transition to digital type and modern printing presses. There is a great deal of history in this film, which is centered on the Hamilton ood Type and Printing Museum located in Two Rivers, isconsin. Most importantly, the movie highlights some of the intangible benefits of traditional wood type that are not found in the technologies used today. The result is the viewer gets a comprehensive overview of the benefits of the traditional method, and the reasons why it was forsaken for contemporary ones.

Another fairly intriguing aspect about this film is the fact that, despite the patent…… [Read More]

Movie Thank You for Smoking

This also makes an additional and still very strong point about the values of the contemporary world, that is the material ones.

Another issue that can be discussed is that of personal freedom. Nick Naylor may be a very intelligent and skilled orator, but he is not forcing people to do something against their will. All people ought to be able to decide for themselves. We have absolute freedom and control over ourselves. Therefore should we decide to harm ourselves through various vices such as drinking or smoking, why should there be anyone to prevent us from doing it? Does the stare still have the role to protect its citizens? Are the anti-smoking campaigns really made for the benefit of the people or is it everything about financial interests? Are there such things as the devil's advocates or do we have to take care of ourselves on our own? Do…… [Read More]

Movie American Psycho

American Psycho

The movie American Psycho is written and directed by Mary Harron. The story is adopted from the novel "American Psycho written by Bret Easton Ellis. The movie has presented the life style of a typical young and prosperous broker of the Wall Street, who has a unique way of clothing, dining, listening to music etc. In fact the movie is a social interpretation of extremes of the 1980s.

The character being portrayed in the movie is a kind of a man who believes to spend his life on his own. He used to dine at the finest restaurants of the city, wears the fanciest cloths and has a unique way of living. Working as a Vice President of Pierce and Pierce, he is considered to be one of the most disciplined executives of the company. As Mr. Patrick Bateman keeps on enjoying his routine life, socializing with his…… [Read More]

Film Culture and its Impact on Civil and Social Rights

Popular Film Cultures Have Propelled Civil and Social Rights

Culture is referred as shared interaction, patterns, cognitive constructs, behaviors as well as effective understanding learned through socialization and transferred from one generation to the other. In the United States and outside the United States, films have become a powerful tool to transmit cultures. In 2009, there were more than 6.8 billion films released compared to the world population that was roughly the same number. Moreover, films have produced revenue of more than $30 billion annually, and its impact on films on people's behaviors is staggering. For example, many people across the world are imitating American culture by watching their movies. Moreover, films have become a powerful tool for propelling civil and social rights.[footnoteRef:1] The social civil rights are the class of rights and freedoms people demand from the government, private individuals or social organizations. Civil rights movements protect people from…… [Read More]

Film the Help Review

The Help: Film Review and Discussion
The film The Help (2011), which was adapted for the screen and directed by Tate Taylor from the novel by Kathryn Stockett attempts to tackle heavy complex subject matter from a questionable perspective. The film is set in the 1960s in Jackson Mississippi, two details that make the film as loaded and complex as it can possibly be. The 1960s were the Civil Rights era in America, and Jackson Mississippi was a dangerous place. It was home to the confederacy and was a place where hundreds of innocent blacks had been lynched, among many other horrors that they suffered. This review will focus on two characters: Skeeter Phelan, the main character, played by Emma Stone, and Minny Jackson, played by Octavia Spencer.
Emma Stone’s character Skeeter is perhaps one of the most problematic in a film that is already very problematic. The film attempts…… [Read More]

Film Shoah by Claude Lanzmann

Men described how they would make a throat cutting gesture toward the incoming Jews as they arrived in the death camps, but some said that they made that gestured a warning and others made it in order to taunt. Survivors talked about a deceiving cordiality from the guards, while the others talked about a brutal experience filled with confusion. Due to this the truth becomes almost irrelevant, the effect that those people's experiences have had on them is easily observed. It seems like somehow the past is defined by the present.

Healing seems to be tied in with the process of forgetting for these people, and since they are not capable to overlook the terror they experienced, healing seems impossible, until it becomes apparent that many of the people questioned have become distanced from their stories because they have told them over and over again.

Shoah" tells the story of…… [Read More]

Movie Presentation Keeping the Faith 2000

Keeping the Faith: Presentation Outline

"Keeping the Faith" is a comedy movie that shows relationship between love, friendship and faith. The writer Stuart Blumberg and director Edward Norton have presented a story of three friends who belong to different faiths but fall in love due to close friendship. Overall it is a thought provoking and a romantic comedy drama movie which shows the complexities of relations between the faiths/religions of different people.

The two central characters of this comedy drama are the rabbi and priest (Frederic and Brussat, 2012) namely Jake and Brian. Jake is a "Jew" and Brian is a "oman Catholic." These two young adults, who grew up together in the New York City, take very much interest in each other's religion and have committed their lives to their faiths. Anna is their childhood neighbor and junior school friend who meets them after several years.

In these two…… [Read More]

Academic Film Review of Django Unchained

Django Unchained

As a screenwriter and filmmaker, Quentin Tarantino has long been considered the ultimate auteur. His style and content are uniquely his own and are marked by edgy, graphic content along with fast, memorable dialogue. There is a rapt attention paid to pop culture and popular slang that all of Tarantino's films bear, and of late his films have paid attention to dark historical events. Inglourious Basterds (2011) focused on World War II and the multiple forms of carnage that this event encompassed. Django Unchained marks yet another foray of Tarantino into one of America's blackest historical marks: slavery. Like Basterds, Tarantino puts his unique stamp on this dreary historical subject by couching it from a unique and meaningful perspective: he portrays the events of slavery with the imprint of a slave who becomes a type of bounty hunter, and kills white men. This is strongly evocative of the…… [Read More]

Action Film Review and Critique

Joey omero

San Andreas is a disaster movie that details the events of a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. The film shows acts of heroism and many fatalities. San Andreas first introduced the protagonist, aymond as a first-responder, saving the life of a woman whose car fell off a cliff. His access to helicopters, boats, and planes enables him to save not just strangers, but his family.

Although aymond has personal issues he must deal with throughout the movie, like the loss of one of his daughters, he does manage to help people on his way to save his other daughter. Some would say he should save the strangers that for example, were caught in the falling building with his wife. Others may point out his family comes first. egardless, aymond displayed heroism in saving his family and helping others avoid dying from falling debris.

The monumental earthquake that hit the…… [Read More]

Historical Impact of Melodrama Film

Film: The Historical Impact of Melodrama

In the first half of the 19th century, classical cinema was the norm in the American film industry, and filmmakers had become accustomed to uniform styles for creating visuals and sounds used in making motion pictures. Due to the dominance of this distinctive cinematic style, viewers had come to anticipate certain stylistic choices for certain narratives. However, by the second half of the century, melodrama had become the most popular kind of theatrical entertainment, and according to illiams, it successfully tested the boundaries set by the classical Hollywood style (353). By definition, melodrama is a genre in film designed to appeal to the emotions of the audience. The style derives its name from the music it uses to create tension, accompany action, and generate mood; and it is characterized by moral polarization, pathos, heightened emotions and extravagant theatricality. Its popularity in the 19th century…… [Read More]

Short Film Review

Marjoun and the Flying Headscarf filmmaker Susan Yousseff presents the self and subjectivity of Marjoun, a young Muslim woman and daughter of immigrants. I will speak of Marjoun as though she were a case scenario. Marjoun in depicting her own self as the protagonist is dependent upon the headscarf of the film's title, a hijab which she insists on wearing even indoors (to her mother's derision) and which becomes a crucial symbol at the climax of the story, but which overall represents her own greater outward religious observance in front of her parents.

Marjoun's mother and father are in conflict with Marjoun and her vision of herself in crucial ways. Marjoun's ostentatious religious display of wearing her hijab indoors -- which her mother criticizes -- mostly bewilders her mother and sister, who seem more assimilated than Marjoun. Yet Marjoun's father is in conflict with that observant Muslim woman's commitment to…… [Read More]

Breakfast Club Film Review and Analysis

Adolescence is an especially critical development stage for any individual. At this stage, individuals not only experience biological changes, but also become more aware of gender roles and expectations and experience cognitive development. Also, individuals at the adolescent stage are influenced by various socialization agents, such as family and school. As depicted in the film The Breakfast Club,[footnoteRef:1] adolescents go through critical changes in this stage of their life. This paper highlights the developmental markers observed in the film, especially with respect to gender, biology, and cognition. The paper also highlights various socialization agents (specifically school and family) and how they impact the individual. [1: The Breakfast Club (1985)]

The Breakfast Club features five teenagers detained all day at Shermer High School. A number of developmental markers are evident in the film. One of the markers is gender. Gender essentially refers to the social classification of male and female. As…… [Read More]

Role of Movies in the Development of Children and Adolescents

Movie: The Karate Kid (2010)

Targeted Age Group: PG rated, 10+ (The Karate Kid-Family Movie Review, 2015)

'The Karate Kid' is appropriately PG-rated; there is, however, some content that adults might wish to know of, especially because this drama has a few themes aimed at older viewers. The beginning of the movie shows a climbing scene of a child's height chart. Typical milestones, like beginning kindergarten and losing the first tooth are included; however, the last 2 entries are daddy's death and the child's 9th birthday. While at this juncture, the background music is jolly and light, the death of his dad when Dre was just 8 years of age has a mildly shocking impact, and may upset younger children (Andlor, 2013).

Analyze the chosen media content for its appropriateness for the cognitive development level of this target audience. In doing so, make sure to explain what characterizes the cognitive…… [Read More]

The Message Behind a Movie

Film Passage

Culture is a funny thing. When it comes to the national culture of any given country, the opinions and review of that culture can be in reverence and awe of the culture or it can be a complete and swift condemnation of the culture. Italian culture in particular is one culture that is either revered or condemned depending on who is doing the reviewing and what precisely is being looked at. Indeed, there is no shortage of people that look at movies like Coppola's Godfather trilogy and just stand in awe of Italian culture in general and that of La Cosa Nostra in particular. ather than go for that sort of review and praise, the author of this report will instead focus on the words and observations engaged in during Nanni Moretti's Caro Diario. Translated, this title in English is "Dear Diary.

Moretti dancing to the classic Italian…… [Read More]

Movies and Methods Volume I

Not only does Nichols provide a good context for the many paradoxes that can confront film studies with his insightful and thoughtful introduction, but he also shows how sharing approaches and methods can help to stimulate a lot of the best writing regarding film. In addition he shows many of the common problems that are seen and deals with the contradictions that appear. Like the first volume of the anthology, this second volume also provides smaller introductions so that each essay and piece of information can be more easily understood. It also allows a reader to peruse the book and find the pertinent piece of information that he or she needs at that point in time, which can be very valuable, especially for a novice to the film industry trying to find information quickly. Having the smaller introductions before each piece also help to showcase each item within the context…… [Read More]

Film Leverage

Film Awards

The film industry produces experience goods for consumer enjoyment and consumption, and substantively relies on consumer differentiation for the economic success of movies. Moviegoers appear to differentiate films primarily on the basis of genre, starring actors, exposure to promotion, recommendations from other moviegoers and film critics, and -- for the dedicated film buffs and connoisseurs -- directors, cinematographers, and even screenwriters associated with the film production (Albert 1998, De Vany 2004, Eliashberg and Shugan 1997, Hand 2002, Krider and Weinberg 1998, Nelson et al. 2001, avid 1999, Smith and Smith 1986, Wallace, Steigermann and Holbrook 1993). Access to information about films is related to the resources and networks that moviegoers enjoy, and on the attention that films garner, as expressed by the media and through social networks. Information about films is accessed by moviegoers from many sources: 1) The genre of the film; 2) the rating of the…… [Read More]

Film Analysis American Beauty Women's Sexuality Film

Film Analysis: American Beauty

Women's Sexuality

Film Analysis: American Beauty

Film Analysis: American Beauty

American Beauty (1999) was written by Alan Ball, creator of the HBO series 6 Feet Under, and directed by Sam Mendes. American Beauty centers around the Burnham family, who, on the surface seems like a picture-perfect, white, upper-middle class, suburban family. The protagonist of the film is the father and husband of the Burnham family, Lester, who, fed up with the boredom and monotony of his life, has an interesting "mid-life" crisis, that includes a very active crush on his adolescent daughter's Lolita-type best friend.

The film follows the Burham family as each member (mother, father, and daughter) transition into new stages of their lives. Lester's transition is the most notable and spectacular. He loses his high paying job and begins working at a fast food restaurant. While working the drive-thru, he discovers that his seemingsly…… [Read More]

Instuctions Uploaded Movie I Chose I Married

instuctions uploaded movie I chose I married tyler perry.

Movie review -- Why did I get married

Every year, eight friends -- four couples -- meet for a one week holyday to explore their marriages. Based on their experiences, Dr. Patricia Agnew, wrote a best selling book on marriages. At the meeting of this year however, the marriages seem tenser, and the finale of the movie is unpredictable. The characters are as follows:

Terry, husband of Diane, played by Tyler Perry

Diane, played by Sharon Leal

Patricia, played by Janet Jackson

Gavin, played by Malik Yoba, husband of Patricia

Angela, wife of Marcus, played by Tasha Smith

Marcus, played by Michael Jai White

Mike, husband of Sheila, played by ichard T. Jones, and Sheila, played by Jill Scott

While they had previously revealed happy marriages, this year's answer to the question Why did I get married? Seems more difficult to…… [Read More]

Nationalism in Movies Film as

Effectively, then, the insurgency is leftist, and in the cases of these films, the left wins, either by proxy or by morality and the world is once again a better place.

EFEENCES and WOKS CONSULTED

Braudy, L. And M. Cohen, eds., (2009). Film Theory and Criticism. Oxford University

Press.

Burgoyne, . (2010). Film Nation: Hollywood Looks at U.S. History. University of Minnesota Press.

Hayward, S. (2006). Cinema Studies: The Key Concepts. outledge.

Santas, C. (2007). The Epic in Film: From Myth to Blockbuster. owman and Littlefield.

TAILES and PEVIEWS

Brown, Todd. (2007). "Footage from Taras Bulba." Twitch. Cited in:

http://twitchfilm.net/news/2007/11/first-footage-from-russian-epic-taras-bulba-positively-stuns.php

"Cossack Brotherhood." (1962). Taras Bulba. Cited in:

http://www.tcm.com/video/videoPlayer/?cid=253615&titleId=17795

"Lion of the Desert." (1981). Film Clip. Cited in:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081059/

"Michael Collins," (1986). Cited in:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117039/

"Taras Bulba." (1962). Cited in:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056556/plotsummary

"The Patriot." (1998). Cited in: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120786/

"The Patriot." (1998) Film Clips. Cited in:

http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=336714&contentTypeId=130&category=trailer

"V for Vendetta." (2005). Film Clips.…… [Read More]

Pianist Roman Polanski's Film The

The interaction between the two is also symbolic of the innocence of the prewar state. Before the war, interactions and romantic interludes between Jew and Caucasian were no problem. During the war, however, Jews were marginalized to the point where they were no longer recognized as human beings. This is symbolized by the harsh treatment of an old Jewish man by a Nazi soldier, also during the beginning scenes. The man is ordered to walk away from the sidewalk and into the gutter, where he steps into water. This contrasts with the pleasure that zpilman and the blonde derives from their interaction. Visually, the contrast between the Jews and Germans is symbolically depicted by the physical differences between zpilman and the girl, which would become symbolic not only of ethnic differences, but also of the way in which these differences are used to justify the death of hundreds of thousands…… [Read More]

Bible as Literature 6 Movie

The life and death of Jesus Christ especially him being the founder of the Christian faith should always have a universal appeal to all peoples from all walks of life and all ages. This has always been the foundational precept of the establishment of the Christian faith. However, in Gibson's The Passion, the universality was not adhered to especially when it was given an R-rating as a result of the violent scenes portrayed in the movie. Thus, younger viewers were not able to watch this contemporary interpretation in visual form of the Gospels. The film was a little over two hours long and the violent scenes seem to have emphasized further than what is necessary. Particular amongst the scene were during the flogging of Jesus and his crucifixion. Gibson went through the most graphical portrayal of which and some audience who are not accustomed to such may feel unease. This…… [Read More]

My Final Film Critique

ob einer's 1987 film The Princess Bride enjoyed only moderate box office revenues, but developed popular underground appeal and has become a cult classic. The enduring respect for einer's quirky romantic comedy is immediately apparent: it is far from formulaic, and does not truly fit in either to the "rom com" designation or that of a fantasy. The Princess Bride also includes a cast filled with luminaries like Peter Falk, Andre the Giant, and Christopher Guest. Its cast and celebrity director therefore enhances the credibility of The Princess Bride. Ultimately, though, the script and the overall tone of the film make The Princess Bride classically compelling. William Goldman's eponymous novel, upon which the film is based, transforms seamlessly into a film that capitalizes on the clever story-within-a-story concept. Peter Falk reads The Princess Bride to his grandson, who is staying home sick from school. At first, the grandson balks at…… [Read More]

King's Speech Favorite Movie 2010

Lionel is not a great actor (as seen when he attempts to audition for a role as Shakespeare's ichard III) but he is a great teacher.

The budget of the King's Speech was relatively modest by lush Hollywood standards. Even after multiple Oscar wins, including Best Picture and Best Actor, its official website remains fairly stark as well, when compared with the websites of Hollywood mega-blockbusters. The main 'additional' feature the site offers is an actual recording of the historical King's real speech. However, much like Bertie himself, despite its financial odds the film was able to triumph. Despite one or two relatively sniffy reviews like the Times, most critics praised the film. Even olling Stone, which is usually no fan of period dramas, wrote: "Two men alone create an epic landscape of feeling in one of the very best movies of the year" (Travers 2010).

The King's Speech resonates…… [Read More]

Media Review Project the 1993 Film What's

Media eview Project

The 1993 film "What's Love Got To Do With It" presents many of the classic symptoms and effects of domestic violence. As such, it provides a great deal of insight into this phenomenon, both on the part of the abuser and on the one who is receiving the abuse. The film is a musical biography of Tina Turner, who was one of the late 20th century's most popular singers. The movie opens up with Tin Turner as a young girl singing in a church choir. Even at this early age her prowess as a singer, the power of her voice and the zeal she expresses through her musical performance, become readily apparent. It is crucial to note that despite such an enthusiastic performance, Tina Turner (who is going by her true name at this point, Anna Mae Bullock), is enduring a tumultuous home life. Her mother eventually…… [Read More]

Wrong in Catwoman The Movie

(Catwoman: Catholic News Service)

SWOT Internal:

Capital: The movie Director, Pitof has put in $100 million unceremoniously in the newest attempt at cinematic comic book franchisedom which is an ample proof that a bad idea at Hollywood must be containing nine lives like that of a cat. Hally Berry gave her performance closely an unbearable as the one she gave accepting her Oscar award, assumes the role of Patience Philips, a graphic artist for a cosmetics company managed by George Hedare and his wife who is a model Laurel played by Sharon Stone. Instilled with the mystical cat Mojo, Patience does not just takes the features of a cat- consuming cans of tuna fish, climbing up the furniture, hissing at dogs but also gains new strength, confidence and also love, in the form of Tom Lone played by Benjamin Bratt. Nearly as perplexing as the motives of Pitof what really…… [Read More]

Representations of African-Americans in Film

Mis) representations of African-Americans in film:

From the Birth of a Nation onward

Recently, the Academy of Motion Pictures awarded 12 Years a Slave the title of Best Picture of the year. However, it is important to remember that the development of American cinema, racism, and the perpetuation of African-American stereotypes in film has a long and ignoble history. In the essay "The Good Lynching and Birth of a Nation: Discourses and aesthetics of Jim Crow," historian Michele Faith allace examines how one of the great silent film epics directed by cinematic master D.. Griffith consciously and subconsciously validated hegemonic racial ideologies. allace argues that when cinema was in its infancy, although African-Americans were portrayed on screen less frequently than whites, they were not addressed in the same derogatory manner as characterized the Griffith epic and Griffith's masterpiece set the tone for decades afterward. "The film's continued notoriety challenges all…… [Read More]

John Malkovich the Movie Being

Peter Mazelis suggests that while Malkovich has suffered "the virtual hijacking of his mind," the characters are all too willing to "trade their identity for love and acceptance" (which is a human strategy that plays out daily on a million stages).

When Malkovich finally enters his own self through his own portal, it's like "being pulled down into the black hole of your own personality," writes Roger Ebert. The noted film critic doesn't say so, but if Malkovich didn't have his memory banks still firing, he would be nothing but a player in Cusack's world of puppetry.

In conclusion, the audience in this film is being jerked from one emotion to the next, which is of course one of the theatrical tactics that make it a success, albeit a confusing, sometimes troubling success. Thanks to Schwartz staying inside Malkovich's body for those very weird eight months, Malkovich becomes a world…… [Read More]

Combat Movies

ar Films

Taking Jeanine Basinger at her word would leave us with far fewer war films than we think we have. Basinger is a 'strict constructionist,' accepting as war films only those that have actual scenes of warfare (Curley and etta, 1992. p. 8; Kinney, 2001, p. 21). That means that the four films that will be considered here, and especially the two orld ar II films, are not war films. By Basinger's yardstick, neither Casablanca nor Notorious, neither Born on the Fourth of July nor Coming Home would qualify as war films.

On the other hand, films such as hite Christmas, a lightweight Bing Crosby-Danny Kaye-Rosemary Clooney-Vera Ellen comedy about the aftermath of war for an old soldier might well be a 'war' movie. The opening scene is one in which the old soldier, Dean Jagger, is reviewing his troops when, somewhere in Italy during the Christmas lull, bombs…… [Read More]

Main Themes in the Film Yentl

film "Yentl"
"Yentl" is a tale set in 19th century Poland, portraying a vivacious, independent little girl called Yentl from the Polish Jewish community, who was doggedly determined to follow her dreams despite knockbacks. Yentl obstinately wishes to pursue education in a community where academics, particularly Jewish religious learning, is strictly reserved for males only and is forbidden for girls. Posing as a youth, Yentl, however, flouts all societal rules and prohibitions with the strength of character that goes well with the personality of Barbra Streisand, who is the director, producer and co-writer of this remarkable movie. Although the film is essentially a musical movie, the theme of love is strong as well. Its execution and staging is indeed highly remarkable. Yentl also offers intricate details of the culture/society it is set in, of its characters' nature and of events which transpire in the course of the movie (Hobbs, n.d.).…… [Read More]

Valkyrie Planning the 2008 Film

As Baigent and Leigh point out, von Stauffenberg's co-conspirators were "aristocratic" men who despised what they now knew to be a murderous regime (26). However, it was Stauffenberg who was "the most active leader in the conspiracy against Hitler," which is exactly how Operation Valkyrie is portrayed (Hoffman xiv). The close relationship between Nina Stauffenberg and her husband is rendered thinly but at least accurately in the film, based on what historian Hoffman has to say. Although there are several other ancillary characters that were not addressed or developed in Valkyrie, the filmmakers chose what are arguably some of the most historically important in terms of the attempted assassination of Hitler.

Of course, the central event of Valkyrie is the attempted but failed assassination of Hitler. Interviews with Berthold von Stauffenberg, the Colonel's son, verify the accuracy of the historical events that shaped his father's life. For instance, Jones claims…… [Read More]

Speech About Iranian Film That Won Oscar Separation

Separation

Attention getting material/story: The Iranian film a Separation won the 2012 Oscar for best foreign language movie. The film addresses a range of issues, including conflicting loyalties and competing value systems.

Thematic statement: The choice of A Separation as best foreign-language film in the Academy Awards was a smart one. The film offers excellent insight into the universal human condition, addressing issues that affect all people and not just Iranians. Yet the selection of A Separation was important because it symbolizes the need for peace and dialogue between the United States and Iran.

Preview of the speech: First, I will talk about the movie itself, offering a brief summary of the characters and events. Second, I will talk about the ethical issues that are raised in the film. Third, I will discuss the reasons why the Academy might have selected A Separation as best foreign-language film, and also why…… [Read More]

Los Angeles Times Review by Sharkey Betsy

Los Angeles Times Review by Sharkey, Betsy:

The Help is a successful film because it uses humor to take the edge off the pain of racism.

The cast contributes to the success of The Help.

The theme of "courage and conviction" is what adds emotional depth to The Help.

The film is realistic, depicting mundane life events showing how racism impacted the everyday lives of Americans.

LitLovers Author Bio of Kathryn Stockett

Great novels and films like The Help are based on transforming personal experience into creative writing.

Stockett grew up in Mississippi, and everyone she knew had black housekeepers like the ones we meet in The Help.

Stockett conducted research in the library, because she set her book in the 1960s and not in her own generation.

The relationships between white householders and black domestic servants can sometimes be emotionally intimate.

Washington Post Review by Hornaday, Ann. "Black, white,…… [Read More]

Literary Styles in the Movie the Tin Drum

Shop on the Main Street

Continental European film producers were slow to focus on political and social injustices as the dominant themes after World War II. Heroism in America and Soviet World War II movies was not a significant theme, primarily because, with the exclusion of Switzerland and Sweden, other countries' dwellers either were part of the Nazi regime or collaborated with the rule. Therefore, the filmmakers, when making films, focused on the societies' immersion in the totalitarian ruling systems. Similar to other countries of Europe, excluding Switzerland and Sweden, all other countries in central Europe lived under Authoritarian and totalitarian regimes in the period between the Second World War. However, after the war, the continent split, and this influenced how the filmmakers made films. Germans, Slovaks, Czechs and Hungary embraced the Nazi regime, whereas Austria and three quarters of Germany embraced democracy. This is partly a contributing factor as…… [Read More]

Analyzing Crime in Literature and Film

Crime in Literature and Film

"Red Dragon" by Thomas Harris and "Manhunter" by Michael Mann

The original version of the novel red dragon was written by Thomas Harris in 1981. In the words of est, only few authors have risen to the level of relevance and success as Thomas Harris, who authored just five novels, beginning from 1975. The Red Dragon, with other fictional works in the same series, is a famous fictional book built around a crime thriller. The book was later adapted in the 1986 Michael Mann movie, Manhunter. Some key actors that played key roles in these movie series are Brain Cox, the first ever actor to play the role of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the manhunter antagonist, who became the Red Dragon's protagonist. However, some other actors like Anthony Hopkins in the movie, the Silence of the Lamb and Red Dragon, Hannibal's Mads Mikkelsen and Hannibal Rising's…… [Read More]

Marketing the Effect of Movies

As a testament to the respect he garners in the neighborhood, however, he is allowed to pass by without being sprayed by the water.

Radio Raheem's warrior status is first challenged in the film by a group of Latinos hanging out on their front stoop. They are listening to the radio, which is blasting Latin music. Suddenly, Radio Raheem appears, with his ghetto blaster pumping out Public Enemy. The Latinos react in anger, and turn up their music in order to drown out Radio Raheem's. This contest goes on for a few more takes, but it is ultimately Radio Raheem who emerges victorious in attaining maximum volume. The "fight" against the "power" has been won - at least momentarily. As Radio Raheem marches down the street, leaving his victims behind, a small black child runs up next to him. Radio Raheem gives the child a high five.

In another important…… [Read More]

Film Field of Dreams Executive Review The

film Field of Dreams

Executive review: The objective of this paper is to provide an in-depth analysis of the film 'Field of Dreams' [1989], taking into consideration such intrinsic aspects of the film as the plot; characterizations; contextualization and storyline; moods and particularly evident ideological perspectives.

The plot within Field of Dreams begins to take shape when, due to instruction given unto him by a mysterious, heavenly voice one day, Ray Kinsella [Costner], a struggling owa farmer, begins to turn one of his cornfields [virtually the exclusive source of his income] into a baseball diamond. The characters he meets and the experiences he subsequently has, the eventual result of his accomplishment (s) and the ultimately reconciling and redeeming conclusion collectively converge to make for a movie that, in spite of having various fictional and illogical inclinations, depicts a pot that is fundamentally logical moralistic.

The film, directed by Phil Alden…… [Read More]

Film the Early Years of

However, in spite of the fact that the film was promoted as a motion picture displaying real-life events, it appears that the director did not hesitate to modify a series of aspects about the environment that he shot in and the story itself. The protagonist's wife and children were not actually his and Flaherty correctly believed that audiences would be more deeply impressed if he presented the story from a more spectacular point-of-view. Even with this, one can still claim that the film is a documentary because it presents viewers with its own creation.

Many individuals took advantage of the fact that documentary films were very influential and devised propaganda strategies using motion pictures. Many individuals involved in this affair considered that fiction films no longer had a strong appeal and that society was more concerned about seeing 'cinema verite'. Many filmmakers got actively engaged in creating films discussing political…… [Read More]

Film Frozen River Courtney Hunt's

The relationship between the two women is strengthened as the film advances and as they discover that they have more things in common than they initially thought. The two criminal-oriented individuals find that they have serious issues with their families and that something urgently needs to be done for them to solve their problems. The bond they form is best observed to the end of the motion picture, when Ray has second thoughts about leaving Lila and instead presents herself to the authorities, willing to be penalized for her actions. In spite of the fact that some viewers might consider the film's ending to be dull in comparison to the dramatic outcome they expected, the final is actually satisfying, as Ray's punishment is somewhat equivalent to the illegalities that she committed.

The frozen river can be taken for granted, with all the risks involved in crossing it, and it can…… [Read More]

Movie A-Better-Tomorrow-1986 Revolves Around Two

Ho finds out that Mark has a twin brother who was a former gang member that went straight and traveled to America where he opened a restaurant in New York. Kit Ho's brother was fatally wounded almost the same time his daughter was born but before he got to the hospital he died .after Kit's funeral Ho, Ken and Lung decide to avenge the death of Kit by launching an attack on Ko's mansion at a time he was meeting with one of his counterfeiting clients. A huge gun battles goes down with the three men killing almost 90 people in the process. These three sit down within the mansion and the police surround them.

The plot of the movie is basically cohesive and is reasonably not complicated. The climax of the movie towards its end is both tragic and played out quite excitingly. This movie a better tomorrow is…… [Read More]

Film Analysis of Sunset Boulevard 1950

Sunset Boulevard is a classic film noir produced in 1950 and directed by Billy Wilder. The film begins with the murder of Joe Gillis, a floundering screenwriter who ends up dead in a swimming pool. "Poor dope," the voice over says. "He'd always wanted a pool. Well, in the end he got himself a pool, only the price turned out to be a little high." The voice over, delivered in classic film noir style, turns out to be none other than Gillis himself. Far from being an unreliable narrator, though, Gillis promises "the facts" and delivers. The entire film Sunset Boulevard is the retelling of "the facts" from Gillis's perspective. Wilder's choice of narration is dutifully ironic, as a failed filmmaker becomes famous. The theme of the movie is reminiscent of the Great Gatsby, with its peek at American decadence and lost dreams. Because it offers rich social commentary, Sunset…… [Read More]

Film CAPOTE 2005 Directed by Bennett

The ultimate proof of the film's tendency to utilize hyperbole to portray the author as someone whose morality was questionable due to his own pursuit of success, wealth and fame lies in the quantity of interactions that Capote had with the two prisoners. There is certainly evidence in Clarke's biography that implies there was a fondness and physical attraction between the author and Smith. However, the sheer number of visits that the movie portrays is certainly erroneous. In actuality, the writer's "extended prison sojourns in the film are…fictionalized. In five years, Capote…visited his subjects no more than half a dozen times, though he did correspond with [them] weekly... He…was less interested in dealing with the defendants as people (Gibbons)."

As such, it becomes fairly obvious that the film Capote exaggerated a number of different facets of his personality and behavior in order to render the author as a consummate perfectionist…… [Read More]