13. Analysis of a Film

Lesson 59

Analysis of a Film

 

Finally, you're ready to view and analyse a feature film. Before you settle down to view your movie, turn to Assignment Booklet 4B and read through the assignment questions for this section. That way, you'll be aware of what to look for as you view the film.

Here are five titles of films you may wish to consider for study:

• Pay It Forward (2000)

  • This film is rated PG for mild language and some mild sexual references.
  • A young boy accepts a teacher's challenge to change the world for the better.
  • The focus is on goal setting and the importance of personal relationships.

• Finding Forrester (2000)

  • This is rated PG for brief, strong language and some mild sexual references.
  • A teen writing prodigy finds a mentor in a reclusive author.
  • The focus is on attaining one's potential and integrity despite being misunderstood.

• October Sky (1999)

  • This one is rated PG for mild language.
  • It's based on the true story of Homer Hickam, a coal miner's son who takes up rocketry despite his father's wishes.
  • The focus is on attaining one's potential with the support of others and despite difficult circumstances.
    •

    • What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)

    • Gilbert has responsibility for his autistic brother and his obese mother, but this is a problem when love walks into his life.
    • The focus is on meeting responsibility while preserving dignity.

    • The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (1998)

    • This animated film contains many parallels to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
    • The focus is on the importance of forgiveness and healing.

    If you prefer to analyse a movie not on this list, consult with your teacher to ensure that your choice is appropriate.

    Becoming Informed Before Viewing the Film

    Earlier in this section, you learned the importance and value of reading about a film before actually viewing it. Once you've chosen a title, find and read one or more reviews of the film. A good place to start is the Internet Movie Database site at this address:

    http://us.imdb.com/search

    You can simply type in the title of your film, and you're likely to find several reviews for your movie. You can also access movie reviews by entering the title in a search engine.

    Print a hard copy of one review, and use it to respond to the following questions.

    1. From your reading, what helpful or important information did you learn about the film? Consider such aspects as the purpose, writer, director, actors, and making of the film.

    2. According to the review, what genre does your film fit into? What details in the review suggest this classification?

    3. Does the review give away any plot information that you consider "spoils" your enjoyment of the film? Explain.

    4. According to the reviewer, what are the strengths and weaknesses of the film?

    5. Based on what you've read, who do you think would most enjoy this film?

    6. What recommendation does the reviewer make regarding whether or not this film is worth seeing? Based on this review, would you consider viewing this film if you were not asked to do so for purposes of this assignment?


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    Analysing the Opening Segment

    The opening sequence of a movie is often extremely important in providing information, introducing characters and conflict, and establishing the tone or mood of the film.


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    Some films begin in the middle of the action. This is called in medias res, and it's a narrative device designed to get the audience immediately attentive to what is happening. The credits may be given about five or ten minutes after this opening sequence, or they may not appear until the end.

    Other films may begin with a panoramic survey of the setting of the film. This is often accompanied by music and credits. Some films begin with a black screen or a series of still pictures and rolling credits accompanied by music.
     

    View only the opening sequence of your film. Stop at the end of the credits�if they appear�and consider the questions that follow. Otherwise, stop after about ten minutes.

    7. Describe the opening sequence of the film, including how or if the credits are shared. Discuss how the opening sequence establishes the mood of the film and sets the attention for the viewer. Discuss how the sounds and images contribute to the opening sequence.

    8. What does the opening sequence reveal about the major characters? Who are they, and what are they like?

    9. What important information does the opening sequence provide?

    Watching the Rest of the Film

    Now watch the rest of the film. As you do, pay close attention and take notes.

    Because writing and viewing at the same time can be difficult, use some shortened form of note taking while you view. Use the pause button on your remote control, and keep your notebook and a pen handy; you'll then be ready to make notes of what you see and hear.

    The following form is a useful tool for recording your impressions as you view the movie. Create a similar form in your notebook. Be sure to leave plenty of space in each category for your notes.
     

    Film:_____________________________
    Characters  
    Sights  
    Sounds  
    Events  
    Literary Aspects  
    Dramatic Aspects  
    Cinematic Aspects  

     


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    Writing a Film Review

    Now it's your turn to write a film review. You may need to gather background information before you begin. Consider using the Internet or print resources, but remember to acknowledge the source of your information.

    Here are some suggestions for writing an effective film review.


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    Read a selection of reviews from sources such as newspapers, magazines, or the Internet. Try to get a sense of the style of this kind of writing. Remember that when you write, you should have a clear idea of whom you're writing for. Are you attempting to reach a sophisticated adult audience, or are you communicating with your peers? The audience you choose to write for will determine the style and tone of your review.

    However, the tone of a review should never be abusive or insulting. It's possible to criticize a work without overdoing it.

    Avoid writing sentences such as this:

    "I can't believe the stinking garbage this loser of a director tries to pass off as a movie."

    Instead, you might consider writing something like this:

    "This film fails to please because of the unrealistic plot, the unlikable characters, and the unintelligent dialogue."

    Both of these sentences condemn the movie, but the second one communicates more effectively.

    A review provides much more than just an opinion on the quality of the film or a recommendation as to whether or not the film is worth seeing. An effective review offers background information and thoughtful commentary on the film's themes and craft.

    The purpose of your review should be to prepare your reader to get the most out of the viewing experience. To accomplish this, you'll need to provide or identify the following:

    • the names of the major characters and the actors who play them (Place the actors' names in parentheses immediately after naming the roles they play.)
    • an evaluation of how well the actors perform their roles
    • information about the director, including commentary on previous works
    • a brief summary of the opening situation or premise of the film (Does the story unfold naturally, or is the plot manipulated? Be careful not to give away details about the ending of the film.)
    • the emotional effect that the film has on its audience (This is perhaps one of the most important factors to consider as you form an evaluation of the film. Does it succeed in eliciting emotions or engaging the audience?)
    • a discussion of the ideas or significance of the film (In some cases, the film will be created purely for entertainment and should therefore only be compared with other films of the same genre.)
    • some meaningful commentary on the camera work, special effects, and use of sound (Do these elements contribute to the overall effect created by the film?)
    • a clear recommendation to the reader as to whether or not the film is worth seeing

    Write the first draft of your review, and then have another student or family member help you proofread and polish it.

    In this lesson, you selected a movie for your film study, viewed the movie, and took notes as you viewed it. Then you used these notes to write a film review.


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    Journal Entry 4T

    In your journal, consider carefully what you've learned during this film study. To complete this final journal entry, you may consider any of the following questions:

    • What did you enjoy most and least about this film study?
    • How do you feel about the fact that directors use elements such as music, sound effects, and special effects to manipulate your response to a story?
    • What do you think was the most useful part of this introductory film study? Explain.
    • Will you change any of your viewing habits the next time you watch a film? Explain why or why not.

    In this lesson, you undertook a complete film analysis. This process may have seemed a lot of work, but, hopefully, it clarified for you how to get the most out of a viewing experience. You should not always be content to be a passive viewer. Active viewing, on occasion, can result in a richer literary experience.


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    Suggested Answers

    1. Did you find the IMDb website helpful or interesting? It is useful for gathering up-to-date and complete information on films. You can find reviews by following the "External Reviews" links. Did you also check out the "Trivia" or "Goofs" links?

    2. If you're using the IMDb website, the opening screen for your movie will identify the genres that apply to your choice. Note that most movies are classified by two or more different genre categories. This reflects the fact that it is not always easy to pigeonhole a film into a specific genre heading. Most reviewers will refer to the genre because it is important to base an opinion or evaluation on a comparison with other works in the same genre.

    3. Most professional reviewers are careful not to reveal important details that give away the ending. Amateur reviewers are not so concerned. They may even warn you that a "spoiler" clue is about to be revealed so that you have the choice whether to read on or not.

    4. Responses will vary. Some reviewers may have nothing good to say about certain movies that flop or nothing bad to say about exceptionally successful movies. You may have to read carefully or between the lines in such one-sided reviews.

    5. Determining the audience for whom a film was made is extremely important. If the film is excellent but intended for a mature, highly educated audience, young teenagers might not find much of interest in it.

    6. Responses will vary. Does the reviewer make positive as well as negative comments about the movie? Is the review overly critical of the movie? Does the review seem too positive? Do you suppose that other reviewers might have a different opinion of the movie? It may be worthwhile to check out at least one other review before making a decision about whether to watch this movie or to choose another one to watch.

    7. Responses will vary. Your description should be a running commentary. Describe precisely when the credits begin. How are the credits introduced on the screen? Do they scroll or are special effects used? The font style is sometimes significant in establishing a tone. Pay attention to the opening music. It is often repeated throughout the film as a unifying device.

    8. Responses will vary. Often, details are introduced to put you off the mark and to get you to form a wrong impression. Are there any details that you suspect fit into this category? If so, list them.

    9. Responses will vary. The opening sequence will often include information about the setting. It will often introduce the viewer to the main characters and their situation. What information does the opening sequence provide in the film that you have chosen to watch?

    Lesson Glossary

    in medias res
    a Latin term for the narrative device of beginning a work in the middle of an action sequence or dialogue