Whenever any film is released to the mainstream American movie going audience, it becomes subject to the wrath or appraise of movie critics. Audiences not set on whether or not they intend to see a particular film usually turn to these critics for their professional opinions and judge whether or not the movie will be worth the time and money. When Election hit the silver screen in 1999, it was met with critical acclaim and well-received by audiences. Since its premier, the film was gained a legacy as one of TIME’s Top 50 Films about High School and was even listed as President Obama’s favorite political film. At its release, three critics, Roger Ebert, David Butterworth, and James Berardinelli, shelled out their varying opinions on the many factors of the film, such as characterization and script. Although none had any scathing comments for the film, they did all reach different opinions regarding the overall quality and potential of the film, and Roger Ebert’s review, due in part to his relatability and detailed understanding, stands above the writings of Butterworth and Berardinelli. The late Roger Ebert is perhaps the most well-regarded and influential film critic of the modern age. Ebert achieved notoriety in the world of film criticism with his review of George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead. The review was picked up by Reader’s Digest, and what followed Ebert was a substantial career in film criticism, culminating in a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, successful
The film Swing Vote is an American political culture film that relies heavily on film subtext to depict the negative attitude many Americans have towards voting, corruption inside a political election, and the spectacle of media frenzy. While the film gives a light hearted impression of a rare political snafu it is still consistent with the main themes of other political films of manipulation, money lust, and power hungry political heads that will stop at nothing for their own personal gain. We also see the political candidates merely as puppets while their campaign managers are the ones truly calling the shots. Swing Vote is a unique political culture film because due to the ordeal in the film’s plot, the politicians are at a disadvantage when they are usually the ones in power. With the tables turned we see how they construct their corrupt schemes and the direct effect it has on the character representing the American perspective. The strong symbols that convey the cultural norms in America’s political system are in need of a deeper analysis.
In Chris Jones’s biography “Roger Ebert: The Essential Man” (2010), Jones narrates that Ebert’s life has changed dramatically due to medical conditions. Jones gives details in chronological order from when Ebert discovered his cancer to when he was finally cured. Jones’s purpose for writing this article is to describe a famous critics life in order to show the effects of his cancer on his life. The intended audience would be anyone interested in the effects of cancer or Roger’s personal experience with cancer.
Hollywood itself plays an enormous role on how we as a nation see our society. We life for the dramas, love stories, fairytales, and action pact block-busters we so desperately need to observe every weekend. However, the larger question is, how much of Hollywood’s film making is actual fact compared to what the public wants to see. Throughout Robert Bulman’s Hollywood Goes to High School, we can see how film making can alter the vision of public and private education. Bulman analyzes how films on the poor urban schooling, middle-class suburban schooling, and high elite private schooling can sometimes mislead society’s perception on education. Despite Hollywood’s biases to happy endings and the ability to win over the crowd, Bulman believes
During the end of the 3rd Century, the Playwright Plautus wrote many of the first Roman comedies. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical comedy film adaptation of Plautus's comedies.Set in ancient Rome, many aspects of Roman theatre, including stock characters, were included in the film’s production. While the film is based off of multiple comedies, Plautus's Pseudolus character Calidorus is nearly identical to the film’s Hero. During the time Pseudolus was written, the Crisis of the Third Century led to up to 25% of Roman population being comprised of slaves(Southern). Of the many stock characters Platus included in his comedies, Calidorus/Hero, the son of Pseudolus’s owner and the stock character adulescens, best
The documentary film The Price of the Ticket directed by: Karen Thorsen captures a man who was courageous despite his background. James Baldwin is that man’s name. James aka Jimmie was born black, grew up in the ghetto but he was gifted. He was a writer, author, and civil rights activist. What I gathered from the film was that James succeeded at life but he proved that whatever life throws your way that it should not stop you from reaching for the stars. Living life in today’s world, one should not loss hope when life’s challenges cause struggles. Challenges should not cause loss of power and control over one’s life. James Baldwin proved just that.
All of the critics were writing for the public sphere, which is characterized by Inch and Warnick as containing arguments that are "intended for public or general audiences" (52). In this case, the argument for the public sphere is directed toward movie-going audiences. The argument field is the evaluation of films during the 1990's, and could more specifically include historical films created in the 1990's. The argument field is an important point to my argument because historical film contains many debatable points, all of which will be discussed after the reviews are summarized.
What attracts us to the movie theatre on Friday nights? Is it the commercials we see? Or is it all the gossip we hear from friends and TV talk shows? Well for many, it is the critiques we read and hear almost every day. One who specializes in the professional evaluation and appreciation of literary or artistic works is a critic. The profession of movie criticism is one of much diversity. Reviews range anywhere from phenomenal to average. Not only are movies created for the entertainment and sheer pleasure of the audience, they create a market of jobs and open doors to the world of financial growth. The success of these films, whether they are tremendous or atrocious, is not only dependent of the actual film, but
"Ordinarly there is a great deal of snobbery from American film critics, they will accept a film by Stanley Kramer as a work of art before they see it, or a film from a European director...but they unloose their ire against low or medium budget Hollywood productions"3
The film I picked for my critique is Red Tails, a historical World War II drama. The movie starred Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard and Gerald Mcraney, was written by John Ridley and Aaron McGruder, better known as the creator of the comic strip “the boondocks”, from a book by John B. Holway, directed by Anthony Hemingway and produced by George Lucas . In this paper the author will show how all elements of filmmaking
In Hemingway’s “Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, Hemingway uses the writer’s techniques of perspective to show readers the characterization of the three main protagonists in this story. Hemingway creates a multi-part claim using perspectives as well as dialogue to show readers a persuasive, negative tone carried throughout the story. Wilson, Margaret, and Macomber are characterized by multiple perspectives with multiple traits and negative aspects to their characters.To begin, one of the characters in the short story, Mr.Wilson, is very judgemental toward Americans, professional with the hunt, and further on judgemental in a more positive light. His thoughts and perspective allow readers to to see his character. When Margaret finds out
Similarly, Goodbye, Lenin illustrates this manifestation of ones country betraying their original ideals and foundations. Reducing this concept in personalized terms once again, the director, Becker, utilizes Alex’s older sister, Ariane, to portray the treachery of the East German national identity. For instance, she adapts to westernization after the Berlin Wall falls, becoming the poster-girl for the immersion of fast food (specifically in this example; Burger King) in the East. In a particular scene, Alex mentions in an indignant manner how she gave up studying economics in college to do so. Consequently, her conformity to the western ways makes Alex hold a resentment against her.
position must do or must be able to do to be an effective employee. Marginal
The 2012 movie Argo is based off of a true event in 1979. During the Iranian Civil War, President Jimmy Carter gives the Iranian Shah refuge in the U.S. due to his illness. In retaliation, Iranian activists invade the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran and the staff are taken as hostages. This is famously known as the Iranian hostage crises. Although six of the staff members escape and are taken in by the Canadian Ambassador. Determined to rescue the six, Tony Mendez, who is our main character, from the CIA is brought in because of his expertise. After talking to his son one day while watching a science fiction program on TV, he comes up the idea to go into Iran, under the guise of Canadians
"Split" is a rated PG-13 horror movie released on January 20, 2017 that was not only written, but also directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Shyamalan is renowned in the entertainment business for his movies filled with a great deal of twists and turns. An example of some of the movies that he has written and directed with such a style are "The Sixth Sense" as well as "The Village". Split is no different and bares M. Night Shyamalan's signature style of suspenseful movies accompanied by many twists and turns.
Regardless of the object being reviewed, there are a number of essential features of writing a review at a professional standard. This essay will examine each of those features with reference to two reviews of films which explore a specific theme.