Film Analysis

Course materials:  The student will watch a series of fourteen (14) films over the course of the semester.  These films must (1) fit within the category of "classic" films--those which critics have judged as among the most important films ever produced, and (2) be pre-approved by the teacher.  A list of possibilities is at the end of this syllabus.  The student must choose the fourteen films to be watched and submit the list to the teacher within the first week of the course.

The Course:

    1.  The student will watch one film each week.  It will be important to take notes for use in writing the analysis and critique paper on the film.  It would be a good idea for the film to be viewed near the beginning of the week, so the paper can be written before the week is over.

    2.  The student will prepare fourteen (14) one to two page papers on each film, in which the following will be briefly handled:
           
            a.  What does this film contribute to the art of filmmaking?

            b.  Describe the most significant aspect of the film:  plot, character development, special effects, cinematography, direction, a powerful performance by a particular actor/actress, the sets, musical score, costumes, makeup.

            c.  Critique the film.  That means, analyze it critically, discussing where it failed to make an impact, as well as its strengths.  What did you like about it, and what did you not like about it.  This part of the paper is your opinion, but your opinion must be supported by facts.  Usually the facts will have been discussed in the previous portions of the paper, as described above.

    These papers should be typewritten, double-spaced, using 12 point type.

    3.  The student will prepare one (1) five-six page paper at the conclusion of the course, which brings together all of the films viewed and analyzed.  This paper will:

            a.  Categorize the films watched along these lines:  comedy, action, drama, science fiction, horror.

            b.  Rate the films within their respective categories.
       
            c.  Rate the films across their categories (i.e., is the best comedy equivalent to the best dramatic film; is the set of action films overall better than the set of sci fi films?)

            d.  Specific reasons for your ratings must be given.

    This  final paper will be due on the last day of the semester.

List of possible films (this list is by no means complete)
    Citizen Kane
    Casablanca
    The Godfather
    Gone With the Wind
    Lawrence of Arabia
    The Wizard of Oz
    The Graduate
    On the Waterfront
    Schindler's List
    Singin' In the Rain
    Some Like It Hot
    Star Wars
    Psycho
    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
    2001:  A Space Odyssey
    E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
    Dr. Strangelove
    Apocalypse Now
    To Kill a Mockingbird
    Midnight Cowboy
    West Side Story
    King Kong  (1933 versions)
    A Clockwork Orange
    Taxi Driver
    Jaws
    Amadeus
    MASH
    Fantasia
    Vertigo
    Raiders of the Lost Ark
    Tootsie
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    The Silence of the Lambs
    Forrest Gump
    Ben Hur
    The Sound of Music
    American Graffiti
    Rocky
    Frankenstein
    Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs