Catholicism and Culture Student Essays

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Writing Prompts: Reflect on the following questions to assist in your writing of film criticism essays.

In what ways is this a great film? What are the important religious or ethical questions or issues that it raises? How this film like or unlike my own experiences? How does it represent events and people that are unfamiliar? Is this done with curiosity and respect for another ethnic group, religion, or culture?
What response does the film elicit toward the persons shown in this film - condescending, judgmental, puzzled, curious or compassionate? How might the events in the film help me to understand myself or other persons more fully? Is this a film that stimulates compassion and encourages a listening heart?
What issue surfaces in this movie? [Examples: interracial dating; child abuse; parent-child relationship; sexual orientation; delivery of health care; citizen-police interaction; environmental concerns; education]. Are you satisfied with the way the movie's issues are handled? How might the director of the film have explored the central issues more completely?
Films differ in the amount of information they supply about the characters' lives and the events that occurred before the movie begins. Do you know enough about the background of the film's characters and events to understand what you see on the screen (the story)? What would you like to know, and why might this be helpful? How does the film fill in the gaps in your knowledge about the characters' histories and secrets? Do you want to know more, or does the absence of information serve some purpose in the movie as a whole?
Classical drama puts a value on unity of time, place, and action. Some movies follow this formula; most do not, although many present a story with clear time limitations (Speed, Crimson Tide, Air Force One). How does the way your film uses time and place affect the way you react to the story? For example, The Apostle emphasizes the communal nature of religious celebration by using a large percentage of long- or medium- distance shots that allow the congregation to be seen at once. At the same time, the film's setting - first Texas, then Louisiana - associates its story with the distinctiveness of those cultures in those two states (compared, for instance, with the Midwest or large cities on the East Coast or West Coast).
In many of the best movies, the plot ends are not completely resolved. Why might this be a strength in a movie? What benefits would this have for the viewer? Is the ending of this film open or closed? Is the ending strong? Why or why not? Many movies - Blade Runner, for instance - have their endings changed before they are released. Could you imagine your movie redone with a different ending - the priest in The Diary of a Country Priest saved by a miracle of medical science, for instance, or sisters Karin and Maria permanently reconciled in Cries and Whispers? How would this change your view of the movie as a whole?
Classical Hollywood editing is designed to be invisible; you are hardly aware you are seeing a movie. Is this a film that seems to distort or change what you see? What do these changes add to the film? How do they hurt the film?
Sound can be a powerful stimulant, influencing the interpretation of what you are seeing. A well-made film uses music and sound with care and purpose. How is sound used in this movie? What sounds other than music are you aware of (for example, street sounds, a train, machinery, and so forth)? Many films (if not most) use music in some purposeful way: 1960's rock 'n' roll and soul music in The Big Chill; 1950's music for American Graffiti; convoluted piano noodlings in The Piano; or grating, eerie, repetitive music in Vertigo. Does the music enhance or overwhelm the dialogue or the story?
A movie's story may be told in many different ways. It may be linear (one event follows another in a straight line; all events are connected) or episodic (events are not necessarily connected) or responsive (the connection between events may be in how other persons respond to what has already been said or done). A story may also be punctuated by flashbacks, dream sequences, or fantasies. And more than one storyline may be unrolling in the same film. Ask: How is this movie's story being told? How does the way the story is being told affect the ways you understand the story itself? Is there more than one storyline? Are the stories of equal importance?
A director may choose major film stars (such as Tom Cruise or Julia Roberts) or lesser-known actors (such as Guy Pearce in L.A. Confidential or Patricia Clarkson in Far From Heaven) or may use nonprofessional actors (as in Taste of Cherry). Ask: Is this a film with major stars? If so, do you feel the choice of star power (generally or in particular) helps or harms the movie? Does the use of a major star highlight or overshadow the issues you consider important in the movie? How? What are the advantages of using nonprofessional or unknown actors?
Is there a "moment of understanding" or clarification in this film? What is it? In many films, a key speech opens all eyes: Spencer Tracy's in Inherit the Wind and again in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? Clarence the angel's final lecture in It's A Wonderful Life; or the father's sermon after his son has died in A River Runs Through It. Do you feel satisfied or cheated by the film's ending. Voice-over is another way a director may seek to control your interpretation of events in the movie. Do you agree with the observations and opinions expressed in the voice-over? Why or why not?
Many contemporary movies are remakes of older versions or fall within a known story type such as science fiction, romantic comedy, drama, or the Western. Is this a genre movie? What other films of this type are you familiar with? How does this film differ from the other films of this type that you are familiar with? Why do you think this type of movie has become so popular? What does it have to say about the national culture or religious values?

Source: Finding Meaning at the Movies. Sara Anson Vaux. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1999.

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Writing Prompts: Reflect on the following questions to assist in your writing of a film criticism essay.

What was the theme of this film? What were the film makers trying to tell us? Were they successful? Justify your answer.
Did you learn anything from this movie? What was it?
Was there something you didn't understand about the movie? What was it?
What did you like best about the movie? Why?
What did you like least about the movie? Why?
Select an action performed by one of the characters in the film and explain why the character took that action. What motivated him or her? What did this motivation have to do with the theme of the film?
Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?
Who was your least favorite character in the movie? Why?
Describe the use of color in the film? Did it advance the emotions the film makers were trying to evoke? How would you have used color in the movie?
Analyze the use of music in the movie. Did it enhance the story that the film makers were trying to tell? How would you have used music in this movie?
Did all of the events portrayed in the film ring true? Describe the scenes that you found especially accurate. Which sequences didn't seem to match reality? Why?
What was the structure of the story told by the movie?
How did the editing of the film advance the story that the film makers were trying to tell? Explain how?