Assessment Cover Sheets

Independent Study

Presentation

Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver is a film about many things, but overall it is about the theme of isolation and focuses on one particular loner in a big city who can be construed as an anti-hero. It is a film that draws from many genres: the Western, horror, film noir, and was also influenced by the films of the Italians (DeSica, Rosselini, Fellini).

Discuss cinematically, in at least two paragraphs, the themes of isolation and/or the anti-hero and how Scorsese's film is influenced by the different genres and by the Italians. You might find Ebert's original review and his Great Movies essay on the film helpful.

Mean Streets

Choose a five-minute scene and discuss the themes of redemption and religion in Mean Streets.

Little Big Man

Watch one of the following clips from Little Big Man and descriptively discuss (in detail) at least 3 elements of mise-en-scene and how these elements present the implied meaning of the scene and how this scene relates to the film's meaning as a whole.

Clip 1
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/297790/Little-Big-Man-Movie-Clip-Good-Day-To-Die.html

Clip 2
http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/video/297788/Little-Big-Man-Movie-Clip-Gunfighter-Period.html

The Searchers

Think about the portrayal of the American Indian and the portrayal of the whites in The Searchers. Discuss in a hearty paragraph how John Ford cinematically portrays each group. Then think specifically about Ethan and Scar and use your second paragraph to discuss how Ford cinematically portrays each of them specifically. In your last paragraph (number 3), discuss how the American Indian has been portrayed in films after watching Reel Injun on Netflix. Feel free to write as much as you want--this is a huge subject. Extra credit goes to those who comment on a classmate's comment or comments.

Stagecoach

In your textbook, Looking at Movies, by Richard Barsam, Barsam gives a detailed analysis of the construction of Stagecoach's narrative. In your response, pick TWO aspects of narrative that Barsam talks about that you think were particularly effective in the film and discuss cinematically how they worked to make Stagecoach such a successful film. Don't forget to use examples from the film to support your response!!!

Due: Wednesday, November 27

Amarcord

This should be easy. Choose a scene in the film (any scene!) and analyze it in depth. Be sure to discuss its sociocultural influences, why you chose the scene, and how the scene relates to the film as a whole. Your response should be thoughtful and along the lines of what you'll do in January. Be thorough--at least 3 paragraphs.

La Strada

Roger Ebert, in his Great Films essay on La Strada, states:

"It is Quinn's performance that holds up best, because it is the simplest. Zampano is not much more intelligent than Gelsomina. Life has made him a brute and an outcast, with one dumb trick (breaking a chain by expanding his chest muscles), and a memorized line of patter that was perhaps supplied to him by a circus owner years before. His tragedy is that he loves Gelsomina and does not know it, and that is the central tragedy for many of Fellini's characters: They are always turning away from the warmth and safety of those who understand them, to seek restlessly in the barren world."

Fellini has given us a film about outcasts. How do the roles of these outcasts reflect on each other? Do you see any signs of redemption? Choose a character and examine how that character redeems him or herself and how that character is cinematically presented as an outcast by society. Be mindful of all of Fellini's symbolism! Do this in at least 3 paragraphs.

Female

Did you like this film? What did you like about it? Discuss and describe your favorite five-minute scene.

[This is one of the only times I will ask your opinion about a film.]

Baby Face

Baby Face is often considered the most "pre code" of the pre code films. Discuss what this means in one paragraph and in your second paragraph discuss how the film's themes are presented cinematically through one cinematic element (choose one). Here is a link to the film: https://vimeo.com/channels/642746/131683919.

Chungking Express

Choose a five-minute scene in Chungking Express and think about the themes that Wong Kar Wai embodies in this work (such as isolation) and analyze the scene through this theme and using 1-2 cinematic elements. Minimum 2 paragraphs.

Cave of the Yellow Dog

In Cave of the Yellow Dog, Byambasuren Davaa uses a very specific type of filmmaking to convey her message. Do you feel the documentary style of the film is useful in conveying the message and the plot? Choose a five-minute scene and analyze through one cinematic element (e.g. editing, cinematography, sound, etc.) to support your choice of whether it is effective or not.

Eat Drink Man Woman

Choose your favorite 5 minute scene and analyze it in 2 paragraphs through 2 elements (such as lighting, composition, editing, sound, etc.).

Cat People

It is my understanding many of you did not like this film. Of course, that does not matter. It is a classic and a film that has been copied (and literally remade) over and over in the past six decades. Take a look at this Ebert essay and choose a scene in the film to analyze through 2 cinematic elements. Be sure to quote from the essay and analyze with implied meaning.

Bride of Frankenstein

Think about the films we have watched over the past two years that come from the horror genre (or its predecessor, German Expressionism) and choose one film to discuss with Bride of Frankenstein. Think about the films' geographical region, time period, unique approach to film style and genre. Discuss how each film was affected by political, economic, social, and cultural conditions at the time. How did these things affect the narrative as well as the cinematic elements?

Ringu

Remember how to look at a film through a feminist lens? Choose a five-minute scene in Ringu and examine the role of women and how they are portrayed in your selected scene and in the film as a whole. How does the director show us? Be sure to discuss this topic CINEMATICALLY. Back up all of your statements with evidence from the film. Your response should be 3 well-developed paragraphs. You must reference one of the big names (from feminist film criticism) such as Tania Modleski, Laura Mulvey, and Molly Haskell. You must state the title of the essay and use at least one quote. I have plenty of books in the library to help you with this.

Let the Right One In

I want you to think about the mise-en-scene in Let the Right One In. Examine all aspects of mise-en-scene: lighting, composition, set, properties, etc. This would include color as well. Discuss the concept of "monster" through the mise-en-scene of the film. This exercise will help prepare you for your Independent Study. Examine CLOSELY and offer me many details and examples. Think about what the director is trying to say IMPLICITLY. Please do this in at least 2 well-developed paragraphs.

Use whatever scenes you can find on YouTube or come into the Library and use my copy.

The Passion of Joan of Arc

Full movie can be found here.

Please choose one essay prompt and write at least 2-3 well-developed paragraphs.

Essay #1 From Roger Ebert's essay on The Passion of Joan of Arc:

"There is not one single establishing shot in all of 'The Passion of Joan of Arc,' which is filmed entirely in closeups and medium shots, creating fearful intimacy between Joan and her tormentors. Nor are there easily read visual links between shots. In his brilliant shot-by-shot analysis of the film, David Bordwell of the University of Wisconsin concludes: 'Of the film's over 1,500 cuts, fewer than 30 carry a figure or object over from one shot to another, and fewer than 15 constitute genuine matches on action.'"

Many avant garde films also do not have matches on action or carryover shots. Compare The Passion of Joan of Arc to one of the avant garde films we watched in regards to editing and mise-en-scene. Use cinematic evidence to back up whatever you state.

Essay #2 From the Ib Monty article I gave you:

"When the film was released, the close-up technique was regarded as shocking. Dreyer defended his method by stating: 'The records give a shattering impression on the ways in which the trial was a conspiracy of the judges against the solitary Jeanne, bravely defending herself against men who displayed a devilish cunning to trap her in their net. This conspiracy could be conveyed on the screen only through the huge close-ups, that exposed, with merciless realism, the callous cynicism of the judges hidden behind hypocritical compassion--and on the other hand there had to be equally huge close-ups of Jeanne, whose pure features would reveal that she alone found strength in her faith in God.' As in all of Dreyer's major films the style grew out of the theme of the film. In La passion de Jeanne d'Arc Dreyer wanted 'to move the audience so that they would themselves feel the suffering that Jeanne endured.' It was by using close-ups that Dreyer could 'lead the audience all the way into the hearts and guts of Jeanne and the judges.'"

Agree or disagree with this quote. Use cinematic evidence to back up whatever you state.

Preparation for Independent Study

Choose any two minutes in the following video and create a 2 column script for those two minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0DotIqOD-E

Avant Garde

Choose 3 of the films we watched in class and answer the following questions. Answer all questions for each film to create at least 3 hearty paragraphs.

Le Retour a la Raison
Entr'acte
Le Ballet Mecanique
Un Chien Andalou
Meshes of the Afternoon (this is the one with the Maya Deren interview)

What do you notice about the film's presentation of cinematic space? What do you see on screen? For example, lots of landscapes or closeups? Moving or statics camera?

How does the director's use of lighting help to create meaning?

Do you identify with the camera's lens? What does the director compel you to see? What is left to your imagination? What does the director leave out altogether? Describe the mise-en-scene and how it helps to create meaning in the film.

What implicit meaning do you find in the film?

If you can't get enough of the avant garde cinema, check out this site: http://www.ubu.com/film/.

If you want to look more into Jonas Mekas, go here: http://jonasmekas.com/diary/