Themes on the Film "Meek's Cutoff"

A 1500-word formal essay discussing one film and at least two readings from the required or supplemental reading lists.
A film review is a written reaction to something you have seen or read. In the case of a film review, this writing activity involves seeing a film, taking no more than one or two themes from the film (given the length of the assignment), and expressing your own thoughts on the themes you have chosen. It is not a general statement of whether you agreed or disagreed with the ideas or themes expressed in the film. Instead, response writing engages with the theme(s) of the film and expands on them, showing that you can integrate your ideas with an original text or film.
My suggestion is to proceed as follows:
Choose your film.
Watch and take notes on the film. List the main themes as these are suggested in the film. Take into consideration some film techniques discussed in class, such as camera angle, lighting, character facial expressions, and gestures as they relate to physical and emotional distance. pay attention to things of symbolic value in the film and how the symbolism enhances a theme of a particular plot sequence.
Focus on your ideas. Determine your overall perspective on the relationship between the film and your own thoughts/experiences. Write a sentence or two that could be the focal point of your review.
Structure of a film review/response:
Be sure to reference the film: What is the source of the information? The appropriate format is as follows: Film (date, director) or Film (date) if the director has previously been named within the text. You should only include this information the first time the film is mentioned; for the rest of the text simply italicize the film’s title.
Provide a summary: A few sentences on the main theme of the film. The gist of the film, in other words. Idea: What is the first idea from the film that you want to discuss?
Your response: What ideas does the film raise in your mind? Be sure to include examples/detail from the film to make your point clear, and to explain the significance of any direct references to the plot.
Conclusion: This should sum up the focus of your review, referring back to the film’s original theme(s), and discuss any implications of what you have written.
Structuring body paragraphs:
There are two possible ways to structure your paragraphs:
1. Explore 2-3 THEMES from the film one by one, with at least one or two paragraphs on each theme
a) Explain an idea/theme from the film and indicate your perspective on it.
b) Describe a significant reference to the plot or give an example to illustrate your perspective and corroborate your thoughts.
c) Repeat the process for each idea you want to discuss. Paraphrase or quote directly from the film.
2. Explore ONE major idea or theme from the film:
a) Explain the major idea/theme you are focusing on.
b) Describe a plot experience or give an example that supports this idea/theme.
c) Repeat the process for each supporting point you want to make.
d) Include references to the film through paraphrasing or a direct quotation to support your position so you do not lose focus on the connection between the film and your response.
Regardless of which organization structure you use, be sure to:
Stay focused on and connected to the original text (the film).
Provide your own, original comment on the topic (this is not a summary or a plot description).
Choose only one or two ideas or elements from the plot to respond to, not the entire sequence of events that constitute the plot. Such ideas or elements should be used to support and corroborate your points. Avoid random and “dangling” references to the storyline.
Use transition words to connect ideas (moreover, one can argue that, on the other hand, additionally, conversely, on the whole, it can be argued that, given the...etc...).
You may use “I” (with moderation) when you express your original considerations.
The use of secondary sources such as articles, books, and online pages is accepted, but not recommended. Should you choose to include quotations, you must cite them correctly. Remember that the focus of the review should be your own thoughts, impressions, observations, and experiences.
Below are examples of two professional film reviews
https://www(dot)vulture(dot)com/2020/03/portrait-of-a-lady-on-fire-movie-review.htmlLinks to an external site.
https://www(dot)newyorker(dot)com/culture/richard-brody/get-out-jordan-peeles-radical-cinematic-vision-of-the-world-through-black-eyes