John Williams Films for Consideration

For your final film evaluation, you may select a listed film from Ridley Scott, John Williams or Peter Jackson. This evaluation is due by April 18 (11:59 pm). I will not accept late evaluations for this particular assignment. Follow the guidelines and rubric we’ve established throughout this semester. If you select a movie featuring John Williams’ score – you must write at least one paragraph focusing on the score, sound, and silence and the impact they play.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

 

The Sugarland Express (1974)

 

The Towering Inferno (1974)

 

Jaws (1975)

 

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

 

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

 

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

 

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

 

The River (1984)

 

Empire of the Sun (1987)

 

Always (1989)

 

Hook (1991)

 

Far and Away (1992)

 

Jurassic Park (1993)

 

Schindler’s List (1993)

 

Amistad (1997)

 

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

 

The Patriot (2000)

 

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001)

 

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

 

The Terminal (2004)

 

War of the Worlds (2005)

 

The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

 

War Horse (2011)

 

Lincoln (2012)

 

The BFG (2016)

Ridley Scott Films to Explore

For your final film evaluation, you may select a listed film from Ridley Scott, John Williams or Peter Jackson. This evaluation is due by April 18 (11:59 pm). I will not accept late evaluations for this particular assignment. Follow the guidelines and rubric we’ve established throughout this semester including examination of the trademarks (listed on the Ridley Scott bio page).

The Duellists (1977)

Alien (1979)

Blade Runner (1982)

Legend (1985)

Thelma and Louise (1991)

1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)

G.I. Jane (1997)

Gladiator (2000)

Blackhawk Down (2001)

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

American Gangster (2007)

Robin Hood (2010)

The Martian (2015)

All the Money in the World (2017)

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Emma Stone Films for Consideration

You may select one of the Emma Stone films for evaluation if you’d like. If you review one of the films for class, you should use our rubric & evaluation guidelines we’ve put in place this semester.

If you select a Emma Stone film, this evaluation is due March 22 (before noon).

Zombieland (2009)

Easy A (2010)

The Help (2011)

Birman (2014)

Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

Aloha (2015)

Irrational Man (2015)

La La Land (2016)

Battle of the Sexes (2017)

Sandra Bullock: Films for Consideration

You may select one of the Sandra Bullock films for evaluation if you’d like. If you review one of the films for class, you should use our rubric & evaluation guidelines we’ve put in place this semester.

If you select a Sandra Bullock film, this evaluation is due March 22 (before noon).

• Our Brand of Crisis (2015)
• Gravity (2013)
• The Heat (2013)
• Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
• All About Steve (2009)
• The Blind Side (2009)
• The Proposal (2009)
• Premonition (2007)
• The Lake House (2006)
• Two Weeks Notice (2002)
• 28 Days (2000)
• Miss Congeniality (2000)
• Forces Of Nature (1999)
• Hope Floats (1998)
• Practical Magic (1998)
• While You Were Sleeping (1995)
• Speed (1994)
• Love Potion No. 9 (1992)

Ron Howard: Films for Consideration

You may select one of the Ron Howard films for evaluation if you’d like. If you review one of the films for class, you should use our rubric & evaluation guidelines we’ve put in place this semester.

If you select a Ron Howard film, this evaluation is due March 22 (before noon).

Ron Howard trademarks: 

• Frequently casts father Rance Howard and brother Clint Howard in supporting roles.
• Has worked with Tom Hanks multiple times.
• Frequently uses music by James Horner and songs by Randy Newman.
• Frequently casts Tom Hanks, Gary Sinise, Russell Crowe,  Michael Keaton and  Chris Hemsworth.
• Works in multiple genres (comedy, drama, biopics, fantasy, sci-fi, action, adventure, western.
• Loves bio-pics.
• Has final cut approval on films.
• Directed eight different actors in Oscar-nominated performances.

 

Films for Consideration

American Graffiti (1973)

Grand Theft Auto (1977)

Nightshift (1982)

Splash (1984)

Cocoon (1985)

Willow (1988)

Parenthood (1989)

Backdraft (1991)

Apollo 13 (1995)

Ransom (1996)

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Cinderella Man (2005)

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Frost/Nixon (2008)

Rush (2013)

In The Heart of the Sea (2015)

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

 

Tom Hanks Film for Consideration

Here is a list of Tom Hanks films for review & evaluation consideration. Should you select a Hanks’ film to critique, use our guidelines and rubric I’ve supplied for you this semester.

If you select Hanks, this evaluation is due March 22 (before noon). 

These are some standard trademarks of Tom Hanks:

• Frequently plays ordinary characters in extraordinary situations
• Likable, mild-mannered and good-natured personality
• Frequently works with Robert Zemeckis, Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg
• Plays roles worthy of award recognition
• Plays roles based on historical figures or actual historical events/situations

 

Films for consideration:

Splash (1984)

Big (1988)

A League of Their Own (1992)

Sleepless in Seattle (1993)

Philedelphia (1993)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Apollo 13 (1995)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

The Green Mile (1999)

Cast Away (2000)

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Road to Perdition (2002)

The Terminal (2004)

The Da Vinci Code (2006)

Captain Phillips (2013)

Bridge of Spies (2015)

Sully (2016)

The Post (2017)

Stephen King Evaluation Assignment (3.8.18)

This assignment is due: by March 8,11:59 pm. * You may write an evaluation on Tim Burton or Stephen King for this week. 

Write an evaluation on one of the following Stephen King adaptations using the rubric and guidelines we’ve adapted this semester. As a reminder  – you should address the trademarks for the filmmaker in each film analysis.

The Stephen King trademarks can be explored by reading this week’s article on King located on our site.

Films for Consideration

CARRIE (1976)

THE SHINING (1980)

THE DEAD ZONE (1983)

STAND BY ME (1986)

MISERY (1990)

THE DARK HALF (1990)

THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (1994)

DOLORES CLAIBORNE (1995)

THE GREEN MILE (1999)

Hearts in Atlantis (2001)

THE MIST (2007)

1408 (2007)

1922 (2017)

IT (2017)

Tim Burton Evaluation Assignment (3.08.18)

This assignment is due: by March 8,11:59 pm). * You may write an evaluation on Tim Burton or Stephen King for this week. 

Write an evaluation on one of the following Tim Burton films using the rubric and guidelines we’ve adapted this semester. As a reminder  – you should address the trademarks for the filmmaker in each film analysis.

Look for the following Tim Burton themes and trademarks:

• Dark, strange, or odd subject matter
• Characters who are misunderstood
• Outsiders are outcasts
• Surreal settings and/or characters
• Highly stylized and unique set designs & characters(expressionistic lighting, highly detailed and distorted buildings/characters’ costumes/makeup)
• Genres of fantasy, horror, sci-fi (or a blend)
• Man vs. Society & Man vs. Self
• Unique approaches to historical biographies
• Adaptations & remakes (from children’s material, classic literature, TV shows, or classic film)
• Actors Johnny Depp, Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton,  Helena Bonam Carter & Composer Danny Elfman featured.

 

Tim Burton Films (choices)

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985) 

Batman (1989)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Ed Wood (1994)

Mars Attacks (1996)

Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Big Fish (2003)

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

The Corpse Bride (2005)

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

9 (2009) – (Producer and art consultant)

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Frankenweenie (2012)

Big Eyes (2014)

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

 

 

*You may also use this week as a wildcard reviewing option and evaluate a film from your featured final project focus

Daniel Day Lewis films for Consideration

You may select any of the following Daniel Day Lewis films for evaluation using the guidelines we’ve put in place this semester. This evaluation is due on Feb. 28 (by 11:59 pm).

My Left Foot (1989)

 

The Last of the Mohicans (1992)

 

The Age of Innocence (1993)

 

In the Name of the Father (1993)

The Crucible (1996)

 

The Boxer (1997)

 

Gangs of New York (2002)

 

There Will Be Blood (2007)

Nine (2009)

Lincoln (2012)

Phantom Thread (2017)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cameron Crowe and John Hughes Review Assignments (Feb. 21 due)

Watch one of the Cameron Crowe or John Hughes films using this aw-filmmakers-evaluation-rubric and evaluation guidelines. This evaluation should be turned in by Wednesday, Feb. 21 by 11:59 pm. You may also review a wildcard film from your “Semester Project Filmmaker” if you didn’t evaluate one of those last week. You will discover most trademarks from reading the articles and watching the videos. However –here are a few more for each.

Cameron Crowe (extra trademarks)

• A Lead Character at a Crossroads of life
• The unforgettable female lead
• The Girl “he” Never Saw Coming
• Heartbreaking love monologues
• Quote worthy dialogue
• Cute kids
• Incredible (or memorable) soundtrack
• Frequently has films featuring single parents
• Male protagonists are sometimes outcast or considered “uncool”
• Characters face major loss and have to find themselves again (and change in the process)
• Teenage or relationship angst

Cameron Crowe Film Options

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) -Writer

Say Anything (1989)

Singles (1992)

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Almost Famous (2000)

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Elizabethtown (2005)

We Bought a Zoo (2011)

Aloha (2015)

 

John Hughes (extra trademarks)

• Movies are often set in Illinois
• Teen films will feature scene in lunchroom, library, or school hallway
• References to art or artists
• Close-up shots of two characters looking into each other’s eyes
• Many of his films end with a freeze frame shot
• Ensemble casts shine or provide great support for lead characters
• Uses “Beatles” songs as support for some films
• Often worked with acting talent John Candy, Molly Ringwold, Anthony Michael Hall, and Chevy Chase
• Cute and crazy kids
• Slapstick comedy

 

John Hughes Film Options

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) – Writer

Mr. Mom  (1983) – Writer

Sixteen Candles (1984) – Writer, Director

The Breakfast Club (1985) – Writer, Director

Pretty in Pink (1986) – Writer

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – Writer, Director

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) – Writer, Director

She’s Having a Baby (1987) –Writer, Director

The Great Outdoors (1988) – Writer

Uncle Buck (1989) – Writer, Director

Home Alone (1990) – Writer

Career Opportunities (1991) – Writer

Curly Sue (1991) –Writer, Director

Only the Lonely (1991) – Producer

Beethoven (1992) – Writer

Dennis the Menace (1993) – Writer

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) – Writer

Baby’s Day Out (1994) –Writer

101 Dalmatians (1996) – Writer

Flubber (1997) – Writer

Just Visiting (2001) – Writer

Maid in Manhattan (2002) -Writer

Drillbit Taylor (2008) – Writer