Film Theory and Analysis

Lesson 1

Film Theory and AnalysisManu Scansani

E-maildaskalogiannis81@yahoo.com

Office Hours: (Room 1#511)Monday 11.45/12.45;Wednesday 16.00/17.00

QQ: 1417650393

Niko Brauer

E-mailniko_brauer@hotmail.com

Office Hours: (Room 1#519)Thursday 12.30/14.00

QQ: 1265906802

http://filmanalysis.weebly.com

Film Theory and Analysis

• Aims of the course:The aims of this course are:

- refining your English skills;- developing a creative sensibility and critical thinking

towards cinema;- gaining a good understanding of film history and of

the tools needed to analyse films.

Film Theory and Analysis

• Structure of the course:- Class - Film Screening (Monday 17.20/20.00)- Film Corner (20.00/21.00 in Dining Hall)

IMPORTANT: The students are required to watch the films analyzed in the book. Viewing other films in addition is highly recommended.

Film Theory and Analysis

• Exam:The final mark will be composed as follow:- 10% attendance- 10% participation (discussions in class,

enthusiasm and motivation)- 40 % essay (deadline: 10 week– to be confirmed!)- 40% final exam (written)

Film Theory and Analysis

• EssayThe Essay must be an original analysis (not review) of any film chosen by the student. The film must have been approved by the teacher. The analytical tools will be provided by the book. 1000-1500 words in length. [Final drafts of essays are to be submitted in week 10. A late penalty will be applied to essays submitted late]

• ExamThe Exam will be based on the main key points of the book, and on the movies analyzed in the book.

Film Theory and Analysis

• Book: TextbookLynn, Andrew. Appreciating Cinema (Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2005)

• Web Sources:

- http://www.imdb.com (Internet Movie Data Base)- http://www.rottentomatoes.com/ (Rotten Tomatoes)- http://www.metacritic.com/film/ (Meta Critic)

Film Screening: next week

• Blockbuster Films – Monday 17.20 / 20.00

The Matrix (410, 412);

Batman: The Dark Knight (416);

Jaws! (418);

NOTE: Movies will start on time! Don’t be late!!

Film List• Blockbuster Film: The Matrix (A&L Wachowski, 1999); Batman: The Dark Knight (C Nolan, 2008); Jaws! (S Spielberg, 1975); Jurassic

Park (S Spielberg, 1993); Titanic (J Cameron, 1997);

• Comedy Film: Forrest Gump (R Zemeckis, 1994); Edward Scissorhands (T Burton, 1990); Charlie & Chocolate Factory (T Burton, 2005);

• Social Drama Film: American Beauty (S Mendes, 1999); Clockwork Orange (S Kubrick, 1971); Dead Poets Society (P Weir, 1989); The Truman Show (P Weir, 1998); Trainspotting (D Boyle, 1996); One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest (M Forman, 1975); Modern Times (C Chaplin, 1936); The Wrestler (D Aronofsky, 2008); Taxi Driver (M Scorsese, 1976);

• Action Film: The Bond Films; Mission Impossible; Speed (J De Bont,1994); Face-Off (J Woo, 1997); Ronin (J Frankenheimer, 1998);

• Film Noir/ Neo-Noir: Seven (D Fincher, 1995); Blade Runner (R Scott,1982); Carlito's Way (B De Palma, 1993); Sin City (R Rodriguez, 2005);

• Romance Film: The English Patient (A Minghella, 1996); Titanic (J Cameron, 1997); An Officer and a Gentleman (T Hackford, 1982); Gone with the Wind (V Fleming, 1939); Casablanca (M Curtiz, 1942);

• Gangster Film: The Godfather (FF Coppola, 1972); The Untouchables (B De Palma, 1987); Public Enemies (M Mann, 2009); Goodfellas (M Scorsese, 1990); Donnie Brasco (M Newell,1997); The Departed (M Scorsese, 2006);

• War Film: Apocalypse Now; Full Metal Jacket (S Kubrick, 1987); Platoon (O Stone, 1986); The Hurt Locker (K Bigelow, 2009); Jarhead (S Mendes, 2005);

• Horror Film: The Shining (S Kubrick, 1980); Night of the living dead (G Romero, 1968);

• Science Fiction: 2001: A Space Odyssey (S Kubrick, 1968); Blade Runner (R Scott,1982); Star Wars (G Lucas,1977);

[Optional]

• Thriller Film: Psycho (A Hitchcock, 1960); Leon (L Besson, 1994); The Departed (M Scorsese, 2006);

• Western Film: The Wild Bunch (S Peckinpah, 1969); Once Upon a Time in the West (S Leone, 1968);

Film Theory and Analysis

• What do you expect from the course?

• Film Journal

Analyzing films…

• The production line:- Pre-production (original idea; screenplay;

casting);- Production (filming: Mise-en-scène; photography;

special effects)- Post-production (digital effects; editing;

promotion; distribution)

• Film as a language: screenplay / acting / editing

Film Theory and Analysis• The Gold Rush (1925) – Charlie Chaplin- Eating a shoe;- Breads dance;

• Modern Times (1936) – Charlie Chaplin- The “modern” man at the chain;

Which are the main differences in the 2 clips? Is Cinema an art (the “seventh art”) or not?