Movie Analysis
Guide
Instructions: Watch a movie with the consent of your parents, preferably with friends and parents. Discuss the movie afterwards for possible themes and insights into the synergy of the production staff. Research the historical context. Write a brief analysis that relates the themes and historical context. Comment on the artistry of the film and the synergy of the production staff. Feel free to use www.amazon.com and www.imdb.com as references.
Rationale: History is full of great stories that can come alive with a little
imagination.
Movie
Analysis Rubric
|
Possible Points |
Expectations |
Points Earned |
|
2 |
Heading includes Movie title, Year Made,
Studio, Producer, Director, Cast of Major Characters |
|
|
2 |
Accurately summarizes the plot |
|
|
3 |
Clearly establishes major Themes |
|
|
5 |
Thoroughly establishes Historical Context |
|
|
3 |
Directly relates Themes to learned Historical
Context |
|
|
1 |
Analysis is given on Historical Accuracy |
|
|
2 |
Contains footnotes with sources |
|
|
2 |
Comments on the synergy of production
staff are insightful |
|
|
20 |
Total |
|
EXAMPLE
OF MOVIE ANALYSIS
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.... |
Joseph Donnelly |
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|
.... |
Shannon Christie |
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|
.... |
Stephen Chase |
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|
.... |
Daniel Christie |
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|
.... |
Nora Christie |
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|
.... |
Danty Duff |
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|
.... |
Molly Kay |
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|
.... |
Kelly |
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|
.... |
Dermody |
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|
.... |
Grace |
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|
.... |
Bourke |
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|
.... |
Joe |
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|
.... |
McGuire[1] |
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Plot Synopsis
“Joseph
Donnelly, a young Irishman facing property eviction after his father’s death,
decides to take revenge on Daniel Christie, his landlord. Instead of killing Christie, however, he is
injured and sentenced to a duel with Christie’s arrogant manager, Stephen
Chase, Christie’s manager. Meanwhile,
Shannon, Daniel’s daughter, is growing dissatisfied with the traditional views
of her parents’ generation and longs to be modern. She makes her plans to leave for
Theme Synopsis
The
major theme of the movie is trying to fulfill one’s destiny. Shannon Christie is trying to establish
independence as a modern woman in a traditional household, Daniel Christie is
trying to escape the stuffiness of the old European aristocracy, and Joseph
Donnelly is following the path his father laid out for him: the pursuit of
independence – land. All of the
characters are taking great risks to find anew life in the free-market,
immigrant heavy
Historical Context: Crisis in
During
the time of the 1845 Irish potato famine the crop yield was greatly reduced,
leaving peasants unable to pay exorbitant rents. Old families, European aristocrats, owned
most of the land throughout
Joseph
Donnelly had his father’s land taken from him by the landlord’s rent
collector. After being told by his dying
father that he should try to become a landowner, he tries to take revenge on
the landlord Daniel Christie. When
Donnelly is offered to escape his captors and leave for
Historical Context: Immigrant Communities on the East Coast
Most Irish were
poor and unskilled and could not take advantage of the opportunities for them
either in business or moving west for free land. As a result, the Irish had a large community
on the eastern seaboard. Many other
immigrant communities and ghettos formed as well, each with their own system
for integrating new immigrants. These
structures would later form into the great Political Machines of the big city,
most notably in Boss Tweed’s relationship with Tammany Hall, an Irish
organization in
Donnelly and
Christie arrive in
Historical Context: Homestead Act and
the
The 1889 Oklahoma
Land Rush was an event in which the
When Donnelly
arrives to get his land, he finds the Christie family there as well. He races Stephen Chase, his rival for
Historical Accuracy
At least one Mega Essay refers to Far and
Away as historically accurate.[5]
Discussion of synergy
Far
and Away is an entertaining movie, thanks to the supervision of the legendary
Ron Howard. Bob Doleman, screenwriter,
brings us a great story of immigration to early