Film Critique essay

Critique Essay Outline

Watch the film Fed Up from 2014

I. Introduction

A. Provide some background information about the nature of the issue or explain its current relevance.

B. Identify the film title and director’s name. Include the director’s purpose and main idea.

C. State your main idea (this sentence is the main point you want to make about the film–your evaluation of it).

II. Summarize the Film

A. Identify the main idea and supporting points.

B. Keep the summary to one brief, complete, and objective paragraph (five or six sentences).

III. Provide your analysis of the director’s presentation of information.

A. What are its strength? Weaknesses?

IV. Provide your response to the director’s main idea.

A. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the director’s main idea? with the director’s conclusions?

B. Provide a brief explanation of the assumptions underlying your response. Point out where they coincide with the director’s assumptions.

V. Conclusion

A. Provide your overall assessment of the director’s film.

B. Provide a brief summary of your main supporting points.

Tips for Writing a Film Evaluation

1. Identify the director and film title somewhere in the essay’s introduction.  Underline the title of the film (i.e., In Stephanie Soechtig’s  Fed Up, . . . ).  Treat the director as the author of the film (i.e., Soechtig deftly handles the connection between obesity and the food industry).  You may find information about the film here.

2. Provide a brief plot summary of the documentary.  Limit it to one brief paragraph.  Remember, your purpose is to review the film, not describe it.  Assume your audience has already seen the film, so they probably do not want to read only a summary of it.  Your readers want to know why you like or dislike the film.  Also, you should indicate if you agree or disagree with the director’s argument.

3. Upon first mention of a film’s character, identify the full name of the person.  Upon subsequent mention, use only the person’s last name.

4. Use present tense (i.e. Stephanie Soechtig explores the various causes of obesity in America.)

5. Select one or two scenes/points to analyze.  Do not attempt to cover all of the scenes in the film, which will more than likely encourage you to summarize. Instead, analyze certain aspects of the film (theme/meaning, direction, interviews, argument . . .)

6. Explain the importance of each scene to your essay’s thesis (main idea).  Your thesis should address the following question: Is Fed Up a good documentary film?

7. Do not discuss the plot in detail.  Do not use more than five lines of dialogue from the film.  Do not just list and describe the scenes.  Do notjust repeat yourself.  Do not include a title page with your essay.

8. Do use correct spelling, grammar, and syntax.  Do build analysis through the use of detail.

Evaluation Requirements:

· Typed and double-spaced text (MLA format)

· Length: 500-1000 words (2-4 typed pages, not including the works cited page)

· A thesis statement that goes beyond a summary of the subject.

· Incorporate a brief summary of the work

· Use at least three points to evaluate the film

· Use at least two quotations from the film to support or clarify an assertion

· Do not use second person pronouns (you and your)

· Limit the use of first-person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, we, our, etc.)

· Do not use contractions (adopt a formal tone)

· Provide a works cited page (essays without complete documentation will automatically receive a grade of “NC.”)

· Do not use any other outside source material in your essay. You should rely solely on the primary source (the documentary film).

· Include a works cited page documenting the film.