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Analyzing Films

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Analyzing Films
Daniel Miller
Professor Schmidt
ENG 225
March 25, 2010

Analyzing Films
Generally, when a person wants to watch a movie, it is solely for the purpose of entertainment. As the audience member, we often do not spend a great deal of time analyzing the plot, dialogue, and setting. But by taking the time to carefully analyze a movie, you can get a better appreciation of the story that the filmmakers are trying to tell. The films themselves often have a number of elements that come together in order to guide the audience through the arc of the story. Film has properties that set it apart from painting, sculpture, novels, and plays and it is a storytelling medium that shares various elements with short stories and novels (Boggs and Petrie, 2008). While the actors themselves may be the most visible elements on the screen, a number of other craftsmen had to perform many other functions in order to get that finished film in front of an audience. If you are interested in analyzing why one movie succeeds and another fails, it is necessary to understand how much of a collaborative effort filmmaking truly is. Here are some elements that should be considered when preparing to analyze a film (Pollick, 2007).
To Analyze a Film Completely
First, consider the effectiveness of the dialogue and storyline. Professional screenwriters are the true architects of a movie, though many of them do not get the same attention as the actors or directors of a film. Screenwriters may adapt a book into script form, or they may create their own original stories for the screen. Either way, you should be able to sense an attention to detail in the dialogue and plotlines. A successful movie script uses authentic dialogue and scenarios that the actors can handle with ease. A less successful script places characters in situations that feel artificial or contrived. The language of

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