Writing about Film Compare and Contrast

As with studying written texts, there are conventions (rules of thumb) for doing this. One simple way of finding out what
these are is to look at published commentaries. Newspaper and magazine reviews may be helpful, as may broadcast
(radio and television) film review programs. In your writing, what you should not do is simply retell narrative ("what
happens/the story"). Below are some things you may or should wish to consider. If you discuss your films in terms of most
or all of these, and finish with a personal judgment (did you like it, and why?) you will not go wrong.

Who is the "Author"?

In the case of a novel you can see from the cover who wrote it, and you probably know the names of authors such as
Charles Dickens, Enid Blyton, Ronald Dahl or Judy Blume. In the case of a film the person who gets the credit is chiefly
the director. This person has overall artistic control (or is supposed to). The person who co-ordinates the business
aspects (ensuring the film meets its budget, representing the studio) is the producer. The film will have a writer (or writers)
who create the screenplay. In writing about a film, you are not expected to refer to the producer, but may wish to mention
the writer (of the screenplay). You should refer to the director; finding out who he or she is should be one of your first
tasks.

What is the film "about"?

You should summarize story but not retell it in detail; more than 200 words is excessive: if you find yourself writing "then"
or "next" you are probably writing too much. The saying "more is less" applies here.

Characters and characterization

The (fictitious) people in the story are the characters, whom you should identify by their names in the film. When you first
mention them (but not again) you should give the name of the actor/actress who plays the part, in brackets, after the
character's name, in this way: Mrs. Doubtfire (Robin Williams). You should write about the principal characters,
commenting on such things as their circumstances and situation, their personality and anything else which engages our
sympathy (liking) or disapproval. Characterization refers to what the actor/actress or writer does to establish what the
character is like: this means such things as physical actions or gestures, habits of speech or favorite sayings.

Setting
As important as the human characters in many cases, and often more so, are places where the action occurs both as
identifiable locations and for what they represent or the feelings associated with them. In some kinds of film (the road
movie, the Western) the setting is grand and panoramic while in others (like horror films) it may be narrow and
claustrophobic.
In Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho the motel where the mad killer, Norman Bates, lives is almost a character. Other settings
which are vital to the films in which they are found are Rick's caf in Casablanca (originally to be titled Everybody Comes
to Rick's), or Gotham City (Tim Burton again) in Batman and Batman Returns

Music and soundtrack

Accompanying music is important for the mood of a film. This may be achieved by playing well-chosen "classic" popular
music, to establish a sense of place and time or evoke nostalgia; or it may be done by original composition. Try to
comment on the effect of any musical accompaniment in films you watch.

Getting started
Now all you need to do is choose two films that you can compare and contrast in relationship to the items listed above.
Make sure you reread the opening paragraph to be sure you are including everything you need for this review. (2 page
minimum, double-space if typed) You may select from the following four 1940s era films: Citizen Kane, Casablanca,
Leave Her to Heaven, and Its a Wonderful Life.