Film Response Essay (600-800 words)
Humanities
Examine two of the films in Module #5 and write an essay focused on the following question: What are the differences in acting styles between two actors? The films in this section offer complex plots and fine-grained characterizations by actors who have different backgrounds and training. This module introduced method acting and the success of the method actor often depends upon realism in the story, dialog, details, motivation and the arc of the character. You may base part of your essay on the method actor you covered in your M5 Discussion or you may select another method actor from a different film. Then you must compare the method actor to another actor in a different film who is not known as a method actor. You might compare a British actor and an American actor, or two actors playing the same part (e.g. John Wayne and Jeff Bridges in True Grit). There are so many articles comparing Jack Nicholson’s Joker in 1989’s Batman directed by Tim Burton with Heath Ledger’s performance in The Dark Knight (2008) directed by Christopher Nolan that we will limit the grade to a maximum of 89% for anyone who chooses that comparison. Please don’t dwell on summarizing the story, but you may consider the interplay of script-based character development and acting technique. You may research the actors’ respective training and preparation, examine aspects of their performance (e.g., facial expressions, physical movement, soliloquies, dialogue, two-character or ensemble scenes) but your main focus should be on your description and perception of their characterization in the film. If you just say “the actor’s facial expressions and body movements helped to create the character of the policeman,” you will not fulfill the prompt. You need to provide specific details that you have observed while watching the film. Look at specific scenes and tell us about those moments that reveal how the actor convincingly portrays a character with emotional impact, purpose, reaction and motivation.Please avoid extensively summarizing the plot at the expense of analyzing the actor’s performance. The word count (600-800 words). Give your essay a title and italicize titles throughout. Organize your essay with an introduction, topical paragraphs and conclusion.
