Great Expectations: Film Review

Your final farewell to Great Expectations will be to review the 1998 film adaptation of the novel. You should consider how the movie works within itself as well as how well it interprets and presents Dickens’ novel.

Your Review Should Include:

  • A unique title
  • information on the cast and crew (director, major actors, etc.)
  • some brief plot overview (remember, you’re writing for an audience who may have not read the book as well as for those who have)
  • a critique of several cinematic techniques (see below)
  • a discussion of the movie and the decisions made in updating it as they relate to your interpretation of the novel and its themes
  • specific examples from both film and novel
  • an overall assessment of the film.

Review Style

This is a creative writing assignment as well as an analytical one. You are not writing for your English teacher (although I would hope you always give me your most engaging and stylish writing), but for a paying audience. How will you capture your readers’ attention? How will you establish your authority? What will make them look to your recommendations on other films in the future?

Since your assignment is to review a film in light of its parent book, it may be most fruitful to look for this sort of review. See below for links to some online examples.

Mechanics

This assignment is worth a 100-point “quest” grade. Be sure to pay attention to requirements:

  • Length: Approx. 350 words (one double spaced page)
  • Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font (make smaller if needed to stay on one page)
  • PROOFREAD!!! For each Egregious Error you make, I will subtract FIVE points.
  • Title: Your review should have a creative, compelling title.
  • Due Date:Tuesday, March 27

Cinematic Techniques:

You will be taking notes as you view the film on different cinematic techniques used in the film. Be sure to incorporate these notes in your film review. I will be collecting both the review and these notes on March 27.

Film Information:

  • Director: Alfonso Cuáron
  • Writing Credits: Charles Dickens (novel), Mitch Glazer (screenplay)

Ethan Hawke / .... / Finnegan 'Finn' Bell
Gwyneth Paltrow / .... / Estella
Hank Azaria / .... / Walter Plane
Chris Cooper / .... / Uncle Joe
Anne Bancroft / .... / Ms. Nora Dinsmoor
Robert De Niro / .... / Arthur Lustig
Josh Mostel / .... / Jerry Ragno
Kim Dickens / .... / Maggie Bell
Nell Campbell / .... / Erica Thrall
Gabriel Mann / .... / Owen (as Gabriel Mick)
Jeremy James Kissner / .... / Finnegan Bell at Age 10
Raquel Beaudene / .... / Estella at Age 10
Stephen Spinella / .... / Carter Macleish
Marla Sucharetza / .... / Ruth Shepard
Isabelle Anderson / .... / Lois Pope
  • Cast Overview

Sample Reviews

Adaptations of other books:

Romeo and Juliet:

The Scarlet Letter:

Vanity Fair:

Age of Innocence:

FILM REVIEW RUBRIC

A
Meets the standard with distinction. / B
Meets the standard. / C
Almost meets the standard / D
Needs work to achieve standard.
Title
Thinking/ inquiry / The title immediately grabs the reader’s attention; it is creatively and consciously written. / The title is creative and succinct. / The title describes what the article is about. / The title incompletely describes the article.
Thesis
Thinking/ inquiry / The thesis is clear, strong, and argumentative; it shows style and voice. / The thesis is clear, strong, and argumentative. / The thesis is somewhat vague. / The thesis is vague or weak.
Movie Information
Application / The names of the director and cast are included as well as the genre of the film, explanation of setting and adaption are included as well a brief explanation of each. / The names of director and cast are included as well as the genre of the film, explanation of setting and adaption are included. / Most of the required information is included. / Little of the required information is included.
Plot
Summary
Communication / The summary is tightly and creatively written; no more summary than necessary is included.
The plot summary does not give away the ending of the film. / A short summary of the key events of the film are provided in 4 sentences or less giving the reader a good impression of the film; does not give away the ending. / A summary of events is provided but is long or leaves the reader with questions. / The summary of events flows over into various paragraphs or the summary leaves the reader with many questions.
Opinion
Communication / There is a strong and well-supported opinion about the film; it is creatively woven throughout the piece without using the word “I”. / An opinion of the movie is clearly stated; at least 3 reasons are provided to support the author’s opinion of the film. / The opinion of the movie is not directly stated and/ or there are fewer than 3 reasons to support the author’s opinion. / The opinion of the movie is vague and the reasons supporting the opinion are unclear.
Journalistic Style
Application / All of the ideas in the review give the reader enough information to decide whether or not to see the movie, and a consistent point of view is used throughout. (1st or 3rd person) / A consistent point of view is used throughout. / The point of view is consistent in most of the article. / The point of view varies.
Language
Conventions
Application / There are almost no errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation; sentences are clearly and coherently written and vary in structure.
Transitional words and phrases are used appropriately and work to add coherence to the essay. / There are some errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation; sentences are clearly and coherently written.
Some transitional words and phrases are used. / There are several flaws in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Transitions are absent.
The paper lacks coherence and development.
There are several awkward passages. / The errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation interfere with the communication of the writer’s idea.
The paper lacks coherence and development.
There are several awkward passages.

Should your paper not meet the minimal standards in the D column, it will receive an F.