Do The Right Thing By Spike Lee Movie Review
Pick a movie from the list below watch it and write a 3 page review. Can not be a bunch of footnotes, or copying from a movie review site. Must watch the movie and write a review or if you know the movie very well and just need to refresh on a few parts that’s fine. HAS TO BE 3 GOOD PAGES OF INCITE. MUST TIE IN SOME OF THE NOTES I PROVIDE.
For this assignment I want you to watch one of the historically-based films
below and write a three-page review tying it into themes we’ve discussed in class. You
should discuss questions like how historically accurate is the film? What narratives about
the past does it show? What sort of slant do the filmmakers bring to the issues they
portray? What do you think about the film? Is it effective? Do you agree with its message
or think it correlates to anything we’ve discussed or read about in class?
This is not a formal assignment, so feel free to use first person, talk about your
own thoughts and reactions to the film, bring in other experiences or materials from
outside of class, etc.
Where to find them:
Many of the films below are available through Netflix (either as an
instant watch or by DVD), others, like the “American Experience” videos or the “Space
Race” are available for free online. Others can likely be ordered through a library or
another video rental service (Amazon, Hulu, Redbox, etc.).
What it’s worth:
Reviews that meet the requirements (at least three full pages of text)
.Disclaimer:
Some of the films below deal with sensitive issues that not all students might
want to watch, so it’s up to you to research a film before you watch it if you’re offended
by sex scenes, violence, foul language, etc. to make sure it’s something you’re
comfortable viewing
has a “parental advisory” section for most films
that will explain what potentially offensive materials might be included). Others (Modern
Times, the Great Dictator, Citizen Kane, etc) are basically G-rated films and should be
fine to watch even if you have kids around. If you have another film that you’d like to
review that is not on the list below, email me beforehand so that I can ok it.
Also—
do not try to cut and paste descriptions from websites
or other sources and
pass it off as your own work. It’s pretty obvious when people do and you’ll not only not
receive any credit, but you will also be reported to the Office of Student Development for
plagiarism. If you use any quotes or draw on outside materials you should reference your
source (i.e. “according to Wikipedia…”), but otherwise you don’t need to include
citations.
Industrialization/Labor:
Modern Times
1936
Citizen Kane
1941
The Molly Maguires
1970
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
Wall Street
1987
Roger and Me
1989
Matewan
1987
Harlan County U.S.A
1976
American Indians:
Little Big Man
1970
American Experience:
We Shall Remain: Geronimo
2009
American Experience: We Shall
Remain: Wounded Knee
2009
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
2000
World War I/The Russian Revolution:
Reds
1981
Dr. Zhivago
1965
Lawrence of Arabia
1962
Paths of Glory
1957
World War II/The Holocaust:
The Great Dictator
1940
Schindler’s List
1993
Life is Beautiful
1997
Patton
1970
Saving Private Ryan
1998
The Civil War/and Civil Rights:
Malcolm X
1992
Glory
1989
Birth of a Nation
1915
Gone with the Wind
1939
Do the Right Thing
1989
The Cold War/Decolonization:
Lumumba
2000
Dr. Strangelove: Or How I stopped
Worrying and Learned to Love the Bomb
1964
Good Night and Good Luck
2005
Space Race
2005
American Experience: The Trials of J.
Robert Oppenheimer
1960s and 1970s:
Nixon
1995
JFK
1991
All the Presidents Men
1976
Easy Rider
1969
The Weather Underground
2002
History Grab-bag:
All the King’s Men
1949 or 2006 (based
on Huey P. Long)
Chinatown
1974 (Water rights and corruption in LA/Immigration, etc and early 21st centuries)
