History on Film

1. Critics attacked JFK as a rewrite of history, manipulating audiences to believe a particular theory about the assassination. Do you agree? What was Oliver Stone's reason for making the movie? 2. What techniques does Stone use in the film to blend history (recorded or written) with film? 3. How does Stone connect other events in American history to the assassination?

How does  Fury  both meet our expectations for what we expect in a combat war film and subvert them? I maintained that it is difficult to see any of the crew reintegrating back into normal society other than Norman. Do you agree?  Why or why not? How would you describe the relationship between Wardaddy and Norman? Is it paternal, or something different? How did you feel watching the scene with the German women?

1. How does Steve McQueen attempt to "correct" previous screen representations of slavery? 2. Is William Ford somehow less culpable for slavery's sins than Eppes? 3. How does the film convey the idea that there is no escape from slavery? Consider the scenery and other film techniques. 4. Is this a happy ending?

"Now I know it really happened." Schindler's List is the most influential film about the Holocaust produced thus far. It reaches far more people than books or documentaries. Your blog should address the positive and negative legacy of this fact.  Consider the following questions: 1. Steven Spielberg wanted to make the film look like a documentary because to him the film was "history on screen." What are the limits of this approach? 2. For a film about the Holocaust, the only well-rounded characters are German. Do you think this detracts from the film's message? How are Jews represented on screen? Do you agree with Bartov that some of representation is actually antisemitic? 3. Why did Spielberg hold back from "showing" the killing process?  Do you think he was right to not actually show the gas chambers?  Why has this taboo finally been broken? 4. By focusing on story of Schindler did Spielberg give a "happy ending"

All The President's Men detailed the Watergate investigation and the central role of The Washington Post just a few years after the scandal ended. This is a difficult position for filmmakers - addressing recent history. How does director Alan J. Pakula reflect some of the values and artistic choices of the New Wave? Does the film valorize journalists? Based on the film, describe the work of an investigative journalist. How did they piece together the disparate parts of this mystery? How does the film use actual TV and audio from the time period? Finally, what other films has All The President's Men influenced? Do you think journalists working today will have a movie like this made about them?

Use the following questions to guide your blog post. Pick a few to discuss: What is the perspective of Frankenheimer on the anti-Communist attitudes prevalent at the time? Does Frankenheimer represent the anti-Communist characters in a favorable way? Is the film misogynistic? Consider the character of Shaw's mother (Angela Landsbury). Can you think of any parallels in reality near the level of this conspiracy? Do you see any similarities between the anti-Communist fervor of the 1950’s and anti-terrorism of today?