Cinematic Reflections on Mortality: A Must-See Film Analysis/k3sw

Posted: February 3rd, 2025

PowerPoint Presentation Assignment:

PowerPoint #1 on Your Choice for a “Must See” Feature Film Depicting a Person Who is Dying and How They and Their Friends and Family Respond,

Worth up to 50 points. Due by Sunday, February 2, 2025. This assignment encourages you to explore the emotional and psychological dimensions of terminal illness as portrayed in cinema.

Watch the movie trailers/read reviews for these feature films about someone with a terminal diagnosis: Marvin’s Room (1996), The Savages (2007), Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015), and Paddleton (2019). These films offer diverse perspectives on how individuals and their loved ones cope with mortality. Consider how each film balances humor, grief, and realism in its storytelling.

Title Slide: Create an original title that hints at the evaluation you made. Write the title slide last. Also include your name, the class name, and the date. Have an image that takes up at least 25% of the slide. The title should be thought-provoking and reflective of the film’s central themes. 3

Have 2 slides for each of the 4 assigned films. One slide should introduce the characters and the actors depicting them. The other slide should summarize the plot. Include a direct quote from a movie review for each of the four films and provide a link to that review. This will help you critically analyze the film’s narrative and performances. 12

Have 1 slide that presents your choice if you were going to watch one of these films without an elaborate explanation because your explanation will be on the next 3 slides. However, include a quote from a film review (a different quote than on an earlier slide, maybe even from a different film review) that helps explain the overall value of the film. Include a link to that review. This slide should be visually engaging and concise, capturing the essence of your chosen film.

NOTE: You are NOT required at this time to watch the film that you are judging to be the best. However, you would be smart to read several reviews and watch clips on YouTube of the film you are choosing. You can also read the Wikipedia entry about it. You can read the IMDB page about it. You can read the Rotten Tomatoes entry on it as well as the Metacritic page on it. Gathering diverse perspectives will enrich your analysis and help you make an informed decision. 5

The more information you have about the film, the better the next 3 slides will be. If you have time, WATCH THE FILM. But, again, it will be later that you will be required to watch a film or documentary and write about it. So, if you do watch it, take notes about plot, character, dialogue, and themes related to the class for use in the later paper. Watching the film will provide deeper insights, but thorough research can also suffice for this assignment. 5

Have 3 slides that explain at least 3 criteria for selecting this film. Include one quote from the textbook for each of your three reasons. Use quotation marks around the direct quote and provide a page number so that I can look at the quote in the textbook. These slides should demonstrate your critical thinking and ability to connect the film to course concepts. 15

You can use information from chapters that we have not yet read. Skim through the table of contents and the index to see if there are topics related to the film you selected as the “Must See” film. This will help you integrate broader themes and theories into your analysis. 15

Effective use of images and slide design. Do not be too busy or too plain. Choose a color scheme. A well-designed presentation enhances the clarity and impact of your message. 5

Technical Control. Spelling, punctuation, mechanics, usage, and format (tabs, font, spacing, margins). I strongly suggest that you have a tutor, a friend, or a family member help you look for consistency in format (capitalization, spelling, tabs on bullet lists are often not consistent. Proofread for this!). Attention to detail reflects professionalism and effort. 10

TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE: 50

Cinematic Reflections on Mortality: A Must-See Film Analysis