Borat (2006)
This evaluation should be four full pages or more (not including the title page) in length. So, you will turn in a least five pieces of paper.
Please don’t tell me the story (I already know what
happens in the movie, I’ve seen it)… but you may briefly tell me about the plot structure. (Not the story, but the structure as we discussed it in class.)
Tell me your personal responses to the production as a whole, i.e. what you thought and how you felt. If you thought something was good, try to figure out the reasons behind your thoughts and explain them to me. If it was bad, tell me why. Did the story make sense to you? Did it seem plausible? Probable?
I would like you to comment on the acting. Comment on the performances of the
individual actors and actresses. Did the actors achieve a successful characterization? Did you believe they were who they said they were? If they were unsuccessful, in your view, try to discover why they were unable to develop an effective characterization. If they were great, tell me why you thought that way. If they were stinky bad, tell me why. Were the characters believable? Did they look the part?
If you talk about an actor, please name the actor. Don’t say, “The guy who played Bill”. You will be graded down if you do. Tell me something like, “Michael Douglas, who played Bill, did an incredible job”, or something like that. Please keep clear the difference between an “actor”, and a “character”.
Another aspect you should consider is design. The design consists of costumes, makeup, scenery, lighting, and sound. How did each design aspect work for this production? Did it achieve its goals? Was it period effective? Did it help establish the correct mood? Did the total design effort work together and function as it should for a theatrical performance? Remember, we will discuss the functions of design and each design area in class. Point out what you felt were the areas where the design succeeded and where it might have failed. What suggestions might you have for improvement?
What was the theme or message of the film or play? Or, was there a message? Did the
film or play make sense, or did you get lost? Evaluate how all the elements of theatre were brought together to achieve a unified presentation. Did the director or author use a special style, gimmick, or technique to communicate their message? Did you learn anything from watching this film or play? Have you seen it before and didn’t understand it, but now you do?
How did the film relate to modern life? Do you see any relationship at all
to your life or the lives of those around you? What does the film say about the world we live in, or about the world the characters live in? Is there any connection between their world and ours? Did the film make you happy, sad, or indifferent? Did you have an emotional response? What was it? Why did you have that response? Were you scared, mad, happy, sad, excited, bored or what? Why?
Assignment Outline:
**Title Page**
– Title of the assignment
– Your name
– Course name and number
– Instructor’s name
– Date of submission
**Introduction**
– Briefly introduce the movie or play without revealing the story, focusing on the plot structure as discussed in class.
– Provide a thesis statement that outlines your overall evaluation of the production.
**Plot Structure**
– Describe the plot structure of the movie or play, focusing on its organization, development, and resolution without revealing specific plot points.
**Personal Responses**
– Share your personal thoughts and feelings about the production.
– Explain why you thought certain aspects were good or bad, focusing on the story’s coherence, plausibility, and probability.
**Acting**
– Evaluate the performances of individual actors and actresses.
– Discuss whether they successfully portrayed their characters and if they were believable.
– Provide specific examples, mentioning actors by name.
**Design**
– Analyze the design aspects, including costumes, makeup, scenery, lighting, and sound.
– Assess how each aspect contributed to the overall production, considering its effectiveness, period authenticity, mood establishment, and cohesion with other design elements.
– Offer suggestions for improvement if necessary.
**Theme or Message**
– Identify the theme or message of the film or play, if any.
– Discuss how the elements of theatre were used to convey this theme or message.
– Share any new insights or understanding you gained from watching the production.
**Relevance to Modern Life**
– Reflect on how the film or play relates to modern life.
– Discuss any connections between the world of the characters and our world today.
– Consider the emotional impact of the production and analyze why you had that response.
**Conclusion**
– Summarize your evaluation, reiterating your main points.
– Conclude with a final thought or reflection on the overall impact of the production.
