Flashback to 1999, nearly the end of the century and the beginning of a new millennium. You have been selected to serve as a judge at the Cannes Film Festival. This years festival organizers have decided to add a number of new award categories, one being the best American film of the 20th century. In your role as judge, you are required to write an argument for and a defense of the film you have selected to be among those in the running for the best film of the 20th century. On June 16, 1998, the American Film Institute announced their prestigious list of the 100 greatest films of the 20th Century. Now, you have been asked to choose from ONE of the following 26. (Except for #1, the films are not in order): OUR FILM IS ROBERT MULLIGAN’S 1962 CINEMA CLASSIC TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Research: To prepare for this project, you must view one of the films listed above and then find numerous secondary sources about the film to support and illustrate your opinion and to explain why this is one of the best American movies of the 20thcentury. Like your documented essay in English 121, this research paper should arise out of opinions validated by critical analysis and substantiated by evidence. In other words, it is a lengthy, formal development of a thesis statement, supported principally by such traditional sources as books and articles in newspapers, magazines and journals, found in print and on-line, as well as by such non-traditional sources as interviews, videos and television programs. Sources (8 minimum) Primary: (1) the film you select Secondary: (7 minumum) Required: Original New York Times film review At least two critical articles about the film from scholarly journals. Suggested: Books (print or E-books) about the film Video documentaries about the film Interviews in print or online Biographical/autobiographical articles by or about the screenwriter, director, producer, leading actors, etc. regarding the film Film reviews If the film was based on a novel or play, one critical article about the original source Podcasts by film experts discussing the film Do not use blogs unless the source is a credentialed expert in the field of film.
