POLS 101 American National Government
Film Review Assignment
For this assignment, you will need to watch a politically themed movie and write a 3-5 page, double spaced analysis of it. Included in the review should be the following:
1. A brief summary of the plot, setting and characters. (1-1.5 pages)
2. How it relates to politics: Is it based on real events? Does it take up a particular theme? (.5 pages)
3. Does it accurately describe a real event or is it a realistic depiction of how politics works? (.5 pages)
4. Discuss briefly what you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the film. (1 page)
5. What did you learn from the film and would you recommend it to a friend? Why or why not? (1 page)
A preliminary list of movies is below. There are many other possibilities out there and I am open to suggestions. Any film not listed below should be cleared with me first, however. This paper will be due on Tuesday, November 23 at the end of the day on Plato.
List of Potential Films
Name Subject Areas
Dr. Strangelove, or How I Stopped Worrying and Love the Bomb Cold War, War, Military policy, Nuclear politics
Milk LGBTQ
Malcolm X Racism, Activism
Frost/Nixon Presidential power, impeachment, journalism
All the King’s Men Political power, corruption
Lincoln Presidential power, Civil War
Wag the Dog Journalism, Elections, Presidential power
JFK Presidential power, conspiracy theories
Manchurian Candidate Cold War, Political power, Spies
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington Legislative power, Corruption, Representation
All the President’s Men Corruption, Journalism, Nixon
The Post Journalism, The Pentagon Papers
12 Angry Men Courts, Juries
Selma Civil Rights Movement, MLK
All the Way Civil Rights Movement, LBJ
Iron Jawed Angels Women’s Suffrage, Women’s rights
Argo Iran, CIA, International relations
Vice Political power, Dick Cheney
Charlie Wilson’s War International Relations, Cold War
Detroit Civil Rights, Police brutality
Nixon Political power, Presidential power
Seven Days in May War, Nuclear politics
The Contender Political power, Gender
Primary Colors Presidential elections, Bill Clinton
Citizen Kane Journalism, Political power
The Candidate Elections, Political power
In the Loop Iraq War, Diplomacy, Military
The Grapes of Wrath The Great Depression, the American Dream, Poverty, Socialism
A Face in the Crowd Journalism, Political power
Thirteen Days Cuban Missile Crisis, Nuclear politics, JKF
Bulworth Political power, Money in politics, Corruption
Being There Political power, Critical thinking
Bob Roberts Presidential elections, Critical thinking
Recount Presidential elections, Voting, Democracy
On the Basis of Sex Supreme Court, Women’s rights, Ruth Bader Ginsberg
W. Political power, Family dynasties, George W. Bush
Marshall Race, Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall
Irresistible Elections, Political power
Miss Sloane Lobbying, Gun Control
Lee Daniels’ The Butler Presidential politics, Class
The Ides of March Elections, Political power
The Oath Presidential power, Free Speech, Political violence
American Hustle Corruption, Law enforcement, Political power
Traffic Corruption, Law enforcement
Network Journalism, Corporate power
Zero Dark Thirty War on Terror, CIA
Game Change Electoral politics, Political power
The Frontrunner Electoral politics, Journalism, Sexual politics
Last Completed Projects
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