A:
Movie/Novel Synthesis: Temple Grandin
C: En9, Tyrrell
Write a carefully considered and well-rounded movie review of the film “Temple Grandin”
A good review includes:
 Formal, but expressive writing
 A summary of the film’s themes, setting, plot and plot
 Why the film is meaningful or important/ what someone might learn from it
 How you felt about the movie, and who you would recommend it to
 At least 2 quotations from or about the movie
Format:
 200-250 words (See examples below. Each is ~250 words)
 1-2 paragraphs with a clear introduction, body and conclusion

Modeled according to examples below
Some sample movie reviews of the same genre:
A Beautiful Mind (2001 – Starring Russell Crowe)
Directed by Ron Howard from a script by Akiva Goldsman, “A Beautiful Mind” is based on
the real life story of John Nash that was chronicled in the book of the same name by Sylvia
Nasar. Howard’s directing is strong and he paces the film brilliantly. The brilliant John Nash
who is capable of solving the most difficult and complex equations known to man, and is
now having to come to grips with what his life has become as the lines between reality and
fantasy start to blur, and the clarity and order of his equations becomes unraveled as does
his life. The life of Nash is gripping, and Howard allows the audience to develop a bond
between the characters at a steady pace and shows their strengths as well as their flaws.
The real story of the film is Crowe who gives a brilliant performance as Nash. He is gripping,
and able to transform himself into his character so completely that he becomes Nash and
viewers will forget that he is playing a role. Crowe deserves to get an Academy Award
nomination for his performance, which is superior to his Oscar-winning role in Gladiator.
The film shows the triumph and tragedy of life, as well as the beauty of the human spirit to
overcome and survive. An effective and very good film and the supporting roles portrayed
by Harris and Connelly are strong and compelling, as they support but never overpower the
brilliant performance of Crowe in this Oscar worthy film.
-
By Gareth Von Kallenbrach of “Film Threat”
The King’s Speech (2010 – Starring Colin Firth)
The King's Speech is a warm, wise film — the best period movie of the year and one of the
year's best movies, period. It begins with the fear of a prince and ends with the courage of a
king, finding room in between for terrific joy and drama. The King is George VI (Colin Firth),
Movie/Novel Synthesis: Temple Grandin
the upright naval officer who took the throne in late 1936 after older brother Edward
abdicated. The Speech refers to not one specific discourse (there are a couple of crucial
ones) but the man's tortured elocution in general. He had an unyielding stutter, a career that
forced him to speak to the masses - and a speech therapist (Geoffrey Rush) who helped him
reconcile the two. In some ways, the result is less historical biopic than inspirational sports
drama: young hopeful confronts the odds with the aid of a skilled and understanding coach.
But at its heart, The King's Speech tells a tale of plain old anxiety, a not-uncommon theme in
the human experience. It's also a study of friendship in unlikely circumstances, and, as such,
it relies on the considerable gifts of its two leads. As Prince Albert, the Duke of York, Firth
pulls off a daunting technical feat without ceding any authenticity or depth of emotion. This
is no stunt performance: From his opening crisis with a mic at Wembley Stadium ("I have
received from His Majesty the ... the ... the ... the ...") to his last historic speech, he earns and
owns our sympathy.
By Amy Biancolli of the Houston Chronicle.
Evaluation:
1 -2 = unacceptable, 3 = barely acceptable 4 = satisfactory 5 = proficient 6 = superior
Organization & Content: ___/6
 Paragraph format, 200-250 words
 A summary of the film’s themes, setting, plot and plot
 Why the film is meaningful or important/ what someone might learn from it
 How you felt about the movie, and who you would recommend it to
 At least 2 quotations from or about the movie
Language and Vocabulary: ____/6
 Formal, but expressive writing
 Vocabulary is strong and precise
 Transition words/phrases are used
Spelling and Grammar: ____/6
 Sentences are varied and well constructed
 Edited for spelling, homophone and grammar errors
 Has been read aloud to check for clarity and eliminate awkward wording