M Film Analysis

A movie that has gone overlooked in the vast sea of Hollywood blockbusters is the modern day masterpiece called Moneyball. Directed by Bennett Miller, this sports drama was released in 2011 and received mostly positive reviews from film critics. While it may not be as well known as other films, Moneyball is a great watch if you enjoy action-packed stories with rich characters.

The main character of Moneyball is Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (played by Jonah Hill). He is very conscious about spending money to make his team better while also keeping the costs down. This theme of investing in undervalued players and having confidence in them is what makes the story interesting.

As the movie progresses, we learn more about why he acts like he does and how much his relationships mean to him. Although some people might find his methods questionable, most audiences agree that he cares deeply for those around him. His friends describe him as someone who never takes himself too seriously which helps him relate to everyone else.

This article will discuss several things related to the plot of Moneyball, but first let’s look at some important themes and characteristics of the movie.

History of film analysis

Historically, two main theories have been put forward to explain what makes a movie work. The Aesthetics Theory suggests that what makes a movie enjoyable is how aesthetically pleasing it is, and thus filmmakers will use strategies to make their movies as beautiful as possible.

The Psychoanalytic Theory believes that what makes a movie effective comes from an understanding of human psychology. Films may be able to influence us by exposing our vulnerabilities or strengths, and they can tell us stories about things that are important to us.

Both of these theories assume that the audience members understand the concepts being presented in the movie, but this isn’t always the case. When this happens, either the movie loses its impact or participants feel distracted instead.

Different types of film analysis

There are several different types of movie analyses that can be done with films. Some focus more on narrative, while others look at characters or themes. Each one is important to know, as each brings something new to the table!

The first type of analysis is what we call “film genre”. This looks into the film’s main theme and how it applies to other stories like it (genre). A good way to do this is to compare the film against its most similar counterpart; for example, if the movie was about friendship then you could compare it to any number of movies which feature friendships.

A second style of analysis is called “symbolism”. Here, the audience searches carefully for recurring patterns and/or ideas in the movie. For instance, if the character wears their favorite shirt then it may represent them being loyal friends or family members.

Documentary film analysis

This article will talk about some important parts of documentary films, what each part contributes to the movie, and how they are organized. Then, we will evaluate one specific documentary: The Price Of The Land!

I’d like to give you some tips before analyzing this particular movie. Check out our disclaimer first!

Disclaimer

The content in this article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice or medical advice and should not be used as such. Always consult licensed professionals with regard to legal matters or medical issues.

Now that you have your disclaimer prepped and ready, let’s dive into some documentary movie theory!

Documentary filmmakers organize their movies into three main sections: Introduction, Narrative, and Conclusion.

These terms may seem very academic, but they play an integral role in understanding The Price Of The Land! They help identify key themes, events, and ideas within the movie.

So, let’s take a look at the documentary structure here through the lens of The Price Of The Land!

Introduction

The Price Of The Land starts off with a brief title card followed by black screen. Then it cuts directly to show people protesting the construction of a mall next to a protected nature area in California.

This introduction tells us two things: 1) We are going to learn something about shopping 2) There are going to be protests related to these changes.

Editorial film analysis

There are two main types of films that we, as movie watchers, enjoy. One is an entertaining story with some pretty heavy themes. These stories often have dramatic scenes where something important happens.

The other type is purely entertainment. Films like The Hangover or Funny People use comedic storylines to make you laugh so hard your whole body shakes.

But what makes a great movie? What qualities do people talk about when discussing how good a movie is? And more importantly, what traits does everyone agree has made a great movie?

It’s difficult to define a movie that wins universal praise, but there are several key components that come up time and again. They include strong writing, acting, directing, and production values.

Writing

Strong storytelling is one of the most fundamental parts of any cinematic experience. A well-written script will always keep the audience engaged, even if certain events feel forced.

Good scripts also contain interesting characters individuals who viewers can relate to. Even if the plot is ridiculous, it is still possible to connect with the protagonists.

Acting

Actor performance is another crucial part of movie watching. Certain actors who play their roles very seriously may distract from the overall narrative.

Characters that lack depth cannot hold our attention for long. On the contrary, charismatic personalities draw us in and keep us interested.

Directing

A director sets the tone for a movie through his or her style.

Thematic film analysis

A thematic approach to analyzing a movie is to look at all of the themes it contains. These can be very specific, such as “family” or “death”, or they can be broader concepts that apply across several parts of the movie, such as “love” or “life”.

By breaking down a movie into its theme components, you give yourself more opportunities to discuss how the movie fits in with other things written about before and after.

This also makes it easier to see connections between different parts of the movie, which can lead to new insights. For example, what is the main concept behind the scene setting out the premise for the next part?

In The Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader learns his past life as Anakin Skywalker and why he turned to the dark side. He comes to understand himself and love through this process.

His journey towards self-understanding parallels Luke's own quest in A New Hope, but goes much deeper because he experiences loss along the way.

But while both characters find happiness, Leia eventually leaves him. This sets up some interesting developments in Return of the Jedi.

Lyrical film analysis

A good lyricist will use rhyme, rhythm, and/or pattern in their writing to add depth and texture to his or her lyrics. Rhyming is definitely not limited to poetry! Using rhymes and patterns in your songs can easily become boring if you do not give it enough consideration.

I’ve seen some music writers who really seem to enjoy using rhymes for what they call “muscle lines.” These are short but powerful rhymes that emphasize a key word in the song. For example, the hook of Katy Perry’s classic hit "Firework" contains the following muscle line: baby / come here / lay down next to me.

A more complex way to write a lyric with rhyme, rhythm, and/or pattern would be to compare two things or people. For instance, the second verse of Taylor Swift's "New Year's Eve (Live at Madison Square Garden)" compares her love for you directly to Christmas.

Ethnographic film analysis

A great way to learn about society is by looking at how people relate in their daily lives. This technique, called ethnography, was first developed in the late 1800s for studying non-industrial cultures. Since then, it has been adapted and expanded to include studies of modern societies.

Ethnographies look into what types of relationships individuals have in certain contexts to see how they are structured and influenced. The main focus is not only on who people interact with, but also how these interactions influence both parties.

A classic example of this is when an anthropologist would watch a movie like Man On Wire or Born To Run to get a sense of what kind of lifestyle someone wanted. Or they might study popular culture such as movies or music to determine what messages and concepts lie behind common practices and beliefs.

These examples show that social scientists use films to understand human nature. By analyzing how individual scenes play out and how they contribute to the plot, researchers can gain insights into how people behave in various situations.

Narrative film analysis

A narrative is an interesting way to look at a movie. It’s not only how well written it is, but also what it says about our society and ourselves. A narrative tells a story with a beginning, middle, and end.

The stories we tell ourselves are important because they can influence how we feel about ourselves, other people, and life in general. The narratives we create for ourselves play a big part in who we believe we are as individuals.

A good example of this is the way most people perceive rich people. Most think that being wealthy means having a lot of money and lots of things. Being rich is mostly about owning things, not being moral or ethical people.

This perception of what makes someone rich is very limiting. It assumes that being wealthy is an external thing - something you possess rather than work hard to achieve. This perspective can discourage people from trying their hardest because it doesn’t seem like them just by having certain things.

Another limitation of this perception is that it promotes individualism over altruism. If we focus more on what we have instead of giving away our possessions, then we start to question if others are investing in us emotionally. We begin to doubt whether or not we matter to those around us.

There is some truth to this idea, but it creates a small-minded mentality.