In order to receive the maximum of 10 extra credit points (or any points at all), your movie review needs to include the following 4 elements.

1) What is the basic story of the movie?
FIRST PARAGRAPH: What is the movie about, when does it take place, who are the main characters, what do they do, and what is the movie’s main story?

2) How does the movie support or refute the THEMES discussed in class?
SECOND PARAGRAPH: You must find a connection to one of the themes for this class and explain it. The movie may agree with one of the themes or it may disagree with one of the themes. In either case, explain your thoughts.

3) Do you think this film was a realistic portrayal of an historical event? Why or why not? Be specific.
THIRD PARAGRAPH: You need to think about what we have been discussing in class and decide whether or not you think this movie is based on actual history, or if Hollywood has changed history to make it more entertaining. It may be a matter of both. In either case, you NEED to give examples from the movie and compare it to real historic events. Your textbook is an excellent source for finding examples.

4) In your opinion, is this movie of any real use to your understanding of US History? Be specific about how and why or why not.
FOURTH PARAGRAPH: Did this movie add to your understanding of history? If so how? If not, why not? Give examples of things that occurred in the movie that you already knew about or learned from.  If you learned nothing, you probably should have picked another movie!

NO EXTRA CREDIT REVIEW ON MOVIES WATCHED IN CLASS
 

                                  Pinkerton's US History Themes

1) “Those who control the present control the past. Those who control the past control the future.” - George Orwell 
2) Fear is a primary motivator for political action.
3) “It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried.” – Winston Churchill
4) “Geography is the canvas upon which history is painted.” - Meriwether Lewis
5) Money has always played a central role in determining who has power and who does not.
6) The media plays a big part in shaping American public policy.
7) The Cold War dominated American politics throughout the late 20th century.
8) Racism is a learned behavior with real consequences.
9) What are the depths to which a society will sink for fuel?
10) State and Federal power relationships continually change.
11) Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

20th Century Film List #2

1950s & McCarty Era/Anti-Communism

Birdman of Alcatraz (NR, 1962): prisoner becomes bird expert

Buddy Holly Story (PG, 1978)

Citizen Cohn (R, 1992): Roy Cohn, a McCarthy aide

Goodbye, Norma Jean (PG-13, 1976): Marilyn Monroe

Guilty by Suspicion (PG-13, 1991)

La Bamba (PG-13, 1987): Ritchie Valens

Last Time I Committed Suicide (R, 1997): Neal Cassady and the Beat Generation

Lenny (R, 1974): political comedian Lenny Bruce

Missiles of October (NR, 1974): Cuban missile crisis

Norma Jean and Marilyn (R, 1996): Marilyn Monroe

Quiz Show (PG-13, 1994): Scandal of rigged television show

Raging Bull (R, 1980): Jake Lamotta, boxer

Somebody Up There Likes Me (NR, 1956): Rocky Graziano, boxer

The Atomic Cafe (NR, 1982): U. S. government attempts to ease fears about the bomb

The Front (PG, 1976): Blacklisting

The Majestic (PG, 2001): Blacklisting (look for Mr. Benbow!)

Why Do Fools Fall In Love (R, 1998): Frankie Lymon

 

Korean War

The Bridges of Toko-Ri (NR, 1954): air force

Inchon (PG, 1981)

Manchurian Candidate (PG-13, 1962): Brainwashing

Mid-Century Figures

The Aviator (PG-13, 2004): Tycoon Howard Hughes

Blaze (R, 1989): Louisiana governor Earl Long

Coal Miner's Daughter (PG, 1980): Singer Loretta Lynn

Elvis (NR, 1979): Elvis Presley

George Wallace (NR, 1997): Segregationist governor

Good Night, and Good Luck (PG, 2005): Journalist Edward R. Murrow, McCarthyism

Melvin and Howard (R, 1980): Tycoon Howard Hughes

Men of Honor (R, 2000): Carl Bashear, first African American Navy Diver

Mommie Dearest (PG, 1981): movie star Joan Crawford

 

Vietnam/Cambodian War

Bat 21 (R, 1988): Rescue mission

Born on the Fourth of July (R, 1989)

Full Metal Jacket (R, 1987)

Good Morning, Vietnam (R, 1987)

Hamburger Hill (R, 1987)

Heaven and Earth (R, 1993): Vietnamese Le Ly Hayslip

The Killing Fields (R, 1984): Civil war in Cambodia

Platoon (R, 1986): Oliver Stone's experience

Rescue Dawn (PG-13, 2006): Escape story based on true story

We Were Soldiers (R, 2002)

 

1960s

Ali (R 2001): Muhammad Ali

Alice's Restaurant (R, 1969): Arlo Guthrie

The Doors (R, 1991): Jim Morrison

Executive Action (PG, 1973): Assassination of Kennedy

The Express (PG, 2008): Color-line busting football star Ernie Davis

Flash of Genius (PG-13, 2008): Inventor battles the auto industry

The Greatest (PG, 1977): Muhammad Ali

The Hurricane (R, 1999): Boxer Reuben Carter

The Right Stuff (PG, 1983): NASA

I Wanna Hold Your Hand (PG, 1978): Beatles

Medium Cool (R, 1969): 1968 Democratic convention riots

Missiles of October (NR, 1973): Cuban missile crisis

The Rose (R, 1979): Janis Joplin

Thirteen Days (PG-13, 2000): Cuban Missile Crisis

Executive Action (PG, 1973): Assassination of Kennedy

JFK (R, 1991): Assassination of Kennedy

Ruby (R, 1992): Jack Ruby/Kennedy assassination

 

1960s - 1970s Civil Rights
 

Freedom Song (NR, 2000)

Ghosts of Mississippi (PG-13, 1996): Killing of Civil Rights activist Medgar Evers

Incident at Oglala (PG-13, 1991): Native American Civil Rights

King (NR, 1978): Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Long Walk Home (PG, 1990): Montgomery bus boycott

Malcolm X (PG-13, 1992)

Mississippi Burning (R, 1988): Killing of civil rights workers; Freedom Summer, 1964

 

1970s

54 (R, 1998): Studio 54 night club

Apollo 13 (PG, 1995): NASA

Brian's Song (G, 1971): Gale Sayers, football

The China Syndrome (PG, 1979): Nuclear plant meltdown

Cider House Rules (PG-13, 1999): Roe v. Wade

The Falcon and Snowman (R, 1985): National security against USSR

Hoffa (R, 1992): Teamsters

Norma Rae (PG, 1979): Forming union for textile workers

Prefontaine (PG-13, 1997): Track star Steve Prefontaine

Sid and Nancy (R, 1986): Sex Pistols music group

Silkwood (1983): nuclear contamination of workers

Velvet Goldmine (R, 1998): David Bowie, Iggy Pop

 

Nixon

All the President's Men (PG, 1976): Watergate

Dick (PG-13, 1999)

Frost/Nixon (R, 2008): Famous interview

Nixon (R, 1995)

Secret Honor (NR, 1984)

 

1980s

The Accused (R, 1988): Rape case

And the Band Played On (R, 1993): AIDS

Barbarians at the Gate (R, 1993): Big business/Nabisco take-over

Charlie Wilson's War (R, 2007): Congressman helps Afghans defeat the Russians

Miracle (PG, 2004): 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team

North Country (R, 2005): First major successful sexual harassment case

Stand and Deliver (PG, 1987): East LA high school

Talk Radio (R, 1988): Radio host Alan Berg

Thunderheart (R, 1992): Native American reservation

What's Love Got to Do With It (R, 1993): Tina Turner

 

Involvement in Central America
 

Missing (PG, 1982): Political prisoner

Romero (PG-13, 1989): Murdered Archbishop of El Salvador

Salvador (R, 1986): El Salvador civil war

 

1990s
 

Arlington Road (R, 1999): Ruby Ridge, Oklahoma City bombing

Behind Enemy Lines (PG-13, 2001): Bosnia

Black Hawk Down (R, 2001): Military mission in Somalia

The Insider (R, 1999): 60 Minutes expose of tobacco industry

Live from Baghdad (NR, 2002): Gulf War and news

 

Late-Century Figures
 

America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy, Jr., Story (NR, 2003)

A Beautiful Mind (PG-13, 2001): John Nash, Nobel Prize winner 1994

Capote (R, 2005): Truman Capote

Erin Brockovich (R, 2000): Whistleblower