write an 800-1200-word essay that critically examines the content and message of the film Spotlight.

Spotlight Critical Analysis Essay (30 points)
You’ll write an 800-1200-word essay that critically examines the content and message of
the film Spotlight. You’ll deliver your essay to the “Key Assignments” folder on Blackboard.
Keep in mind that a critical analysis is not a movie review. What’s the difference?
A critical analysis is more complex than a movie review. A critical analysis interprets and evaluates
the content of a film, its place in history and its probable effect on viewers. A movie review
documents the reception of the film at the time of its release and places more emphasis on
recommendation than analysis.
A critical analysis essay 1) makes a clear claim (states a thesis), and 2) supports that claim with
evidence. In this case, “evidence’ would include scene descriptions and quotes from the film, facts
or research about the film, or facts and research about the era in which the film takes place or was
made. In the process of making the claim and supporting the claim, the analysis should describe
the film/characters.
Don’t go overboard on the description part of this equation. I don’t want a scene-by-scene narrative
of the events that take place in the movie. Your description of events, characters, etc. should be
efficient and in service to the analysis. In other words, don’t spend two or three paragraphs telling
me what the film is about, then offer one or two paragraphs of analysis. Instead, open with a bold
claim, then get down to business supporting that claim with elements from the film. Or, open with
an attention-grabbing quick description of a key moment (of key dialogue) in the film, then state
your claim, then get down to business supporting that claim.
How should you get started?
Watch the film. Take notes while you watch it. Think about these questions as you watch the film
the first time:
• What’s the film about? What’s the overall story arc?
• What’s the journalistic goal of the main character/s?
• How does this film reflect the purpose and values of accountability journalism or community
journalism?
• What journalistic challenges do the main character/s encounter? These could be reporting
challenges, ethical dilemmas or other challenges and obstacles.
• How does the main character/s deal with these obstacles/challenges?
• What could journalists learn from this situation to do the same, better or differently?
• How does the film portray journalism/journalists? In other words, when a movie-goer
watches this film, what perception of journalism/journalists are they left with?
• What themes or symbols run throughout the film?
• What is the film’s message? What does it say about the characters, society, history?
You can’t write about all the things in the list above in a short 800-1200-word paper. So, now you
must select a focus for your paper. That focus becomes your claim, which sets the course for your
paper.
What’s a claim?
A claim is essentially a thesis. It billboards what your paper is about; it takes a position other people
may dispute; it offers a way to interpret the film. Here are some examples of claims about various
films/TV shows:
• All the President’s Men taps into the lived experiences and ethical values of reporters Carl
Bernstein and Bob Woodward’s Watergate investigation and offers an early vision of what
contemporary journalism’s ethical standards and practices would become.
• Almost Famous isn’t just a love letter to rock and roll, it’s the story of a young journalist
finding his profession’s ethical boundaries by sometimes crossing the line.
• It’s not enough to be right; everyone else must be wrong. That’s what distinguishes the selfrighteous
from the righteous, and that’s what fuels the first episode of HBO’s The
Newsroom.
Need some more direction for this assignment?
Here are a few potential claims a writer could make about the movie Spotlight. You are welcome to
borrow or edit one of these claims for your paper.
• Spotlight makes a strong argument for the necessity of methodical investigative journalism
while also exposing the way community and individual biography shape the reporting
process.
• By meticulously re-presenting the journalists’ investigative process, Spotlight demonstrates
how a professional press gives voice to the powerless and holds the powerful accountable.
• Spotlight makes a formidable statement about the power of a free press, but it also exposes
the culpability of a news organization when it misses or buries a story, and it demonstrates
the power of the press to set agendas in the media.
I have an idea for a claim, now what?
At this point, it’s probably a good idea to watch the film a second time. This time, look for evidence
– quotes, scenes, key moments, historical context – to support your claim. All of the claims written
above can be supported by describing scenes and dialogue from the film and pulling a little
research about the current state of the news media and/or current ethical practices in journalism.
What writing style should I use?
You may write in very short “newsy style” paragraphs. Or, you may write in a more traditional
essay-style with longer paragraphs – this is the style most of you are accustomed to. Whatever you
choose, please avoid purple prose. Purple prose is flowery language decorated with lots of adverbs
and extra words that don’t move the reader forward. The goal is not to impress your readers with
extra words; your goal is to communicate your points with clarity and efficiency. Leverage your
verbs to paint a picture! Verbs paint active images in a reader’s mind’s eye. Verbs help show, not
just tell.