Cinema

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Image by Eva Rinaldi. en.wikipedia.org CC BY SA
Do you know the man on this photo? Just read the words behind and you'll guess.

That's right, it's Baz Luhrmann, the director of The Great Gatsby.

This post is about cinema. You will learn vocabulary for talking about and reviewing films. You will also be able to watch an interview with an actor and write a book/film review.

Baz Luhrmann

How much do you know about this director? What other films has he directed? Where is he from? What awards has he received?

Click on this link to find out.

Film glossary
Do you know the meaning of "blockbuster" or "cameo". How about "props"? This is a sample of the vocabulary that you need to know when talking about films.

 Visit this Imdb page to learn film-related words.



Speaking
Think of  a film that you have enjoyed. Make some notes and get ready to talk about it in class.
Watch this interview
Watch Leonardo DiCaprio talk about the film The Great Gatsby.

Before you watch
Look up the meaning of the following words and expressions:
  1. I work my socks off
  2. mirage 
While you watch
Take notes on DiCaprio's answers:
  • Do you feel pressure after you take on a role like this?
  • What does he say about the director, Baz Luhrmann?
  • How do you make things look so effortless?
  • What does he say about Gatsby? and Daisy?

After you watch
  1. Make a list of 5 new words or expressions that DiCaprio uses in his interview.

Watch more interviews
If you would like to watch more cast being interviewed follow this YouTube link.




Reading film reviews by film critics

Have you seen the film? Did you like it? Is it better than the book?

  1. How did American film critics greet the film? Read this article published on The Telegraph article and take notes. 
  2. Read this article by American film critic Charles Moore published on The Telegraph, too.
  3. Do you think that British film critics received the film with great acclaim? Read this article by Philip French published in The Guardian.
Do you agree with the reviews?

Reading film reviews by the public

Read now some reviews by the public on Imdb and compare with the film critics. Who is more positive?

If you would like to read more film reviews, you can visit Rotten Tomatoes.

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