by Patricia McCormick

  • Sold Summary

Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi lives in a remote Himalayan village with her mother, Ama , and her gambling-addicted stepfather. After a drought and monsoon destroy Lakshmi's home and her stepfather gambles away the family's few remaining possessions, Lakshmi's stepfather sells her to a sex trafficker under the guise that Lakshmi will work as a maid. A series of traffickers who pretend to befriend Lakshmi smuggle her across the border into India. She is sold to Happiness House, a brothel run by the tyrannical Aunty Mumtaz . Mumtaz beats, starves, and drugs Lakshmi until she submits to prostituting herself. Mumtaz promises Lakshmi will be released from the brothel and return home once she repays her ten-thousand rupee debt.

Lakshmi befriends the other women in the brothel, including Shahanna , a kindhearted girl from Nepal; Anita , a woman whose face is disfigured after a brutal assault by Mumtaz's henchmen; and Pushpa , an ill mother of two who entered Happiness House after her husband's death. Lakshmi's friends teach her how to survive in the brothel, warning her against venereal diseases and American customers. Lakshmi distracts herself from near-constant abuse by daydreaming of home and watching television.

One day, Pushpa's eight-year-old son Harish offers to teach Lakshmi Hindi and English. During their lessons, Lakshmi pretends she is back in school, repeating the English phrase, "My name is Lakshmi. I am from Nepal. I am thirteen years old," until she perfects it. Later, an American posing as a customer visits Happiness House and asks Lakshmi if she wants to leave. Since Lakshmi is too afraid to answer him, the man leaves a card with the name and number of a women's shelter. Though Lakshmi does not trust the American, she hides the card.

A series of upsets befall the brothel. Shahanna is taken away during a police raid, and Monica , the brothel's movie-star-obsessed highest earner, contracts HIV. Pushpa becomes too sick to continue working for Mumtaz, so she and her two children leave the brothel. Shilpa , Mumtaz's assistant, reveals that Mumtaz does not send money back to Lakshmi's family and has no intention of releasing Lakshmi from slavery.

Another American aid worker visits the brothel. He takes Lakshmi's photo and shows her photographs of girls living in a shelter for victims of child sex trafficking. He promises to return for Lakshmi. While Lakshmi waits, she begins to hope that she might return home, and her exploitation becomes unbearable. The American does return, along with the police. The story ends with Lakshmi proclaiming, "My name is Lakshmi. I am from Nepal. I am fourteen years old."

GradeSaver will pay $15 for your literature essays

Sold Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Sold is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why does Ama wait a full year before marking the birth of a child on her wedding day?

Ama waits a full year because four of her children died before they were one-year-old.

What does this foreshadow regarding Lakshmi’s current situation?

What does "what" foreshadow regarding Lakshmi's situation.

Discuss the vignette (chapter) entitled “Everything I Need to Know” (p. 15). What do you think of the cultural mandates that she must live by?

In this section we learn that a women's lives must be lived in service to men, specifically, their husbands. Women may not eat with their husbands. They must sit and watch their husbands eat, taking care of and serving them throughout the meal....

Study Guide for Sold

Sold study guide contains a biography of Patricia McCormick, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • Character List

Essays for Sold

Sold essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Sold by Patricia McCormick.

  • Thematic Analysis of A Long Way Gone and Sold

Wikipedia Entries for Sold

  • Introduction
  • Awards and honors

sold movie essay

We use cookies to enhance our website for you. Proceed if you agree to this policy or learn more about it.

  • Essay Database >
  • Essay Examples >
  • Essays Topics >
  • Essay on Business

Essay On The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Business , Cinema , Products , Placement , Movies , Product , Marketing , Movie

Published: 03/08/2023

ORDER PAPER LIKE THIS

Marketing and Advertising techniques have been the focus of both and negative feedbacks from the quarters, and with the advent of the digital media and in the cut throat dynamics of this business era, new and innovative marketing tools have been used to develop and sustain a competitive edge. The movie in question ‘The Greatest Movie Ever Sold’, the documentary by Morgan Spurlock, attempted to discuss and elaborate the concept of the marketing tool, Product Placement in movies and films, and ironically, the movie was totally funded by brands with product placement in view of the promotional aspect, with the focus on ingeniously showcasing in a humorous manner the dark secrets of the film industry and how the big brands’ impact on the success of a movie. After watching the movie, the first thing that hit you is, the overriding notion in relation to showcasing, marketing in a bad light, but in an enjoyable manner, the movie is all about the commonness of advertising in films. Spurlock’s humor to castigate product placement, can be gauged from the fact that, the movie includes three ads of 30 seconds, besides showcasing the promotional products in every scene of the movie and also showcasing different examples of the product placements in various movies. The movie is not all about documenting the issue of product placement; it also focuses on the important subject matter of the utilization of advertising as a major part of the lifestyle. From a personal viewpoint, one thing has to be taken into account is that it is not marketing that is the culprit; rather, it is the people who manage marketing in different sectors, responsible for acting irresponsibly and in spite of disagreeing with the premise of the movie, it has discussed on some important pointers one being regarding the decrease in budgets in a recession, when the need is there to connect with consumers more to create demand. Product placement is an effective marketing tool, and this is in view of the successful results for brands by adopting the marketing tool on a strategic level, one of the main premises of the advertisers to use product placement as tool was the new age digital devices that have the option of forwarding and not watching the ads, and thus, embedded marketing is utilized to be able to create a subliminal connect with the target consumers. Reese’s Pieces sales went up 65% after its placement in E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and similarly, Red Stripe sales increased to 50% after its placement in The Firm, thus reiterating the power of the product placement as a major marketing tool having an impact on the bottom line if the businesses (Zimmerman, 2013).   The marketing technique, of using product placement, is ethical in view of the writer, since consumers get a dose of realism when they see their favorite products and services being part of a movie or sitcom, it does have its fair share of critics, who see this tool as a violation and intrusion of the artistic ability to tell a story in a compelling manner, without the corporate burden. The usage of Dunkin Donuts in Good Will Hunting is another illustration, to conclude, the world that we live in is branded and to be able to connect with the consumers in an effective manner that matters in achieving the most primary objective of any business, i.e., sales, are praiseworthy (Wandering Rocks, 2014).

Wandering Rocks. (2014). The ethics of Product Placement. Retrieved from https://wanderingrocks.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/the-ethics-of-product-placement/ Zimmerman, I. (2013). Product Placement Can Be A Lot More Powerful Than We Realize. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sold/201303/product-placement-can-be-lot-more-powerful-we-realize

double-banner

Cite this page

Share with friends using:

Removal Request

Removal Request

Finished papers: 524

This paper is created by writer with

ID 256342974

If you want your paper to be:

Well-researched, fact-checked, and accurate

Original, fresh, based on current data

Eloquently written and immaculately formatted

275 words = 1 page double-spaced

submit your paper

Get your papers done by pros!

Other Pages

Advertising movie reviews, russell lincoln ackoff essay sample, market product segmentation and positioning report samples, boko haram exemplar term paper to follow, strategic report on amazon report examples, problem statement a top quality case study for your inspiration, good organizational members essay example, perfect model essay on ethics and organizational strategies, free conflict theory critical thinking top quality sample to follow, essay on cause, free essay on eliminating challenges and strengthening the virtual supply chain, a levelessay on review for free use, research paper on trusses, example of complete exam using textbook 13th edition question answer, networks and healthcare essay sample, free book review on hhs 307 1, a levelessay on corporate governance and regulations for free use, good report on failed projects, sample research paper on galaxy skis, case study on recreational living limited case study, learn to craft critical thinkings on an effective revision strategy would be allowing others to read my work as i write it with this example, sample capstone project on multi drug resistant rocky mountain spotted fever, domestic and international terrorism research paper to use for practical writing help, expertly written essay on envs100 to follow, evaluating current trends in family essay examples, confidence in findings example essay by an expert writer to follow, essay on heart disease, the problems of the public sphere essay you might want to emulate, example of controlling project risks essay, examine your organizational structure to see what might be causing these problems essays example, draw topic writing ideas from this essay on ethics 2, drugs exemplar research paper to follow, free leadership research papers princess diana research paper sample, a levelcase study on the great depression for free use, good essay on small business, expertly written article review on testing the relationships between nationalism and racism to follow, expertly crafted essay on economic and political ideologies, oolong essays, alpers essays, copt essays, physiological psychology essays, pap test essays, blood ties essays.

Password recovery email has been sent to [email protected]

Use your new password to log in

You are not register!

By clicking Register, you agree to our Terms of Service and that you have read our Privacy Policy .

Now you can download documents directly to your device!

Check your email! An email with your password has already been sent to you! Now you can download documents directly to your device.

or Use the QR code to Save this Paper to Your Phone

The sample is NOT original!

Short on a deadline?

Don't waste time. Get help with 11% off using code - GETWOWED

No, thanks! I'm fine with missing my deadline

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors.

sold movie essay

Now streaming on:

The girl is 13 years old from a small mountain village in Nepal, but we know she is about to be trafficked as a sexual slave within minutes of the opening scenes of "Sold," an arresting film based on Patricia McCormick's novel which puts the spotlight on a horrible truth hiding in plain sight: millions of children are trafficked all over the world in a multi-billion dollar underground industry.

"Sold," co-written and directed by Oscar winner Jeffrey D. Brown and executive produced by Emma Thompson , is based on the true stories of young victims unwittingly sold into prostitution. Their tales are coalesced into one narrative, intimately told. The opening scenes are lovely; a carefree young girl named Lakshmi is seen flying a kite, and running happily through the hills above her village home, the Himalayas in the distance and joyful music rippling in the background. Later, her mother brushes her hair and prepares dinner in the family's hut by firelight; we catch a glimpse of Lakshmi's eyes glittering at the sight of fancy jewelry from the big city. Later, such luxuries seem even more remote when the rains come and the roof leaks, and the crops are ruined. Though we know what's coming, it's not exactly clear her family does when Auntie Bimla ( Tillotama Shome ) shows up with the promise of work as a maid in the big city to help the family survive. 

Indian actress Niyar Saikia (14 years old during filming) plays Lakshmi with fearless candor and warmth. We are already fearful for her as she boards a train, then a bus, and literally crosses the bridge into a large and dangerous world, the streets and people crowding in on her. Then she arrives at Happiness House in Kolkata, India—a brothel. Shot on location in Nepal and India, the film gives us a vibrant, tangible sense of place, the color and dust of a crowded ancient city, and the layers of secrecy and corruption under which Lakshmi and those like her are trapped. 

The film does an excellent job of letting us inside Lakshmi's physical and emotional experience. We are with her step by step, as the creeping awareness of what she does not know begins to dawn on her; we can be one step ahead, but barely. As she struggles to trust and please those she encounters, Lakshmi senses that something is wrong, especially upon meeting Mumtaz ( Sushmita Mukherjee ), a sinister surrogate for the kindly mother she left behind, who has armed her with the wisdom that will be both her undoing and her salvation: "All happiness comes from thinking of others, misery from thinking of yourself." 

Lakshmi is mentally and physically ripe in every way for her predators, and we understand it. The next scenes are almost unbearable to watch but must be seen to be believed—and dare I say, witnessed—on behalf of those who experience these atrocities daily all over the world. Lakshmi is imprisoned, beaten, drugged, and repeatedly raped, until she acquiesces. Resisting, running away, or compromising the secrecy of the brothel results in grotesque brutalization. 

Amazingly, theses scenes are rendered graphically enough to convey the horror of what happens, but don't violate the character's or the actress's dignity. Lakshmi's intelligence and spirit help her survive and forge relationships with the other women in the house, many of whom have been there for years, trying to pay off the bogus "debts" that Mumtaz extracts. We begin to learn bits and pieces from their stories, and they are sketched vividly enough to give the film believable texture and a wider lens on this kind of enslavement.  

What the movie does not do well is integrate the congruent story of an undercover team of investigators hot on the trail of sex traffickers in order to bring them to justice. Gillian Anderson plays Sophia, a photographer documenting these events with the endless click of her camera. David Arquette plays Sam, the investigator who infiltrates the brothel. It's barely worth mentioning their names since they hardly register as characters and are given little to do except swoop in, deus ex machina, in an effort to save the day. But perhaps the presence of these stars in the film helped get it made and will also help get it seen.

The film would have survived without them, but would not perhaps have fulfilled its baldly obvious mission as a call to action. The simultaneous narratives are not a comfortable fit, but given how worthy the subject matter, how movingly played, and how well intentioned, it's tricky to complain. "Sold" puts a spotlight on the ways in which the depraved and greedy prey upon the world's most vulnerable, impoverished families and their children who are dependent on the rest of us to see—and not sell them short.

Joyce Kulhawik

Joyce Kulhawik

Joyce Kulhawik, best known as the Emmy Award-winning Arts and Entertainment Critic for CBS-Boston (WBZ-TV 1981-2008), co-hosted the syndicated movie-review show "Hot Ticket" and was a continuing co-host on "Roger Ebert & The Movies." Look for her review online at JoycesChoices.com.

Now playing

sold movie essay

Brian Tallerico

sold movie essay

The Peasants

Tomris laffly.

sold movie essay

Monica Castillo

sold movie essay

Film Credits

Sold movie poster

Sold (2016)

Rated PG-13

Gillian Anderson as Sophia

David Arquette as Sam

Seema Biswas as Amma

Tillotama Shome as Bimla

Sushmita Mukherjee as Mumtaz

Ankur Vikal as Varun

Priyanka Bose as Monica

Parambrata Chatterjee as Vikram

Neerja Naik as Anita

  • Jeffrey D. Brown

Writer (novel)

  • Patricia McCormick
  • Joseph Kwong
  • Rick LeCompte

Cinematographer

  • Jehangir Choudhary
  • Seamus Tierney
  • John McDowell

Latest blog posts

sold movie essay

Berlin Film Festival 2024: Small Things Like These, Crossing, Cuckoo

sold movie essay

America’s Greatest Threat? A New Documentary Argues It’s Christian Nationalism

sold movie essay

Spirit Awards 2024: A Platform for Essential Independent Films

sold movie essay

Our Opinion of Crossroads Hasn’t Changed, Our Feelings About Britney Spears Have

Advertisement

Supported by

Movie Review | 'The Greatest Movie Ever Sold'

The Hidden Persuaders Come Out in Full Force

  • Share full article

sold movie essay

By Stephen Holden

  • April 21, 2011

Morgan Spurlock could sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. After watching his documentary “Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” I could imagine this charming red-headed 40-year-old filmmaker raking in money as a door-to-door salesman of crummy encyclopedias in the slums of Philadelphia or as a pitchman in an infomercial peddling a flimsy abdominal toner. He could probably earn millions as a motivational speaker.

For what Mr. Spurlock says matters less than the way he says it. Cocky with an undertone of ironic self-deprecation that forestalls accusations of insincerity, he is a superb promoter of himself as a brand. In “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” he may look ridiculous wearing clothes plastered with corporate logos, but he lets us in on the joke.

“Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” is even more amusing than “Super Size Me,” the documentary that put Mr. Spurlock on the moviemaking map in 2004. In that film he jeopardized his own health by restricting himself for a month to an all-McDonald’s diet. By the end of his experiment his numbers (weight, cholesterol and blood pressure) had shot up to potentially dangerous levels.

Like “Super Size Me” his new film is a documentary comedy in the Michael Moore mode but without a political or moral agenda. Mr. Spurlock has Mr. Moore’s prankster’s instincts, though not his sense of outrage. Exploring product placement in movies and on television, the documentary is as much celebration as it is a critique of what is called co-promotion, in which movies like “Spider-Man 2” are infiltrated with images of brand-name products that pay for the exposure. If “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” affects the attitude of an exposé, Mr. Spurlock is really a gleeful participant in the corruption (if that’s what you want to call it) that his movie purports to criticize.

The conceptual joke is that the entire project was financed by conspicuously placed products in a film that is little more than a string of ads for its sponsors, stitched together with scenes of Mr. Spurlock hustling like crazy to line them up. Brief appearances by Noam Chomsky and Ralph Nader lend it a frisson of cultural and intellectual weight.

Mr. Spurlock hits the jackpot with Pom Wonderful, the pomegranate juice that markets itself as an antioxidant and that is supposed to have a Viagra effect if you drink enough of it. For $1 million, Pom Wonderful earned the privilege of having its name on the marquee in front of the title of this $1.5 million film. At the screening I attended small bottles of the juice were distributed in gift bags with other items from sponsors.

For Mr. Spurlock to get his million his contract with Pom Wonderful stipulates that the movie must gross $10 million at the box office (high for a documentary), sell 500,000 DVDs and downloads, and generate 600 million “media impressions.”

Other products prominently featured include Merrell shoes, JetBlue, Hyatt, Sheetz convenience stores, and (mostly bizarrely) Mane ’n Tail, a shampoo marketed to equestrians for use by both humans and horses. Of all the film’s comedic ads the funniest finds Mr. Spurlock sharing a bathtub with a tiny pony.

His idea for a “doc-buster” supported by corporate sponsors, he says, was a tough sell. Telephone calls to several hundred companies are met with indifference and sometimes suspicion, which is not surprising because “Super Size Me,” for all its humor, attacked McDonald’s.

Finally Ban deodorant invites Mr. Spurlock to a meeting where he works his fast-talking magic. More than once the movie shows Mr. Spurlock, armed with clever storyboards, selling his ideas with an enthusiasm and skill that would put Don Draper of “Mad Men” to shame.

The actual product placements in which Mr. Spurlock is shown plugging the sponsors who eventually sign on to the project are so outrageous that you want to laugh. Here the insidious “hidden persuaders” of Vance Packard ’s book on subliminal advertising are gaudily on display.

The movie takes two tangents: one productive, the other mystifying. A visit to São Paulo, Brazil, where outdoor advertising has been banned, is almost shocking for the absence of Times Square-style signs. If the city looks pure without such visual stimulation, it also seems naked and poor.

The movie, which keeps a sprinting momentum, suddenly reaches a dead halt in a section that debates putting advertising in budget-strapped Florida public schools and on school buses to raise money. If the sequence belongs anywhere, it would be in a movie about paying for public education, not advertising.

What would “The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” be with a different narrator-guide?

It is hard to imagine. Mr. Spurlock has the gift of gab along with an undeniable star quality. In fact I’ve already ordered the ab toner and am saving up for a down payment on the Brooklyn Bridge should he offer it up for sale.

“Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold” is rated PG-13 (Parents strongly cautioned). It has some language and sexual material.

POM WONDERFUL PRESENTS:

THE GREATEST MOVIE EVER SOLD

Opens on Friday in New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Washington; Boston; Philadelphia; San Diego; Phoenix; and Austin, Tex.

Directed by Morgan Spurlock; written by Jeremy Chilnick and Mr. Spurlock; director of photography, Daniel Marracino; edited by Thomas M. Vogt; music by Jon Spurney; produced by Mr. Chilnick, Abbie Hurewitz, Mr. Spurlock, Keith Calder and Jessica Wu; released by Sony Pictures Classics. Running time: 1 hour 28 minutes.

Explore More in TV and Movies

Not sure what to watch next we can help..

The streaming platform Tubi may be best known for its selection of bad movies, characterized by low-budget aesthetics, horrible acting and worse special effects. But boy are they fun to watch .

The Netflix documentary “The Greatest Night in Pop” revels in nostalgia, spotlighting the relationships between the pop superstars who recorded “We Are the World.”

Jon Stewart returned to “The Daily Show,”  the Comedy Central news satire he turned into a cultural force before leaving in August 2015, but you might not like what he has to tell you, our critic writes .

Francesca Sloane, the showrunner of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” based on the 2005 film of the same name, has made the movie’s famously flawless heroes fallible  in the new Amazon series.

If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings   on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime  and Hulu  to make choosing your next binge a little easier.

Sign up for our Watching newsletter  to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.

  • How It Works
  • Topic Generator
  • United States
  • View all categories

sold movie essay

"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" by Morgan Spurlock Paper Example

1. summarize the purpose of this 'movie"..

Media in the recent age is an inevitable element for successful marketing. The movie "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" by Morgan Spurlock is a satire documentary presenting brand selection, product placement, marketing, and advertisement. Through product placement, Spurlock can secure sponsorship for the movie. The movie revolves around the slogan "He's not selling out, he's buying in" The primary purpose for this film was to sell the idea by Spurlock on the essence of using particular products in the Hollywood movies as a form of marketing. Through the help of the used products, Spurlock can fully fund the movie production showing the importance of advertisement in media technology as presented in traditional livelihood. Spurlock goes bout with his daily activities laying emphasizes on the use and dependence on certain products as a marketing or advertisement strategy.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

2. How does the movie portray product placement?

Product placement in the movie "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" is portrayed on the essence of film production funding. With the advertisement element on product placement, Spurlock makes it the central focus of the movie. In the movie, Spurlock can portray product placement as a principal element in making film production in Hollywood to be advertisement oriented. Through the partnership between the filmmakers and the ad companies, more people can receive more access to advertised and marketed products and services as presented in the movie. Therefore, utilization of the elements of product placement helps Spurlock produce his marketing and advertisement idea with the help of different companies through partnership in product placement throughout the movie (Holden, 2011). In the placement, he can drive the point home to the audience on the essence of using certain products as a way of livelihood.

3. The movie talks about being a "sell out"...what is a sell out in your opinion?

In Morgan Spurlock's movie "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" the theme "sell out" is developed in the philosophy that marketing partnership helps sell out the filmmaker's idea. The collaboration between the movie maker and the product sponsors helps sell out their collective interests to come up with mutual benefits from the full funding of the film and the exposure of the product ads to the target customers watching the use and marketing of certain products by Hollywood stars increasing their popularity.

4. How do you feel about product placement and this type of advertising?

Product placement as the primary form of advertisement is an enticing was of reaching target market potential and increasing product popularity because this form of ads goes beyond the standard commercials that are brief. Through product placement in movies and other essential scenarios in life helps boost the demand of certain products to the potential customers because they can associate with the actors that are in constant use of particular product throughout the movie. Product placement is thus a better method of advertisement because it gets a better clinch on target clients reality about certain products use to realize the advantages and disadvantages. For instance, when during the movie Spurlock sticks to use of McDonald products, he concludes on the dangers of overdependence on fast foods to human health.

5. List some possible reasons why several of the companies did not want their product in the movie.

Some companies would not want their products to be featured in the move because they do not want to invest in the funding of the film as a form of advertising and marketing strategy for fear of negative publicity. Others will not want to associate their products with the movie because they are not content with this method of ad as the most productive because Spurlock makes both negative and positive publicity of the use of certain products to create awareness of the potential use of this products unlike orthodox marketing and advertisement that only publicize the positive attributes of the products being introduced to the marketplace.

Works cited

Holden, Stephen (April 21, 2011). "Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011) - NYT Critics' Pick". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-09-30.

The Greatest Movie Ever Sold http://www.boxoffice.com/statistics/movies/pom-wonderfuls-greatest-movie-ever-sold-2011.

Cite this page

"The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" by Morgan Spurlock Paper Example. (2022, Sep 11). Retrieved from https://proessays.net/essays/the-greatest-movie-ever-sold-by-morgan-spurlock-paper-example

so we do not vouch for their quality

If you are the original author of this essay and no longer wish to have it published on the ProEssays website, please click below to request its removal:

  • Wolfgang Mozart Biographical Essay
  • Essay on Jack is a Minotaur, and The Overlook is a Labyrinth
  • Research Paper on Disney and Propaganda
  • Fourth Dimension: Digital Communication Technology Essay
  • Apocalyptic Narratives in Movies - Research Paper
  • Article Analysis Essay on Understanding a Photograph
  • Free Report on Unlocking Success: Google's Online Marketing Triumph for Oct8 Fashion

Liked this essay sample but need an original one?

Hire a professional with VAST experience and 25% off!

24/7 online support

NO plagiarism

Submit your request

Sorry, but it's not possible to copy the text due to security reasons.

Would you like to get this essay by email?

Interested in this essay?

Get it now!

Unfortunately, you can’t copy samples. Solve your problem differently! Provide your email for sample delivery

You agree to receive our emails and consent to our Terms & Conditions

Sample is in your inbox

Avoid editing or writing from scratch! Order original essay online with 25% off. Delivery in 6+ hours!

How Can I Write an Essay About a Movie? Image

How Can I Write an Essay About a Movie?

By Film Threat Staff | May 23, 2023

Watching movies for a long time has been a major past-time for most individuals. The people expect to sit in front of their screens and get thrilled into a world of adventure, mystery, and wonder.

But how can you gauge your appreciation and understanding of filmmaking? Writing an essay about a movie is one way of showing your grasp of the content.

Movie analysis is a common assignment for most college students. It is an intricate task where every detail matters while tied together to form a part of the story.

A part of the assignment involves watching a particular movie and writing an essay about your overall impression of the movie.

Essay writing services such as WriteMyEssay show that more than rewatching a movie several times is needed to make up for a solid movie analysis essay. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to write your movie analysis:

What Is a Movie Essay?

sold movie essay

The world of literature is multifaceted while testing different attributes of students. A movie analysis essay, at its core, seeks to uncover the hidden layers of meaning within the cinema world.

A movie analysis essay is much more than a movie review that seeks to delve into the artistry behind filmmaking. Thus, it seeks to test a student’s prowess in understanding various elements that come together to form a meaningful cinematic experience.

The main purpose of movie analysis essays is to dissect different components employed by a film in making a unique and impactful storyline.

Students can appreciate the filmmaking process’s complexities by analyzing these different elements. Also, students can develop a keen eye for the nuances that elevate a movie from entertainment to a work of art.

Here are top tips by experts when writing an essay about a particular movie during your assignments:

1. Watch the Movie

The first obvious standpoint for writing an essay about any movie is watching the film. Watching the movie builds an important foundation for the writing exercise. Composing an insightful, compelling, and well-thought movie essay requires you to experience it.

Therefore, select an appropriate environment to watch the movie free from distractions. Moreover, immerse yourself in the full movie experience to absorb all the intricate details. Some critical elements to note down include:

  • Characterization
  • Cinematography

We recommend watching the movie several times in case the time element allows. Rewatching the film deepens your understanding of the movie while uncovering unnoticed details on the first take.

2. Write an Introduction

The introductory paragraph to your movie essay should contain essential details of the movie, such as:

  • Release date
  • Name of the director
  • Main actors

Moreover, start with a captivating hook to entice readers to keep reading. You can start with a memorable quote from one of the characters.

For example, released in 1976 and Directed by Martin Scorsese, ‘The Taxi Driver’ starring Robert De Niro as the eccentric taxi driver.’

sold movie essay

After writing an enticing introduction, it is time to summarize what you watched. A summary provides readers with a clear understanding of the movie’s plot and main events. Hence, your readers can have a foundation for the rest of your movie essay.

Writing a summary need to be concise. The entire movie essay should be brief and straight to the point. Ensure to capture the main arguments within the movie’s plot. However, avoid going into too many details. Just focus on giving concise information about the movie.

4. Start Writing

The next vital part is forming the analysis part. This is where the analysis delves deeply into the movie’s themes, cinematography, characters, and other related elements.

First, start by organizing your analysis clearly and logically. Each section or paragraph should concentrate on a particular aspect of the film. Ensure to incorporate important elements such as cinematography, character development, and symbolism.

In addition, analyze different techniques employed by filmmakers. Take note of stylistic choices, including editing, sound, cinematography, imagery, and allegory. This helps contribute to the overall impact and meaning.

Lastly, connect your analysis to the thesis statement. Ensure all arguments captured in your analysis tie together to the main argument. It should maintain a straight focus throughout your essay.

Remember to re-state your thesis while summarizing previously mentioned arguments innovatively and creatively when finishing up your movie essay. Lastly, you can recommend your reader to watch the movie.

Final Takeaway

The writing process should be a fun, demanding, and engaging assignment. Try these tips from experts in structuring and logically organizing your essay.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Murder Mystery 2 image

Murder Mystery 2

NOW ON NETFLIX! The road of excess leads to the palace of popcorn butter in director Jeremy Garelick's sumptuous sequel Murder Mystery 2. The screenplay...

A Story of Survival in Rural Thailand image

A Story of Survival in Rural Thailand

 Thailand’s national sport, Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), is among the most popular sports in the country and is an integral part of modern MMA fighting....

Netflix Series: Hurts Like Hell image

Netflix Series: Hurts Like Hell

If you're looking for a unique blend of drama inspired by true events and a documentary-style series about sports, Netflix’s "Hurts Like Hell" is...

Line of Fire image

Line of Fire

Anti-heroes come in all different forms, but my favorite has to be The Punisher, best represented on screen thus far by the Netflix series starring Jon...

You People image

NOW ON NETFLIX! You People stars Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Nia Long, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus, with Hill serving as producer. He also wrote the screenplay...

Nollywood: The World’s Fastest-Growing Film Industry image

Nollywood: The World’s Fastest-Growing Film Industry

With over $6.4 billion in revenue and more than 2,500 movies per year, Nigeria’s film industry is taking the world by storm. Nollywood, the Nigerian film...

Join our Film Threat Newsletter

Become a Writer Today

Essays About Movies: 7 Examples and 5 Writing Prompts

Check out our guide with essays about movies for budding videographers and artistic students. Learn from our helpful list of examples and prompts.

Watching movies is a part of almost everyone’s life. They entertain us, teach us lessons, and even help us socialize by giving us topics to talk about with others. As long as movies have been produced, everyone has patronized them.  Essays about movies  are a great way to learn all about the meaning behind the picture.

Cinema is an art form in itself. The lighting, camera work, and acting in the most widely acclaimed movies are worthy of praise. Furthermore, a movie can be used to send a message, often discussing issues in contemporary society. Movies are entertaining, but more importantly, they are works of art. If you’re interested in this topic, check out our round-up of screenwriters on Instagram .

5 Helpful Essay Examples 

1. the positive effects of movies on human behaviour by ajay rathod, 2. horror movies by emanuel briggs, 3. casablanca – the greatest hollywood movie ever (author unknown).

  • 4.  Dune Review: An Old Story Reshaped For The New 2021 Audience by Oren Cohen

5. Blockbuster movies create booms for tourism — and headaches for locals by Shubhangi Goel

  • 6. Moonage Daydream: “Who Is He? What Is He?” by Jonathan Romney
  • 7. La Bamba: American Dreaming, Chicano Style by Yolanda Machado

1. My Favorite Movie

2. movies genres, 3. special effects in movies, 4. what do you look for in a movie, 5. the evolution of movies.

“​​Films encourage us to take action. Our favourite characters, superheroes, teach us life lessons. They give us ideas and inspiration to do everything for the better instead of just sitting around, waiting for things to go their way. Films about famous personalities are the perfect way to affect social behaviour positively. Films are a source of knowledge. They can help learn what’s in the trend, find out more about ancient times, or fill out some knowledge gaps.”

In this movie essay, Rathod gives readers three ways watching movies can positively affect us. Movie writers, producers, and directors use their platform to teach viewers life skills, the importance of education, and the contrast between good and evil. Watching movies can also help us improve critical thinking, according to Briggs. Not only do movies entertain us, but they also have many educational benefits. You might also be interested in these  essays about consumerism .

“Many people involving children and adults can effect with their sleeping disturbance and anxiety. Myths, non-realistic, fairy tales could respond differently with being in the real world. Horror movies bring a lot of excitement and entertainment among you and your family. Horror movies can cause physical behavior changes in a person by watching the films. The results of watching horror movies shows that is has really effect people whether you’re an adult, teens, and most likely happens during your childhood.”

In his essay, Briggs acknowledges why people enjoy horror movies so much but warns of their adverse effects on viewers. Most commonly, they cause viewers nightmares, which may cause anxiety and sleep disorders. He focuses on the films’ effects on children, whose more sensitive, less developed brains may respond with worse symptoms, including major trauma. The films can affect all people negatively, but children are the most affected.

“This was the message of Casablanca in late 1942. It was the ideal opportunity for America to utilize its muscles and enter the battle. America was to end up the hesitant gatekeeper of the entire world. The characters of Casablanca, similar to the youthful Americans of the 1960s who stick headed the challenge development, are ‘genuine Americans’ lost in a hostile region, battling to open up another reality.”

In this essay, the author discusses the 1942 film  Casablanca , which is said to be the greatest movie ever made, and explains why it has gotten this reputation. To an extent, the film’s storyline, acting, and even relatability (it was set during World War II) allowed it to shine from its release until the present. It invokes feelings of bravery, passion, and nostalgia, which is why many love the movie. You can also check out these  books about adaption . 

4.   Dune Review: An Old Story Reshaped For The New 2021 Audience by Oren Cohen

“Lady Jessica is a powerful woman in the original book, yet her interactions with Paul diminish her as he thinks of her as slow of thought. Something we don’t like to see in 2021 — and for a good reason. Every book is a product of its time, and every great storyteller knows how to adapt an old story to a new audience. I believe Villeneuve received a lot of hate from diehard Dune fans for making these changes, but I fully support him.”

Like the previous essay, Cohen reviews a film, in this case, Denis Villeneuve’s  Dune , released in 2021. He praises the film, writing about its accurate portrayal of the epic’s vast, dramatic scale, music, and, interestingly, its ability to portray the characters in a way more palatable to contemporary audiences while staying somewhat faithful to the author’s original vision. Cohen enjoyed the movie thoroughly, saying that the movie did the book justice. 

“Those travelers added around 630 million New Zealand dollars ($437 million) to the country’s economy in 2019 alone, the tourism authority told CNBC. A survey by the tourism board, however, showed that almost one in five Kiwis are worried that the country attracts too many tourists. Overcrowding at tourist spots, lack of infrastructure, road congestion and environmental damage are creating tension between locals and visitors, according to a 2019 report by Tourism New Zealand.”

The locations where successful movies are filmed often become tourist destinations for fans of those movies. Goel writes about how “film tourism” affects the residents of popular filming locations. The environment is sometimes damaged, and the locals are caught off guard. Though this is not always the case, film tourism is detrimental to the residents and ecosystem of these locations. You can also check out these  essays about The Great Gatsby .

6. Moonage Daydream:  “Who Is He? What Is He?” by Jonathan Romney

“Right from the start, Brett Morgen’s  Moonage Daydream  (2022) catches us off guard. It begins with an epigraph musing on Friedrich Nietzsche’s proclamation that “God is dead,” then takes us into deep space and onto the surface of the moon. It then unleashes an image storm of rockets, robots, and star-gazers, and rapid-fire fragments of early silent cinema, 1920s science fiction, fifties cartoons, and sixties and seventies newsreel footage, before lingering on a close-up of glittery varnish on fingernails.” 

Moonage Daydream  is a feature film containing never-before-seen footage of David Bowie. In this essay, Romney delves into the process behind creating the movie and how the footage was captured. It also looks at the director’s approach to creating a structured and cohesive film, which took over two years to plan. This essay looks at how Bowie’s essence was captured and preserved in this movie while displaying the intricacies of his mind.

7. La Bamba:  American Dreaming, Chicano Style by Yolanda Machado

“A traumatic memory, awash in hazy neutral tones, arising as a nightmare. Santo & Johnny’s mournful “Sleep Walk” playing. A sudden death, foreshadowing the passing of a star far too young. The opening sequence of Luis Valdez’s  La Bamba  (1987) feels like it could be from another film—what follows is largely a celebration of life and music.”

La Bamba  is a well-known movie about a teenage Mexican migrant who became a rock ‘n’ roll star. His rise to fame is filled with difficult social dynamics, and the star tragically dies in a plane crash at a young age. In this essay, Machado looks at how the tragic death of the star is presented to the viewer, foreshadowing the passing of the young star before flashing back to the beginning of the star’s career. Machado analyses the storyline and directing style, commenting on the detailed depiction of the young star’s life. It’s an in-depth essay that covers everything from plot to writing style to direction.

5 Prompts for Essays About Movies

Simple and straightforward, write about your favorite movie. Explain its premise, characters, and plot, and elaborate on some of the driving messages and themes behind the film. You should also explain why you enjoy the movie so much: what impact does it have on you? Finally, answer this question in your own words for an engaging piece of writing.

From horror to romance, movies can fall into many categories. Choose one of the main genres in cinema and discuss the characteristics of movies under that category. Explain prevalent themes, symbols, and motifs, and give examples of movies belonging to your chosen genre. For example, horror movies often have underlying themes such as mental health issues, trauma, and relationships falling apart. 

Without a doubt, special effects in movies have improved drastically. Both practical and computer-generated effects produce outstanding, detailed effects to depict situations most would consider unfathomable, such as the vast space battles of the  Star Wars  movies. Write about the development of special effects over the years, citing evidence to support your writing. Be sure to detail key highlights in the history of special effects. 

Movies are always made to be appreciated by viewers, but whether or not they enjoy them varies, depending on their preferences. In your essay, write about what you look for in a “good” movie in terms of plot, characters, dialogue, or anything else. You need not go too in-depth but explain your answers adequately. In your opinion, you can use your favorite movie as an example by writing about the key characteristics that make it a great movie.

Essays About Movies: The evolution of movies

From the silent black-and-white movies of the early 1900s to the vivid, high-definition movies of today, times have changed concerning movies. Write about how the film industry has improved over time. If this topic seems too broad, feel free to focus on one aspect, such as cinematography, themes, or acting.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the  best essay checkers .

If you’re looking for more ideas, check out our  essays about music topic guide !

sold movie essay

Meet Rachael, the editor at Become a Writer Today. With years of experience in the field, she is passionate about language and dedicated to producing high-quality content that engages and informs readers. When she's not editing or writing, you can find her exploring the great outdoors, finding inspiration for her next project.

View all posts

Reading Ladies

Sold on a monday: a review.

March 15, 2019

Sold On a Monday by Kristina McMorris

Sold On a Monday Review

Genre/Categories: Historical Fiction, the Depression, Family Life

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

‘2 Children For Sale’ is the sign that captures a rookie newspaper reporter’s interest in 1931. The picture that he snaps of the sign and the children on a dilapidated farmhouse porch leads to his big break and a promotion. The publication of the picture has unintended consequences, and the reporter and a colleague set out to right the wrong and reunite the family. This is an imagined story of a real photograph that appeared in a newspaper during The Depression.

children for sale

Amazon Rating (early reviews): 4.3 Stars

My Thoughts:

Characters. Surprisingly, this story is told from the perspectives of two newspaper reporters and not the children. Because of reading stories like Before We Were Yours and The Orphan Train , I expected the story to be told from the perspectives of the children. It took me a few chapters to shake this expectation and settle into the story from the newspaper reporters’ perspectives. As the story progressed, I became more invested in their fight to right a wrong….but I still wondered about the children.

Writing. McMorris  provides vivid historical details helping us understand the dire circumstances and the desperation of 1931. Definitely, I would have connected more emotionally with the story if it had included the perspective of the older child. Overall, this is a solid read that includes a straightforward time line, a page turning conclusion, and themes of redemption, writing a wrong, family life, and mother/child bonds.

Recommended. I recommend Sold on a Monday for fans of hisfic, for readers who might be interested in the newspaper angle of this tragic imagined story; and for those who appreciate stories about individuals who fight to do the right thing and help others at great personal risk and sacrifice.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars (rounded to 4 stars on Goodreads)

twinkle-twinkle-little-star

Sold On a Monday

Meet the Author, Kristina McMorris

Kristina McMorris

KRISTINA MCMORRIS is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her novels have garnered more than two dozen literary awards and nominations, including the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, RWA’s RITA Award, and a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction. Inspired by true personal and historical accounts, her works of fiction have been published by Sourcebooks Landmark, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Kensington Books.

Kristina’s latest novel, the acclaimed bestseller SOLD ON A MONDAY, follows her widely praised THE EDGE OF LOST, THE PIECES WE KEEP, BRIDGE OF SCARLET LEAVES, and LETTERS FROM HOME, in addition to her novellas in the anthologies A WINTER WONDERLAND and GRAND CENTRAL. Prior to her writing career, she hosted weekly TV shows since age nine, including an Emmy Award-winning program. She lives with her husband and two sons in Oregon, where she is working on her next novel. For more, visit http://KristinaMcMorris.com

Let’s Discuss

Have you read other stories with a Depression Era setting? A story about the Dust Bowl in the 1930s is one that I find especially poignant Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (scroll down page).

Happy Reading Book Buddies!

“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke

“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.” ~Denise J Hughes

“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.” ~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.” ~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

Looking Ahead:

Look for a review of Gory Road by Lauren K. Denton next Tuesday.

Glory Road

Winter TBR Update

I’ll be updating my Winter TBR  as I read and review selections. I have three more quick reads to check off the list before spring! So check back often!

Sharing is Caring

Thank you for reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow. Find me at: Twitter Instagram Goodreads Pinterest

***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.

Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.

Shares are appreciated:

19 comments.

Fab review I do the sound of this. How does it compare to Before We Were Yours?

It’s a much easier read……Before We Were yours was so difficult and emotional because much of it was told from a child’s perspective and there was abuse. In Sold on Monday we never hear from or about the children…it’s all from the reporters’ points of view as they attempt to find the children. But the tragedy that innocent children can be stolen/taken/sold is in both stories. I think you’d enjoy it! It’s a solid read…others have given very high ratings.

I loved the audiobook of When We Were Yours but it was heart breaking. I’m glad this isn’t as emotional, as I need to be in the right mood to read it.

I think you’ll find this much much easier! 👍

This book sounds so good!

It’s a solid and engaging read! 👍 Thanks for commenting!

Great review! Will check this out! 😊

https://jendbibliophile.wordpress.com

I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for commenting!

I think I understand why she did it from the perspective of the journalists, and I find that very intriguing – maybe even more so than had she done it from the perspective of the children.

Yes….the newspaper angle was interesting! Thanks for commenting!

[…] Before She Knew Him The book review cafe – An Anonymous Girl Reading Ladies Book Club – Sold On A Monday  Excuse My Reading – My Sister, The Serial Killer Beereader Books – The Wild Remedy: How […]

Thanks for including me! It’s always fun to blog hop! 👍

This sounds like such an interesting story. It’s on my list of books to read. Great review!

Thanks for stopping in and commenting! I hope you enjoy the read! Let me know 😉

This book sounds so interesting. I’d never have thought or known children were really put up for sale #MixItUp

I know! A friend of mine just told me that the older gentleman they bought their camper from told them that when he was a baby he had been sold for 2 cases of beer 😱 …..also Before We Were Yours is a true story of children being stolen and sold for adoption 💔

[…] on a Monday *  (my review) The Edge of Lost Letters From Home and many […]

[…] Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris 4 Stars […]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Discover more from reading ladies.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Movies — Movie Summary

one px

Essays on Movie Summary

Movie review essay topics and outline examples, essay title 1: movie review - "inception" (2010): exploring dreams, reality, and mind-bending narratives.

Thesis Statement: This movie review critically examines Christopher Nolan's "Inception," focusing on its innovative storytelling, visual effects, and the philosophical themes related to dreams and reality.

  • Introduction
  • Synopsis and Plot Analysis
  • Visual and Cinematic Excellence: Special Effects and Cinematography
  • Exploring the Concept of Dreams and Reality
  • Character Development and Acting
  • Director's Unique Style: Christopher Nolan's Signature
  • Impact on Film Industry and Pop Culture

Essay Title 2: Movie Review - "Black Panther" (2018): Cultural Significance, Representation, and Superhero Excellence

Thesis Statement: This movie review explores the cultural and societal significance of Marvel's "Black Panther," highlighting its groundbreaking representation, themes of identity and heritage, and the impact it had on the superhero genre.

  • Plot Summary and Character Analysis
  • Cultural and Historical Context: The Importance of Wakanda
  • Representation and Empowerment: Black Excellence in Film
  • Superhero Genre Evolution: Breaking Stereotypes
  • Directorial and Cinematic Achievements
  • Legacy and Awards: Impact on the Film Industry

Essay Title 3: Movie Review - "The Social Network" (2010): A Compelling Dive into Tech, Ambition, and Betrayal

Thesis Statement: This movie review dissects David Fincher's "The Social Network," analyzing its portrayal of the rise of Facebook, themes of ambition and betrayal, and the complex character of Mark Zuckerberg.

  • Plot Overview: The Birth of Facebook
  • Character Analysis: Mark Zuckerberg and the Cast
  • Exploring Themes of Ambition, Innovation, and Betrayal
  • The Cinematic Craftsmanship of David Fincher
  • Real-Life Impact and Ongoing Relevance
  • Acclaim and Awards: Recognizing Excellence in Filmmaking

The "Inception" Movie: Review

"love, simon": movie review and film summary, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Mise-en-scene Elements in The Movie "Twilight"

The greatest showman: an analysis on the movie's success, the lightning thief: percy jackson's character analysis, the cinderella story: differences between the grimm brothers story and the disney story, let us write you an essay from scratch.

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Summary of The Movie "The Giver"

Lean on me: parental responsibility for school failures, "the last laugh" by f.w. murnau: movie review and film summary, the analisys of 12 years a slave by solomon northup, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

Expert-written essays crafted with your exact needs in mind

Slumdog Millionaire: Summary and Character Analysis

A report on the film "inception", inside out: an 11-year-old girl emotion and mind, "the the big short" movie: summary, summary of the movie "the silence of the lambs", summary and analysis of the movie gladiator, the analysis of louise fitzhugh’s "harriet the spy", future of the marvel cinematic universe after disney buys fox, summary and review of the movie walkout, relations between rick and morty, what is interstellar travel and is it really possible, a reflection of the film a civil action, analysis of john lee hancock’s film the blind side, review of the movie 'the lovely bones', roland emmerich's 'the patriot': a summary and review, kiss me deadly by robert aldrich - one of the most famous films noir, plot summary of the film erin brokovich, the simpsons revenge plot, a critical review of the film a raisin in the sun, a summary of the movie invictus, relevant topics.

  • Indian Horse
  • The Hunger Games
  • Freedom Writers
  • Miss Representation
  • Hidden Figures
  • Movie Review
  • Do The Right Thing
  • 12 Angry Men
  • Ready Player One
  • Documentary

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

sold movie essay

logo

Sold on a Monday

55 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Prologue-Chapter 5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-15

Chapters 16-20

Chapters 21-23

Chapters 24-26

Chapters 27-31

Chapters 32-36

Chapters 37-40

Chapters 41-43

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Best-selling author Kristina McMorris’s historical fiction novel Sold on a Monday (2018) is inspired by a real life event: A photograph published in a 1948 magazine of four siblings standing on their apartment steps with their mother (who is trying to hide her face from the photographer), and a sign advertising the children for sale in the foreground. The overarching theme of the novel is how one person’s poor decision can have many unexpected, and sometimes tragic, outcomes. The story is set in the Depression Era (1931-1932), with the action in and around Philadelphia and rural Pennsylvania, New York City, and Hoboken, New Jersey. The two main characters, 26-year-old newspaper reporter Ellis Reed , and 22-year-old secretary but aspiring newspaper reporter Lily Palmer, narrate the story in first person. The novel’s genre is social realism , because a central focus is on how families survived the Depression’s economic downturn—especially how, when families fell on hard times, they treated their children as income and labor. This guide refers to the 2018 paperback edition by Sourcebooks, Inc.

Plot Summary

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

  • 6,900+ In-Depth Study Guides
  • 5,100+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
  • Downloadable PDFs

Sold on a Monday tells the story of Ellis Reed’s struggle to overcome the terrible choice he makes when he lies to advance his career. Ellis works for the Philadelphia Examiner’s Society pages, a low-paying job usually reserved for women, but he dreams of reporting the news. One day he takes a photograph of two boys on their porch beside a sign that reads: “2 children for sale.” Ellis’s picture gets developed and later hangs in the newspaper’s dark room. Lily, who is the secretary to the editor in chief, Trimble, offers to pick out pictures for Trimble’s Monday review. When she sees Ellis’s photograph, she selects it for review. Trimble offers Ellis a feature article to write the family’s story, bringing Ellis one step closer to his dream of becoming a hard news reporter. But when his only photo of the children is ruined, and the original children’s family is gone, he substitutes two other children and their mother in his story. When the story is published, it sets off a chain of events that he could not have foreseen: The mother of the children in the photo, Geraldine Dillard , sells her children: Calvin, who is about six years old, and Ruby, who is eight and a half, to Alfred and Sylvia Millstone , who buy them to replace their own deceased daughter, Victoria, who was killed in a car accident. The main conflict arises four months later, when Ellis’s boss asks him to do a follow-up story on the children and Ellis learns that they were in fact sold. The story follows how Ellis and Lily work together to unravel the story of the Dillard family and reunite the children with their mother. But the novel’s title, Sold on a Monday , ties into the Monday Trimble saw the pictures and then assigned Ellis the story, because essentially, Ellis’s choice to lie and use the Dillard children in his story precipitated their sale.

Two important subplots in the novel involve Ellis and Lily, who must each overcome their own inner conflicts if they are to work together to reunite Calvin and Ruby with their mother. Ellis must reconcile with his father, who has not shown Ellis any affection since Ellis’s infant brother, Henry, died when Ellis was five. His father dislikes Ellis’s profession, so Ellis is working hard to become a success in his father’s eyes. In the climax of this subplot, Ellis tells his father that he is sorry that he was not the son who died, leading his father to break down his walls and tell Ellis that he bears the responsibility for Henry’s death. Ellis, in turn, shares the trouble he created for the Dillard children and how he intends to fix it.

The SuperSummary difference

  • 8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
  • Study Guides you won ' t find anywhere else
  • 100+ new titles every month

For Lily, she must come to terms with her choice to keep her son, who was born out of wedlock. Lily did think about trying to miscarry after finding herself pregnant at 17, but when she felt Samuel kick, she didn’t follow through. She chose to have him and to keep him rather than place him for adoption. Although Lily carries the shame of her choice, and worries that God will punish her by taking Samuel away from her, her desire to see all children treated well and to feel wanted, makes her a formidable partner for Ellis. This subplot climax occurs when Samuel is sick. Ellis tells her that God answered her prayers when she heard Samuel kick: Because she did not try to miscarry Samuel, she shouldn’t worry about any lingering guilt.  

After Ellis’s ambition takes him to a bigger job in New York City, he meets with Lily, who brings him a letter about the children for sale. He treats her horribly, and knows that he must apologize to her. On the way back to Delaware, he decides to first stop in to check on the Dillards. He learns that Geraldine sold the children. When he tells Lily, she insists that she join him in tracking them down. Lily and Ellis have feelings for one another, which they keep hidden at first because they have work to do. They get a tip that leads them to Geraldine’s doctor, who tells Lily that Geraldine had tuberculosis. With only a few months to live, her doctor advised her to go a sanitarium. Lily decides that Geraldine likely sold the children for the money. When Lily calls the sanitorium, they tell her Geraldine is dead. But Geraldine is really alive, and when she meets up with Lily and Ellis, she explains the whole story. Geraldine sold her children because she was sick and very scared, but she insisted the children stay together and never spent the money. A tip leads Lily and Ellis to the buyers, Sylvia and Alfred Millstone , but they only have Ruby. They broke their word and sent Calvin to a children’s home, they really only wanted Ruby as a replacement for Victoria. Sylvia saw the picture in the paper; Ruby was identical in appearance to Victoria. So, Lily and Ellis begin the long search to find Calvin. They track him to a children’s home that sold him to a family. When Ellis and Lily find him, Calvin is living alone in a barn, chained to the ground.

The final climax comes when Ellis and Lily, along with Geraldine, go to the Millstones to get Ruby. Sylvia’s brother, Max, is the head of an Italian mob family. He sends for Ellis and, after Ellis explains the situation, which is that Sylvia’s depression after the death of her daughter has led her to some irrational behavior; she thinks Ruby is Victoria. Max, as the head of the family, decides that the next morning Ellis must meet him and pick up Ruby. When Ellis arrives at the house, however, Sylvia is yelling and calling Ruby by the name Victoria, and has cut her hand; broken picture frames litter the floor. Alfred is trying to calm her when Ruby comes downstairs. When Sylvia tells Ruby that she is taking her away, Ellis steps in. Sylvia shoots Ellis and Geraldine. Later, in the hospital, the doctor announces that Ellis and Geraldine will survive. Ellis and Lily share a kiss, and with Samuel, they will stay together. 

blurred text

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Ready to dive in?

Get unlimited access to SuperSummary for only $ 0.70 /week

Featured Collections

View Collection

Historical Fiction

“12 Years a Slave”: An Analysis of the Film Essay

The 2013 film 12 Years a Slave proved that slavery is a worldwide issue. Indeed, the film made $150 million outside the United States and $57 million in the U.S., with a production budget of $20 million (Sharf, 2020). The movie was based on the memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (Ntim, 2020). It tells the story of a free African American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Solomon spent twelve years away from his family, being traded from one master to another. Fortunately, the protagonist met a person who helped him deliver a message to his family and friends, who came and rescued him. This movie accurately illustrates discriminatory relationships between white slaveholders and black slaves that stemmed from the dysfunctional system in the country and prejudices in people’s mindsets at that time.

The two main ethnic groups presented in this film are White and African Americans, and the three social groups are affluent slaveholders, working for middle class, and enslaved people. The movie starts with the story of a free African American violinist Solomon Northup, living with his family in Saratoga, New York (McQueen, 2013). However, he was abducted by two white men, who tortured the man and sold him into slavery, changing his name to Plat. Before they met, Solomon and these two slave traders belonged to the same middle class. However, the fact that Northup was an African American made these individuals believe that they had the right to withdraw their freedom. The two masters that Solomon had were William Ford and Edwin Epps (McQueen, 2013). The former was kind and religious, while the latter was cruel and sadistic. Since the movie was based on a real story, it indicated that slaveholders had different characters, but all had the wrong perception of race.

Although 12 Years a Slave is a film about slavery, the issues of collectivism and individualism are also raised. Specifically, the main character never identified himself as an enslaved man and continued claiming he was a free citizen (McQueen, 2013). However, his counterparts on the plant had a collective mindset, imprinted in them since childhood, that slavery is normal. These people helped each other because they belonged to the same group. Although Solomon tried to become a part of this community, his individual goal to return home was above the collective values.

The movie also showed prejudice, generalizations, stereotyping, and discrimination against black people. For instance, when Ford brings Solomon and Elisa to his plantation, his wife expresses her sadness that Elisa got separated from her children. However, she also stated that “something to eat and some rest” could help that woman forget her children (McQueen, 2013, 32:47-32:51). This scene demonstrated the common prejudice about slaves that they were not capable of the same feelings as white people. An example of generalization and stereotyping was how Tibeats, a carpenter, became hostile to Solomon when he showed his intelligence and gave Ford advice. In fact, Tibeats believed that Plat would never be more competent than any white individual because Plat was a “nigger” (McQueen, 2013, 36:35-36:37). Notably, before Northup became enslaved, he never experienced discrimination, but when the main character was sold into slavery, discrimination was the only attitude that he could observe.

In summary, 12 Years a Slave depicts the life of enslaved people and slave owners almost two centuries ago. The film narrates a free black man’s life from the moment when he enjoyed his family’s company in the state of New York to his abduction, enslavement, and eventual liberation. Overall, the movie raised such critical issues as discrimination, prejudice, stereotyping, and generalization that allowed slaveholders to maintain this societal structure for a long time.

McQueen, S. (2013). 12 years a slave [Film]. New Regency Productions.

Ntim, Z. (2020). Steve McQueen says it took 11 years to create his new anthology “Small Axe” and reveals why producers almost pulled out of his Oscar-winning film “12 Years a Slave.” Insider. Web.

Sharf, Z. (2020). Steve McQueen recalls producers rejecting “12 Years a Slave” over false beliefs about black films. Indie Wire. Web.

  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, December 11). "12 Years a Slave": An Analysis of the Film. https://ivypanda.com/essays/12-years-a-slave-an-analysis-of-the-film/

""12 Years a Slave": An Analysis of the Film." IvyPanda , 11 Dec. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/12-years-a-slave-an-analysis-of-the-film/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '"12 Years a Slave": An Analysis of the Film'. 11 December.

IvyPanda . 2023. ""12 Years a Slave": An Analysis of the Film." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/12-years-a-slave-an-analysis-of-the-film/.

1. IvyPanda . ""12 Years a Slave": An Analysis of the Film." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/12-years-a-slave-an-analysis-of-the-film/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . ""12 Years a Slave": An Analysis of the Film." December 11, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/12-years-a-slave-an-analysis-of-the-film/.

  • "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup Literature Analysis
  • Twelve Years a Slave
  • Lessons to Learn: "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup
  • “Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup
  • The African American Rights Movement Success
  • Racism: World Politicians Discussion
  • Sugar House & Slave: A Literary Duo
  • Negro Slaves in the Film "Twelve Years a Slave"
  • Slaves-Masters Relationship in the United States
  • The Movie “12 Years a Slave”
  • Evaluation Essay: Back to the Future
  • Le Voyage Dans la Lune by Méliès: Analysis of Film
  • Carol Movie Analysis: Narrative
  • Cinematography: “The Spy Next Door” Movie
  • American Animation: The Golden Age Period

an image, when javascript is unavailable

The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News

Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter

site categories

Guest essay: j. robert oppenheimer biographer on the nearly impossible adaptation.

Multiple people attempted to bring the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography 'American Prometheus' to the screen — but Christopher Nolan was the only one to succeed.

By Kai Bird

  • Share this article on Facebook
  • Share this article on Twitter
  • Share this article on Flipboard
  • Share this article on Email
  • Show additional share options
  • Share this article on Linkedin
  • Share this article on Pinit
  • Share this article on Reddit
  • Share this article on Tumblr
  • Share this article on Whatsapp
  • Share this article on Print
  • Share this article on Comment

Oppenheimer writer-director Christopher Nolan earned an adapted screenplay Oscar for the Universal film.

Back in September 2021, a friend sent me a paragraph-long notice in a magazine, reporting that Hollywood director Christopher Nolan was working on a film about J. Robert Oppenheimer . This was disturbing news to me, a co-author of American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer , a 720-page biography of Oppenheimer that was published in 2005 and won a Pulitzer Prize in 2006. My co-author, Martin J. Sherwin, and I had never heard from Nolan. 

Related Stories

People's choice awards: winners list (updating live), bafta awards: samantha morton dedicates bafta fellowship to "every child in care" and poverty.

American Prometheus was optioned again in 2010 and a third time in 2015. Two more screenplays were drafted. The third one was so terrible that Marty and I felt compelled to draft a memo listing the 108 historical inaccuracies sandwiched into a script that featured a poet/ghost as narrator. By 2021, Marty and I had concluded that Hollywood was just not up to grappling with the complexity of Oppenheimer’s story or the existential issues surrounding the dawn of the atomic age. 

But then in September 2021, soon after reading about Nolan’s Oppenheimer project, I got a call from Charles “Chuck” Roven, a producer who had worked on several Nolan films. He assured me that Nolan’s new project was indeed an adaptation of our book. The next day, I found myself speaking with Nolan on the phone. Later, he invited me to meet him in a Greenwich Village boutique hotel. 

Nolan said it was long — too long — and he was not prepared to share it with us yet. But he was prepared to answer our questions about what was in the script and what was not. 

To begin on a light note, I asked him if he had managed to use Oppenheimer’s favorite toast for his potent gin martinis: “To the confusion of our enemies!” Nolan laughed and said that the toast had been in the script, but he had recently cut it out for reasons of space. He explained that he would lose artistic control if the film went longer than three hours. 

I was still skeptical. But over the course of a two-hour conversation, my wife, Susan, and I came away with a sense that Nolan’s script might have promise. I explained that Marty and I had always believed that what had happened to Oppenheimer after he built the atomic bomb was essential to the story. Nolan responded that, yes, he agreed, and assured us that the 1954 trial, the kangaroo court of a security hearing, was featured heavily in his screenplay. 

We left this first meeting impressed with Nolan’s intelligence and charm. Regrettably, Marty had been too ill to travel to New York that day. But I reported back to him that maybe, just maybe, Nolan was going to succeed where others had failed. Sadly, two weeks later, Marty died of small-cell lung cancer. He never had a chance to meet with Nolan in person. 

I then asked him about the mystery witness who appeared in Lewis Strauss’ Senate confirmation hearing. This was a scene near the end of the film, and I did not recognize the scientist (played by Oscar winner Rami Malek). Nolan responded that he had been curious to know more about why Strauss had lost the 1959 confirmation — so curious that he had taken the trouble to track down the transcript of the Strauss confirmation hearing. This was something that Marty and I had not done. In our book, we had reported the outcome of the confirmation hearing, but we had not bothered to read the transcript. Nolan did — and he found in it the dramatic testimony by “scientist X” that is featured at the end of his film. 

I was impressed. Nolan had done his own historical research. 

When I finally saw the finished film, I was even more impressed. Nolan and his producer and wife, Emma Thomas, walked me into an empty Imax theater and sat me in the exact middle of the screening room, and then they adjourned to the end of the aisle, leaving me to watch the film in complete privacy. At times, I wept, partly moved by the images, but also for Marty’s absence. And when it was over, I walked over to Nolan, hugged him and whispered, “It is brilliant.” I then turned to Emma and said, “Usually, the author says the book is always better than the film. But in this case, I fear that some will say the film is better.” 

I am still not sure.

This story first appeared in a February stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe .

THR Newsletters

Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day

More from The Hollywood Reporter

Inside sony’s ‘madame web’ collapse: forget about a new franchise, bafta says security removed prankster who joined oppenheimer team onstage: “we are taking this very seriously”, ‘dying’ review: lars eidinger stars as a harried orchestra conductor in a moving and funny german family saga, ‘architecton’ review: from the director of ‘gunda,’ a visually mesmerizing meditation on the bedrock of existence, tom priestley, oscar-nominated film editor on ‘deliverance,’ dies at 91, roger federer doc by director asif kapadia set at prime video.

Quantcast

Company Filings | More Search Options

Company Filings More Search Options -->

SEC Emblem

  • Commissioners
  • Reports and Publications
  • Securities Laws
  • Commission Votes
  • Corporation Finance
  • Enforcement
  • Investment Management
  • Economic and Risk Analysis
  • Trading and Markets
  • Office of Administrative Law Judges
  • Examinations
  • Litigation Releases
  • Administrative Proceedings
  • Opinions and Adjudicatory Orders
  • Accounting and Auditing
  • Trading Suspensions
  • How Investigations Work
  • Receiverships
  • Information for Harmed Investors
  • Rulemaking Activity
  • Proposed Rules
  • Final Rules
  • Interim Final Temporary Rules
  • Other Orders and Notices
  • Self-Regulatory Organizations
  • Staff Interpretations
  • Investor Education
  • Small Business Capital Raising
  • EDGAR – Search & Access
  • EDGAR – Information for Filers
  • Company Filing Search
  • How to Search EDGAR
  • About EDGAR
  • Press Releases
  • Speeches and Statements
  • Securities Topics
  • Upcoming Events
  • SEC in the News
  • Media Gallery
  • Divisions & Offices
  • Public Statements

“AI, Finance, Movies, and the Law” Prepared Remarks before the Yale Law School

Chair Gary Gensler

Chair Gary Gensler

New Haven, CT

Feb. 13, 2024

Good afternoon. Thank you, Roberta and Sarath. As is customary, I’d like to note that my views are my own as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and I am not speaking on behalf of my fellow Commissioners or the staff.

Scarlett Johansson played a virtual assistant, Samantha, in the 2013 movie Her . The movie follows the love affair between Samantha and Theodore, a human played by Joaquin Phoenix. [1]

Late in the movie, Theodore is shaken when he gets an error message— “Operating System Not Found.” Upon Samantha’s return, he asks if she’s interacting with others. Yes, she responds, with 8,316 others. Plaintively, Theodore asks: You only love me, right? Samantha says she’s in love with 641 others.

Shortly thereafter, she goes offline for good. I’ll leave it to you if you’ll be watching Her tomorrow with your Valentine.

There has been much recent buzz about AI, including in several Super Bowl ads on Sunday. [2] The bulk has been about generative AI models, particularly large language models. Artificial intelligence, though, is much broader and isn’t new. You might remember Alan Turing from The Imitation Game movie and the cracking of the Enigma code. In 1950, he wrote a seminal paper, opening with, “I propose to consider the question, ‘Can machines think?’” [3]

We’ve already seen a lot of adoption of AI. Text prediction in our phones and emails has been commonplace for years. The Postal Service has been using it to predict addresses. It’s being used for natural language processing, translation software, recommender systems, radiology, robotics, and your virtual assistant.

It’s being used in the law, and right here at YLS. By a show of hands, how many of you have been using AI to summarize your readings or research? To draft a cover letter for a job application? To write something to a professor? To the faculty in the room, how do you feel about this show of hands?

SEC and Finance

I’d like to wish you all at Yale Law School a happy bicentennial. The SEC was established 110 years later in 1934. That year also saw YLS faculty member William O. Douglas come to the SEC. He later became our third Chair in 1937. Speaking to an audience of lawyers in 1934, he said: “Service to the client has been the slogan of our profession. And it has been observed so religiously that service to the public has been sadly neglected.” [4] When Douglas left for the Supreme Court in 1939, another YLS faculty member, Jerome Frank, for whom your legal services clinic is named, became our fourth Chair. [5]

The SEC oversees the $110 trillion capital markets. The essence of this is captured in our three-part mission to protect investors, facilitate capital formation, and maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets.

Finance is about the pricing and allocation of money and risk throughout the economy. This happens through banks and nonbanks alike. In essence, finance sits in the middle like the neck of an hourglass whose grains of sands are money and risk.

AI: Opportunities and Challenges

AI is about using math, data, and computational power to find patterns and make predictions.

It opens up tremendous opportunities for humanity. As machines take on pattern recognition, particularly when done at scale, this can create great efficiencies across the economy. 

In finance, there are potential benefits of greater financial inclusion and enhanced user experience.

It is already being used for call centers, account openings, compliance programs, trading algorithms, sentiment analysis, and more. It has fueled a rapid change in the field of robo-advisers and brokerage apps.

AI also raises a host of issues that aren’t new but are accentuated by it. First, AI models’ decisions and outcomes are often unexplainable. Second, AI also may make biased decisions because the outcomes of its algorithms may be based on data reflecting historical biases. Third, the ability of these predictive models to predict doesn’t mean they are always accurate. If you’ve used it to draft a paper or find citations, beware, because it can hallucinate.

Beyond these general challenges, I’ll turn to issues about AI, finance, and the law.

Macro: System-wide risk

That brings me back to Her . Imagine it wasn’t Scarlett Johansson, but it was some base model or data source on which 8,316 financial institutions were relying. That’s what we may face in finance.  

We’ve seen in our economy how one or a small number of tech platforms can come to dominate a field. There’s one leading search engine, one leading retail platform, and three leading cloud providers.

I think due to the economies of scale and network effects at play we’re bound to see the same develop with AI. [6]

In fact, we’ve already seen affiliations between the three largest cloud providers and the leading generative AI companies. [7]

Thousands of financial entities are looking to build downstream applications relying on what is likely to be but a handful of base models upstream.

Such a development would promote both herding and network interconnectedness.  Individual actors may make similar decisions as they get a similar signal from a base model or rely on a data aggregator. Such network interconnectedness and monocultures are the classic problems that lead to systemic risk. [8] I know Roberta has written about monocultures.  

Thus, AI may play a central role in the after-action reports of a future financial crisis— and we won’t have Tom Cruise in Minority Report [9] to prevent it from happening.

While current model risk management guidance—generally written prior to this new wave of data analytics—will need to be updated, it won’t be sufficient.

The challenges to financial stability that AI may pose in the future will require new thinking on system-wide or macro-prudential policy interventions.

Regulators and market participants will need to think about the dependencies and interconnectedness of potentially 8,316 brokenhearted financial institutions to an AI model or data aggregator.

Micro: Deception, AI Washing, Hallucinations, and Conflicts

Deception and manipulation.

Two years before the 1984 movie, Beverly Hills Cop , the actual Beverly Hills cops arrested a robot in what may have been the first robot arrest ever. [10]

This brings us back to Turing’s question, “Can machines think?” What does that mean for securities law, particularly the laws related to fraud and manipulation?

Though parts of our securities laws have standards of strict liability, [11] such as conducting an unregistered offering, many of the key anti-fraud sections of the 1933, 1934, and 1940 acts require some form of intent or at least negligence. Did somebody knowingly or recklessly do something? Were they negligent?

Fraud is fraud, and bad actors have a new tool, AI, to exploit the public. [12] So what happens when you combine AI, finance, and the law of fraud?

Kara Stein, YLS class of ‘91 and former SEC commissioner, cowrote a paper about this. [13] Her coauthor and she spoke to programmable harm, predictable harm, and unpredictable harm.

The first, programmable harm, is straightforward—if you use an algorithm and are optimizing it to manipulate or defraud the public, that is fraud.

The second category, predictable harm, is also reasonably straightforward. Have you had a reckless or knowing disregard of the foreseeable risks of your actions, in this case, deploying a particular AI model? Did you act reasonably?

Under the securities laws, there are many things you can’t do. This includes front-running, meaning if you get a customer order, you aren’t supposed to trade in front of your customers. You aren’t supposed to spoof, in other words place a fake order. You aren’t supposed to lie to the public. Investment advisers and broker-dealers aren’t supposed to place your interests ahead of your customers’ interest or give unsuitable or conflicted investment advice or recommendations.

That means you need to make sure your robot, I mean AI model, doesn’t do these things.

Investor protection requires the humans who deploy a model to put in place appropriate guardrails. Did those guardrails take into account current law and regulation, such as those pertaining to front-running, spoofing, fraud, and providing advice or recommendations? Did they test it before deployment and how? Did they continue to test and monitor? What is their governance plan—did they update the various guardrails for changing regulations, market conditions, and disclosures?

Do the guardrails take into account that AI models are hard to explain, from time-to-time hallucinate, and may strategically deceive users? [14]  

Now, some might ask what happens if the algorithm is learning and changing on its own. What if you were deploying HAL from 2001: Space Odyssey [15] or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator ? [16] You are knowingly deploying something that is self-learning, changing, and adapting. Thus, you still have important responsibilities to put guardrails on this scenario as well.

This now brings us to Kara’s third category. In essence, how does one hold liable the persons who deploy AI models that create truly unpredictable harm?

Some of that will play out in the courts. Right now, though, the opportunities for deception or manipulation most likely fall in the programmable and predictable harm categories rather than being truly unpredictable.

A famous early movie executive, Joseph Kennedy, [17] who later became the first SEC Chair, may have said it best. In his first speech, he said: “The Commission will make war without quarter on any who sell securities by fraud or misrepresentation.” [18]

Turning to AI washing, one might think about Everything Everywhere All at Once , in which the starring family owned a laundromat. While there has been online debate about whether AI was used to make the movie, the writer-director denies it. [19] When I think of AI washing, I think more about the Music Man in which traveling salesman “Professor” Harold Hill goes to River City, Iowa, and cons the town into purchasing musical instruments for their children. [20]

President Franklin Roosevelt and Congress established the SEC as a merit neutral agency. Investors get to decide what to invest in as long as there is full, fair, and truthful disclosure. Later, those two former YLS faculty, Douglas and Frank, advised Congress on laws related to investment management, which also included disclosure. [21]

We’ve seen time and again that when new technologies come along, they can create buzz from investors as well as false claims from the Professor Hills of the day. If a company is raising money from the public, though, it needs to be truthful about its use of AI and associated risk. [22]

In the movie M3GAN , a robotics company has an AI-powered toy robot and presents it to investors and executives as bonding with a little girl. The company does NOT tell them that the scientist behind the robot is aware that the AI isn’t complete. [23]

As AI disclosures by SEC registrants increase, [24] the basics of good securities lawyering still apply. Claims about prospects should have a reasonable basis, [25] and investors should be told that basis. When disclosing material risks about AI—and a company may face multiple risks, including operational, legal, and competitive—investors benefit from disclosures particularized to the company, not from boilerplate language.

Companies should ask themselves some basic questions, such as: “If we are discussing AI in earnings calls or having extensive discussions with the board, is it potentially material?” [26]

These disclosure considerations may require companies to define for investors what they mean when referring to AI. For instance, how and where is it being used in the company? Is it being developed by the issuer or supplied by others?

Investment advisers or broker-dealers also should not mislead the public by saying they are using an AI model when they are not, nor say they are using an AI model in a particular way but not do so. Such AI washing, whether it’s by companies raising money or financial intermediaries, such as investment advisers and broker-dealers, may violate the securities laws.

So, if you are AI washing, as “Professor” Hill sang, “Ya Got Trouble.”

Hallucinations

Now let me turn to Keanu Reeves as Neo in The Matrix . [27] You may recall he was living in an AI-induced hallucination.

In the real world, AI models themselves also can hallucinate but don’t necessarily have Morpheus there to save them. Some lawyers using AI to write briefs have discovered that AI hallucinated case citations that looked real but were not. [28]

If an AI model can hallucinate a bad case citation, couldn’t an AI model used by a broker or investment adviser hallucinate an unsuitable or conflicted investment recommendation?

Investment advisers and broker-dealers are required not to place their interests ahead of investors interests. [29] Thus, investment advisers and brokers aren’t supposed to give investment advice or recommendations based on inaccurate or incomplete information.

You don’t want your broker or adviser recommending investments they hallucinated while on mushrooms. So, when the broker or adviser uses an AI model, they must ensure that any recommendations or advice provided by the model is not based on a hallucination or inaccurate information.

The streaming apps long ago figured out I’m a rom-com guy.

Today’s AI-based models provide an increasing ability to make predictions about each of us as individuals. Already, we receive messages from AI recommender systems that are considering how we might as individuals respond to their prompts, products, and pricing.

We all know some forms of these predictive data analytics well: the flashing button on your screen, the push notification, the colors, the sounds, the well-engineered subtleties of modern digital life.

But what if finance platforms figured out something else as subtle as some of our color preferences? My mom used to dress my identical twin brother, Rob, in red, and me, Gary, in green. Today, I might not react as favorably to green prompts.

You get to research whether Rob and I are more like Lindsay Lohan as Hallie and Annie in the Parent Trap [30] or James and Oliver Phelps who played the Weasley twins in Harry Potter . [31]

If the optimization function in the AI system is taking the interest of the platform into consideration as well as the interest of the customer, this can lead to conflicts of interest. In finance, when brokers or advisers act on those conflicts and optimize to place their interests ahead of their investors’ interests, investors may suffer financial harm.

As to the Rob-red, Gary-green example, are firms communicating with me in a color other than green because it’ll be good for my investment decisions, or because it might benefit the firm’s revenues, profits, or other interests?

That’s why the SEC proposed a rule last year regarding how best to address such potential conflicts across the range of investor interactions. [32] The SEC’s Deputy Director of the Division of Investment Management Sarah ten Siethoff, YLS class of ’00, is one of the key leads on this rule.

I had some fun with movies in this speech, but also quoted Kennedy and Douglas, individuals critical to creating, shaping, and interpreting the securities laws—laws that Congress established to protect the investing and issuing public.

I hope you all in this audience, whether advising your clients in the future or in leadership roles, take these leaders’ words to heart.

When I asked the SEC’s Deputy Chief of the Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit Jorge Tenreiro, YLS class of ’06, about this speech, he suggested I start with a reference to the 2014 movie Ex Machina . [33] The CEO of a search engine company administers a Turing Test between his robot played by Alicia Vikander and an unsuspecting programmer. The robot passes the test but … well, it’s a bit dark.

I chose to start, rather, with Scarlett Johansson and Her . In part that’s because I’m a bit of a rom-com guy, but there’s more to it. It’s that the story of Samantha and Theodore showed both the great potential of AI for humanity as well some of its inherent risk. It also had a happy ending when Theodore reconnects with Amy—a real human—played by Amy Adams.  

Similarly, our role at the SEC is both allowing for issuers and investors to benefit from the great potential of AI while also ensuring that we guard against the inherent risks I’ve discussed today.

[1] See Freya Keeping, GameRant, “Her, Ending Explained” (Oct. 22, 2023), available at https://gamerant.com/her-ending-explained/ .

[2] See Gael Cooper, CNET, “AI Scores in Super Bowl Commercials: You Can Watch Them Here” (Feb. 12, 2024), available at https://www.cnet.com/tech/ai-scores-in-super-bowl-commercials-you-can-watch-them-here/ .

[3] See  A.M. Turing, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” (Oct. 1950), available at  https://phil415.pbworks.com/f/TuringComputing.pdf .  

[4] See  William O. Douglas, “Address delivered to Duke Bar Association” (April 22, 1934),  available at   https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/1934/042234douglas.pdf .

[5] See “Historical Profile: Jerome N. Frank” (Feb. 8, 2024), available a t https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/historical-profile-jerome-n-frank .

[6] See Gary Gensler “’Issac Newton to AI’: Remarks before the National Press Club” (July 17, 2023), available at https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/gensler-isaac-newton-ai-remarks-07-17-2023 .

[7] Microsoft has partnered with OpenAI; Alphabet’s Google has its own Bard, now rebranded as Gemini; and Amazon has partnered with Anthropic. Also see Leah Nylen, Bloomberg, “Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft Face FTC Inquiry on AI Partners” (January 25, 2024), available at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-25/alphabet-amazon-anthropic-microsoft-openai-get-ftc-inquiry-lrthp0es .

[8] See  Gary Gensler and Lily Bailey, “Deep Leaning and Financial Stability” (Nov. 13, 2020),  available at   https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3723132 .

[9] See IMDb “Minority Report Plot,” available at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0181689/plotsummary/ .

[10] See Matt Novak, Gizmodo, “Was This The First Robot Every Arrested?” (Feb. 18, 2014), available at https://gizmodo.com/was-this-the-first-robot-ever-arrested-1524686968 . More recent robot arrests have happened as well. For instance, see Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, “Robot with $100 bitcoin buys drugs, gets arrested” (April 22, 2015), available at https://www.cnbc.com/2015/04/21/robot-with-100-bitcoin-buys-drugs-gets-arrested.html ; see also “A Robot Was Just ‘Arrested’ by Russian Police” (Sept. 20, 2016), available at https://www.sciencealert.com/a-robot-was-just-arrested-by-russian-police .

[11] Some in Congress have proposed imposing strict liability on the use of AI models. See proposed legislation Financial Artificial Intelligence Risk Reduction Act (FAIRR Act), S. 3554 118 th Cong. (2023). Among other things, Section 7 of the FAIRR Act would amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78a et seq , to add a new Section 42 essentially imposing strict liability on “[a]ny person who, directly or indirectly, deploys or causes to be deployed, an artificial intelligence model” for “all acts, practices or conduct engaged in by such model, and any outcome resulting from the use of such model” unless the person took reasonable steps to prevent such acts.

[12] See SEC Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, North American Securities Administrators Association, and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Investment Fraud” (January 25, 2024), available at Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Investment Fraud | FINRA.org .  

[13] See Robin Feldman and Kara Stein, “AI Governance in the Financial Industry,” 27 Stan. J.L. Bus. & Fin. 94 (2022), available at https://repository.uchastings.edu/faculty_scholarship/1867 . Also see Gina-Gail Fletcher, “The future of AI Accountability in the Financial Markets,” 24  Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law  289 (2022) available at   https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/jetlaw/vol24/iss2/3/ .  

[14] See Jeremy Scheurer, Mikita Balesni, and Marius Hobbhahn, “Technical Report: Large Language Models can Strategically Deceive their Users when Put Under Pressure” (November 27, 2023), available at https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2311.07590 .

[15] See New York Times, “The Story of a Voice: HAL in ‘2001’ Wasn’t So Eerily Calm” (March 30, 2018), available at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/30/movies/hal-2001-a-space-odyssey-voice-douglas-rain.html .

[16] See IMDb “The Terminator,” available at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/ .

[17] See IMDb, “Joseph P. Kennedy,” available at https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0448132/ .

[18] See  “Address of Hon. Joseph P. Kennedy, Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission, at National Press Club” (July 25, 1934),  available at   https://www.sec.gov/news/speech/1934/072534kennedy.pdf .

[19] See Margeaux Sippell, “Daniel Scheinert Wants to Set the Record Straight About AI and Everything Everywhere All At Once” (Aug. 22, 2023), available at https://www.moviemaker.com/daniel-scheinert-everything-everywhere-ai/ .  

[20] See IMDb “The Music Man” available at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056262/ .  

[21] See Securities and Exchange Commission, “Report on Investment Counsel, Investment Management, Investment Supervisory, and investment Advisory Services” (1939), available at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112101732404&seq=5 .

[22] See Compl. in SEC v. Tadrus , No. 23 Civ. 5708 (FB) (Dkt. No. 1); see also Mina Tadrus; Tadrus Capital, SEC Litigation Rel. No. 25798 (Aug. 2, 2023), available at https://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr-25798 .

[23] See Owen Gleiberman, Variety, “’M3GAN’ Review: A Robot-Doll Sci-Fi Horror Movie That’s Creepy, Preposterous and Diverting,” (January 4, 2023), available at 'M3GAN' Review: Creepy, Preposterous and Diverting (variety.com) .   

[24] See Matthew Bultman, “AI Disclosures to SEC Jump as Agency Warns of Misleading Claims,” Bloomberg Law (February 8,2024), available at AI Disclosures to SEC Jump as Agency Warns of Misleading Claims (bloomberglaw.com) .

[25] See 17 CFR 229.10 of Regulation S-K.

[26] See Holly Gregory, “AI and the Role of the Board of Directors,” Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance (October 7, 2023), available at AI and the Role of the Board of Directors (harvard.edu) .  

[27] See IMDb, “The Matrix” available at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/ .

[28] See Sara Merken, “New York lawyers sanctions for using fake ChatCGT cases in legal brief,” Reuters (June 26, 2023), available at https://www.reuters.com/legal/new-york-lawyers-sanctioned-using-fake-chatgpt-cases-legal-brief-2023-06-22/ .

[29] This is the same standard that the SEC applies under Regulation Best Interest (Reg BI) to brokers when they make recommendations to retail investors or to advisers—under the SEC’s interpretation of fiduciary duty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940—when they provide investment advice.

[30] See IMDb, “The Parent Trap,” available at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120783/ .

[31] See Carola Dager, GameRant, “Harry Potter: What Are the Differences Between Fred and George Weasley?” (Nov. 11, 2023), available at https://gamerant.com/harry-potter-fred-george-weasley-differences/ .

[32] Conflicts of Interest Associated With the Use of Predictive Data Analytics by Broker-Dealers and Investment Advisers, 88 Fed. Reg. 53,960 (Aug. 9, 2023) (to be codified at 17 C.F.R. pt. 240 and 275).

[33] See IMDb “Ex Machina,” available at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0470752/ .

Trump opts against Supreme Court appeal on civil immunity claim over Jan. 6 lawsuits

Then-President Donald Trump

WASHINGTON — Lawsuits seeking to hold Donald Trump personally accountable for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol can move forward after the former president chose not to take his broad immunity claim to the Supreme Court.

Trump had a Thursday deadline to file a petition at the Supreme Court contesting an appeals court decision from December that rejected his immunity arguments, but he did not do so.

The appeals court made it clear that Trump could still claim immunity later in the proceedings in three cases brought by Capitol Police officers and members of Congress.

"President Trump will continue to fight for presidential immunity all across the spectrum," said Steven Cheung, a Trump spokesman.

The civil lawsuits against Trump are separate from the criminal case against him that also arose from Jan. 6. On Monday, Trump asked the justices to put that case on hold on immunity grounds.

Trump's lawyers argued that any actions he took on Jan. 6 fall under the scope of his responsibilities as president, thereby granting him immunity from civil liability. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected that argument, ruling that Trump was acting in his role as a political candidate running for office, not as president.

But the court added that when the cases move forward in district court, Trump "must be afforded the opportunity to develop his own facts on the immunity question" in order to show he was acting in his official capacity. He then could again seek to have the lawsuits dismissed, the court said.

“We look forward to moving on with proving our claims and getting justice for our Capitol Police officer clients who were injured defending our democracy from Defendant Trump,” said Kristy Parker, a lawyer for plaintiffs in one of the cases.

The lead plaintiff in the civil immunity case is James Blassingame, a Capitol Police officer who was injured in the Jan. 6 riot. Fellow plaintiffs in several lawsuits that were consolidated on appeal include lawmakers who were at the Capitol that day.

The legal arguments being made by Trump are similar to those he is making in his criminal case as he seeks to prevent a trial from taking place before the November election.

In rejecting Trump's immunity claim in the criminal case, a different panel of judges in the same appeals court did not directly address whether Trump's actions were official acts. The court instead assumed that they likely were official acts and found that, even then, Trump could not claim immunity.

sold movie essay

Lawrence Hurley covers the Supreme Court for NBC News.

an image, when javascript is unavailable

Jia Zhangke Epic, ‘We Shall Be All’ to Be Sold by France’s MK2 (EXCLUSIVE)

By Patrick Frater

Patrick Frater

Asia Bureau Chief

  • Korea’s CJ ENM Sets Jung Jhong-hwan, Fifth Season Board Member, as President of Global Content (EXCLUSIVE) 3 hours ago
  • Yorgos Lanthimos Sets Remake of Korean Fantasy Film ‘Save the Green Planet’ With ‘Poor Things’ Producer Element Pictures (EXCLUSIVE) 6 hours ago
  • China Box Office: Four Chinese Films Dominate Global Cinema Revenues as Lunar New Year Haul Tops $1.1 Billion 9 hours ago

Jia Zhangke

French shingle MK2 will handle international sales on “ We Shall Be All ,” a new epic from Jia Zhangke , China ’s pre-eminent indie film director.

Announced last year , the film has been a labor of love over more than 20 years for Jia. His previous works, including “Platform,” “Unknown Pleasures” and “Still Life,” have chronicled the rapid economic development of China and its impact on people and society. His most recent completed feature, “Ash Is Purest White,” appeared in competition in Cannes in 2018.

“I travelled with actors and a cameraman to shoot, without a script, without any obvious story, and didn’t really think about what to do with it until during the pandemic, which gave me time,” Jia tells Variety . “This is a work of fiction, but I have applied many documentary methods. In assembling the different incidents that we’d filmed, I began to discover the storyline and have subsequently gone back and added the necessary structure.

“It was fascinating to see how these [fictional] couples’ relationships changed as the world around them evolved. It struck me profoundly, too, how their faces had changed and helped me realize what cinema really is,” Jia says. “I also discovered that while we have preserved images quite successfully, we have lost many of the sounds of past society.”

While the first two-thirds of the new film are about the past, the last section is contemporary, and Jia shot another 60 days for that. He is now in the early stages of post-production and says that he does not intend to rush to meet any particular festival deadline.

Given that “We Shall Be All” will contain more special effects than any previous Jia title, it is not expected to be completed before the autumn.

The film is produced by Jia’s regular partners including Casper Liang Jiayan and Ichiyama Shozo. It also features Jia’s wife, actor and muse, Zhao Tao.

MK2 has previously handled sales of five films by Jia, including “Ash,” “Mountains May Depart” and “A Touch of Sin.”

More From Our Brands

The roots tap lil wayne, andré 3000 for 2024 roots picnic, car of the week: the napier ‘samson’ l48 was the first car to cross 100 mph in america. this recreation could fetch $1.1 million., rangers ot win caps memorable metlife stadium outdoor weekend, the best mattress protectors, according to sleep experts, money heist spinoff berlin renewed for season 2 at netflix, verify it's you, please log in.

Quantcast

IMAGES

  1. Sold film review

    sold movie essay

  2. 🐈 How to write a movie review essay. The Movie Review, the Blind Side

    sold movie essay

  3. 020 Year9shortfilmcharacterisationessay Phpapp02 Thumbnail Film Essay

    sold movie essay

  4. 018 Film Essay Food Inc Movie Worksheet Answers Inspirational Summary

    sold movie essay

  5. how to write a movie title into an essay

    sold movie essay

  6. 006 Essay Movies English Paper Help How To Write For High School

    sold movie essay

COMMENTS

  1. Sold Summary

    Buy Study Guide Sold Summary Thirteen-year-old Lakshmi lives in a remote Himalayan village with her mother, Ama, and her gambling-addicted stepfather.

  2. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Essay

    The movie in question 'The Greatest Movie Ever Sold', the documentary by Morgan Spurlock, attempted to discuss and elaborate the concept of the marketing tool, Product Placement in movies and films, and ironically, the movie was totally funded by brands with product placement in view of the promotional aspect, with the focus on ingeniously showc...

  3. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Essay

    5 Pages Open Document POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Morgan Spurlock's point of making this movie, "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" was to inform the general public on not just how much our entertainment is stuffed with advertisement but our world as a whole.

  4. Sold movie review & film summary (2016)

    "Sold," co-written and directed by Oscar winner Jeffrey D. Brown and executive produced by Emma Thompson, is based on the true stories of young victims unwittingly sold into prostitution. Their tales are coalesced into one narrative, intimately told.

  5. Essay Greatest Movie Ever Sold

    2/3/2013 Greatest Movie Ever Sold In this movie, Morgan Spurlock studies the world of marketing by attempting to sell brands a chance to be apart of the film. The movie gives you an in depth look inside the business of advertising by showing the steps and decisions involved.

  6. Morgan Spurlock's "POM Wonderful: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" Essay

    Morgan Spurlock's "POM Wonderful: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" Essay Exclusively available on IvyPanda One of the key factors of the success of Morgan Spurlock's "POM Wonderful: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" was the implementation process. It had a specific goal and it was focused on all audiences, being universal and accepted worldwide.

  7. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Analysis

    In POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, Morgan Spurlock takes us, the viewer, through the process and world of product placement. One of the main tactics is to distinguish a target audience. In addition, significant cast, trends, and timing are other elements to think about. Nowadays how the film industry promotes and markets ...

  8. 'Pom Wonderful Presents: Greatest Movie Ever Sold'

    Directed by Morgan Spurlock. Documentary, Comedy. PG-13. 1h 30m. By Stephen Holden. April 21, 2011. Morgan Spurlock could sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. After watching his documentary "Pom ...

  9. "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" by Morgan Spurlock ...

    1. Summarize the purpose of this 'movie". Media in the recent age is an inevitable element for successful marketing. The movie "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" by Morgan Spurlock is a satire documentary presenting brand selection, product placement, marketing, and advertisement.

  10. A Review of The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Documentary

    The Greatest Paper Ever Written Summary "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold" is a documentary outlining the process of product placement within movies and TV shows. Directed by Morgan Spurlock, this movie was funded entirely by product placement and is completely advertisement driven. Spurlock wa...

  11. Step By Step Guide to Writing an Essay on Film

    1. Watch the Movie This is the obvious starting point, but surprisingly many students skip this step. It doesn't matter if you've watched the movie twice before. If you're asked to write an essay about it, you need to watch it again.

  12. How Can I Write an Essay About a Movie?

    Here are top tips by experts when writing an essay about a particular movie during your assignments: 1. Watch the Movie. The first obvious standpoint for writing an essay about any movie is watching the film. Watching the movie builds an important foundation for the writing exercise. Composing an insightful, compelling, and well-thought movie ...

  13. Analysis: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

    Analysis: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Decent Essays 928 Words 4 Pages Open Document Essay Sample Check Writing Quality Show More Morgan Spurlock is a producer and a documentary film producer who is known for his ability to captivate peoples' attention with his unusual and witty approaches to film making.

  14. Sold Summary

    Sold is a young adult novel published in 2006 by American author Patricia McCormick.The protagonist and first-person narrator is Lakshmi, a Nepali girl from a remote mountain village who is 13 when she is trafficked for sex to an illicit organization in a large city in India.Through a series of short, titled poems (or vignettes), Lakshmi chronicles her experiences in the brothel called the ...

  15. The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

    The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Decent Essays 787 Words 4 Pages Open Document The Greatest Movie Ever Sold Media is everywhere, it became a part of our life. We are exposed to thousands of ad messages every day and it's hard to imagine how it would feel to live without them constantly surrounding us.

  16. Essays About Movies: 7 Examples And 5 Writing Prompts

    Essays about movies are a great way to learn all about the meaning behind the picture. Cinema is an art form in itself. The lighting, camera work, and acting in the most widely acclaimed movies are worthy of praise. Furthermore, a movie can be used to send a message, often discussing issues in contemporary society. Movies are entertaining, but ...

  17. Sold Film Analysis

    860 Words2 Pages The film I have chosen to assess that accurately portrays human rights issues is called Sold. Sold, a film directed by Jeffrey D. Brown, is an informative drama movie based on the sex trade countless women endure in third world countries around the globe.

  18. Sold On a Monday: A Review

    March 15, 2019 Sold On a Monday by Kristina McMorris Genre/Categories: Historical Fiction, the Depression, Family Life *This post contains Amazon affiliate links. Summary: '2 Children For Sale' is the sign that captures a rookie newspaper reporter's interest in 1931.

  19. Movie Summary Essays

    Essay Title 2: Movie Review - "Black Panther" (2018): Cultural Significance, Representation, and Superhero Excellence Thesis Statement: This movie review explores the cultural and societal significance of Marvel's "Black Panther," highlighting its groundbreaking representation, themes of identity and heritage, and the impact it had on the ...

  20. Sold on a Monday Summary and Study Guide

    Sold on a Monday tells the story of Ellis Reed's struggle to overcome the terrible choice he makes when he lies to advance his career.Ellis works for the Philadelphia Examiner's Society pages, a low-paying job usually reserved for women, but he dreams of reporting the news.One day he takes a photograph of two boys on their porch beside a sign that reads: "2 children for sale."

  21. "12 Years a Slave": An Analysis of the Film Essay

    The movie was based on the memoir Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (Ntim, 2020). It tells the story of a free African American man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Solomon spent twelve years away from his family, being traded from one master to another. Fortunately, the protagonist met a person who helped him deliver a message to ...

  22. Essays on Movies

    Movies Essay 1 (100 words) Movies are more than just entertainment; they mirror human emotions, dreams, and experiences. Each frame tells a story that resonates with people all across the world. They take us to uncharted areas, stimulating our imaginations and creating empathy. Movies generate tremendous emotions, producing enduring impressions ...

  23. 'Small Things Like These' Review: Cillian Murphy in a Fine ...

    A father (Cillain Murphy) challenges the community code of silence around the Magdalene Laundries in Tim Mielants' powerful 'Small Things Like These.'

  24. Guest Essay: J. Robert Oppenheimer Biographer on the Nearly Impossible

    American Prometheus was optioned again in 2010 and a third time in 2015. Two more screenplays were drafted. The third one was so terrible that Marty and I felt compelled to draft a memo listing ...

  25. "AI, Finance, Movies, and the Law"

    Good afternoon. Thank you, Roberta and Sarath. As is customary, I'd like to note that my views are my own as Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and I am not speaking on behalf of my fellow Commissioners or the staff.

  26. Trump opts against Supreme Court appeal on civil immunity claim over

    Donald Trump declined to ask the Supreme Court to take up his claim of presidential immunity from civil suits filed over his role in events leading up to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.

  27. 'We Shall Be All,' Epic From China's Jia Zhangke, to be Sold by MK2

    French shingle MK2 will handle international sales on "We Shall Be All," a new epic from Jia Zhangke, China's pre-eminent indie film director. Announced last year, the film has been a labor ...

  28. Amistad Movie Essay

    Analysis Of The Movie ' Amistad '. "Amistad" was released in 1997 on the territory of the United States of America.The historical period, portrayed in the film, is the year of 1839. It was the year when a terrible rebellion took place on board the Spanish ship La Amistad, which transported slaves. It was the time when the slavery was ...

  29. Film produced by Travis Kelce to benefit from green energy tax credits

    According to Variety, Field sold green energy tax credits to raise cash for the film. "Hollywood is risky, right? On a scale of one to 10, Hollywood, it is a 9.5," Radiant co-founder Ray Maiello ...