Film Analysis: Bill & Ted Face the Music
| Film Title: | Bill & Ted Face the Music |
| Year: | 2020 |
| Director: | Dean Parisot |
| Country: | United States |
| Genre: | Comedy/Sci-fi |
| If you could work on this film (change it), what would you change and why? | Add more interest to the characters. Some of the lines were dry and repetitive. |
As you view films, consider how the cuts, camera angles, shots, and movement work to create particular meanings. Think about how they establish space, privilege certain characters, suggest relationships, and emphasize themes. In addition to shot distances, angles, editing, and camera movement, note details of the narrative, setting, characters, lighting, props, costume, tone, and sound.
Ask yourself the following questions:
| TOPIC | YOUR NOTES |
| 1. Who is the protagonist? | Bill and Ted |
| 2. Who is the antagonist? | The Great Leader |
| 3. What is the conflict? | Time and space will collapse if Bill and Ted don’t unite the world with their song. |
| 4. What is the theme? (summarize in one or two words) | Time Travel, Music |
| 5. How is the story told (linear, with flashbacks, flash-forwards, at regular intervals) | Mostly linear |
| 6. What “happens” in the plot (Brief description)? | Bill and Ted travel to the future multiple times and try to find the song they wrote that will unite the world. |
| 7. How does the film influence particular reactions on the part of viewers (sound, editing, characterization, camera movement, etc.)? Why does the film encourage such reactions? | The film gets you pumped up with loud fast-paced music and cool visual effects. |
| 8. Is the setting realistic or stylized? What atmosphere does the setting suggest? Do particular objects or settings serve symbolic functions? | The earth part of the film is pretty realistic but of course, they go to places in the future and also go to hell which is more stylized. |
| 9. How are the characters costumed and made-up? What does their clothing or makeup reveal about their social standing, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or age? How do costume and makeup convey character? | The clothing is pretty laid back for Bill and Ted. Their daughters dress in a kind of quirky way that fits their personality. |
| 10. How does the lighting design shape our perception of character, space, or mood? | It sets the mood for each scene. For example, Hell has very red and dark lighting. |
| 11. How do camera angles and camera movements shape our view of characters or spaces? What do you see cinematically? | It helps us focus on something in a scene and draws us into it. |
| 12. What is the music’s purpose in the film? How does it direct our attention within the image? How does it shape our interpretation of the image? What stands out about the music? | The movie is centered around music. |
| 13. How might industrial, social, and economic factors have influenced the film? Describe how this film influences or connects to a culture? | This is the third Bill and Ted film so they had to create something that would do justice to the originals. |
| 14. Give an example of what a film critic had to say about this film Use credible sources and cite sources Example: “The Shawshank Redemption Movie Review (1994) | Roger Ebert.” All Content. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2015. | |
| 15. Select one scene no longer than 5 minutes that represents well the whole film and shows relevant cinematic elements. Explain why. | |
| 16. In the selected scene: write a sentence for each of the elements below: | |
| a. Screenwriting: | |
| b. Sound Design: | |
| c. Camera Movements: | |
| d. Light Setup: | |
| e. Soundtrack: | |
| 18. What’s the socio-cultural context of this film? |