2. 0 Write a review of a film of your choice. This
review will appear in a magazine for young people.
[20]
PURPOSEWhat is it for?
AUDIENCEWho is it for?
LANGUAGEWhat language will be used?
LAYOUTHow is it set out on the page?

3. In the film School of Rock, Jack Black plays talented, but unsuccessful, musician Dooey: a
wanabee who has never quite managed to hit the big time, even though he has given all his
time and energy in pursuit of this dream. His ambition is to win ‘Battle of the Bands’, a
competition which can launch unknowns to stardom. As a result of losing his home and his
band, however, the dream seems ever more unlikely, until a chance phone call, offering his
flatmate a job teaching music in a posh school. He decides to take the position instead, so
embarking on a journey that sees his egotistical character go from one haphazard incident
to the next.
Anyone who is familiar with Jack Black from his other film roles, such as in Shallow
Hal and High Fidelity, will not be surprised or disappointed by his character in this film. It
is as over the top, extreme and non-conformist as usual, with the familiar ‘larger-than-life’
portrayal of himself. The pupils are great, too. They are really convincing as strait-laced
youngsters, finding out that there is more to music, and life, than they thought. It is the
young actors who steal the limelight, as they blossom from geeky students to confident
rockers in the course of the film.
The film is entertaining and the comedy moments are hilarious the first time round.
Unfortunately, the jokes lose their sparkle the second, third or even fourth time, but still
they make the audience smile. The knowledge that there is a sentimental ending on the
horizon does not detract from the pleasure of the film, as although it is quite predictable
it is somehow satisfying.
It is attractive to young and old: particularly those who are in any way interested in
the music world. As with all Jack Black’s projects, the music aspect is accurate and
verging on ‘anorak’ in its breadth of knowledge.
On the whole, it has many positive attributes, and if you are a fan of the American
high school film, but would like to see it with a twist, then this is the film for you.

4. Step One – Structuring your
answer
0 In pairs.
0 The task is asking you to produce a review.
0 What are the conventions of this writing type?
0 Are there any language features that are always used?
0 What tone does the writing have?

5. Features of a film review
• Written in first and second person – ‘I’ ‘you’
• Personal address – ‘you must see this film’
• Superlatives – biggest, greatest, most
• List of 3
• lungs (jokes or word play)
• Facts and opinions.
• Show strengths and weaknesses
• Always written in present tense
• Never give away the ending
• Comparisons to similar films.

6. Step Two – Content
0 In a different colour write around the edge of
your mind-map the content you will include in
your article.
0 Ensure you are planning for ways to address all
of the structural features.
0 E.g. Where will you include a list of three.

8. Self Assessment
0 Refer back to the grade descriptors and read
back carefully through your work.
0 Use the editing pens to give yourself an
estimated mark based on the descriptors.