Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Analysis and Critique of Barry Levinson’s Film, “Wag the Dog”. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 6 page paper which examines the film’s plot, the director’s approach to the subject matter and the portrayal of the media and journalists to evaluate whether they were realistic or if they reflected any particular bias, critiques the film to consider whether or not it can be recommended and offers three conclusions related to media and politics. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: TG15_TGwagdog.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
crisis with Saddam Husseins Iraq, conveniently reveals itself, director Barry Levinson and actor/co-producer Robert DeNiro release the scathing political satire, Wag the Dog, a film that, upon its January 1998
release, eerily paralleled current events. The plot involves an American president who is seeking re-election, but becomes embroiled in a potentially ruinous sex scandal (with a Firefly girl scout,
no less) that his conservative opponent cannot wait to capitalize on. While the right-wing candidate is busily churning out ads to the musical accompaniment of "Thank Heaven for Little
Girls," White House press secretary Winifred Ames (Anne Heche) embarks on some frenzied crisis management, and secures the services of savvy political spin doctor Conrad Brean (DeNiro), who quickly joins
forces with film producer Stanley Motss (Dustin Hoffman). What better way to divert attention from an embarrassing presidential scandal than to replace it with a carefully orchestrated war, Hollywood
style? While this may appear to be a bit farfetched to be plausible, as the team of media experts know all too well, the American public has been conditioned
to accept whatever the media presents them as truth. Is the premise of Wag the Dog funny? Absolutely. Is the message it conveys through incisive parody scary?
Definitely. Barry Levinson is a veteran filmmaker who deftly employs a cynical approach to his subject matter, reflected in the screenplay by sardonic playwright David Mamet and Hilary
Henkin, which is much more of a black comedy than is the novel upon which it is based, Larry Beinharts American Hero (Is it Life or is it Mamet? 85).
While he admittedly could not have foreseen the fortuitous timing of his films release, Levinson proves himself to be a gifted student of American popular culture with Wag the
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