Presentation Script
Was Michael J Fox able to break the
type casting of ‘teen hero’ with his performance in ‘Casualties of War’?
Slide 1:
Image of Michael J Fox
Introduce Problematic: explain why I
chose to look at Michael J Fox and that question I will be finding out if
Michael J Fox was able to keep his relaxed style of acting after staring in
Casualties of War.
Slide 2: Michael
J Fox’s Biography
Michael J. Fox was born in Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada as Michel Andrew Fox. His parents, Bill and Phyllis Fox, moved
their ten-year-old son, his three sisters Kelli Fox, Karen and Jacki and his
brother Steven to Vancouver, British Columbia, after his dad, a sergeant in the
Canadian Army Signal Corps, retired. It was during these years that Michael
developed his want to act. At fifteen, he successfully auditioned for the role
of a ten-year-old in a series called "Leo and Me" (1981). Gaining
attention as a bright new star in Canadian television and movies, Michael
realized his love for acting when he appeared on stage in "The Shadow
Box". At eighteen, he moved to Los Angeles and was, offered a few roles in
television shows but early acting success ended fast when the roles stopped
coming. For a while, he survived on boxes of macaroni and cheese. Then his
agent called to tell him that he got the part of Alex Keaton on the TV series
"Family Ties" (1982). He starred in the feature films, Teen Wolf
(1985), high school U.S.A. (1983) (TV), Poison Ivy (1985) (TV) and back to the
Future (1985).
Slide 3:
Introduce Focus Film (still from the film)
Introduce focus film, Still from film
and general facts: During the film Eriksson (Michael J Fox) and his squad
kidnapped a female villager when Meserve (Sean Penn) and the rest of the squad
rape her and Eriksson doesn't he becomes the outsider of the squad this film is
more about the realities of war, rather than the single event. (Picture of the
film poster)
1st Video Clip
Casualties of war: Introduce video clip - explain how
scene fits in with the rest of the film, screen clip: The Clip is the scene
where Michael J Fox Confronts Sean Penn about raping the VC Sean Penn’s
character was, supposed to make you think of a heartless killing machine
showing this scene like this with Michael J Fox pointing a gun at him and it
not even making Sean Penn’s character slow he still acts the same just says
“you got a weapon we all got weapons” he knows that if Michael J Fox attempts
to pull the trigger then two of the three solders around him will shoot at
Michael J Fox before he pulls the trigger.
2nd Video Clip
Casualties of war:
The end Scene on the extended edition
shows the trial of the squad including Michael J Fox as a witness to the rape
the scene shows each member one at a time being asked questions about the
event, all four of the rapist’s are being asked questions about the rape, and
why the rape occurred also the VC’s brutal death Michael J Fox is, questioned
about the events the scene ends with the verdicts of the court, martial each
member of the squad was, charged with rape and murder.
Slide 4: Still
image of casualties of war explain why I chose the film
Casualties of war was completely
different film that Michael J Fox acted in which caused Michael J Fox to star
in more serious roles
Slide 5: Introduce
other films
The Film’s I will use to back up my
question, are Teen Wolf and Back to the Future both of these films were,
released in the same year and both have a similar type of acting style from
Michael J Fox a comedy style of acting.
Slide 6: Introduce
Teen Wolf
Teen Wolf it is about Scott Howard
(Michael J Fox) and is about how he has to deal with being a werewolf. Scott is
apart of his school basketball team who has never won a game when Scott changes
into the Wolf in the middle of a basketball game the team starts to win every game
they play in. (picture of the film poster)
Video Clip Teen Wolf
This Clip is from when Scott (MJF)
first turns into the wolf in public showing the reactions of the basketball
players and the people in the stands. I chose this scene because you wouldn’t
expect the players to react they barely even react there is a silence then the
game starts off as normal at the end of the scene there is a group of people
entering a café lifting up Scott and throwing him into a booth.
Slide 7: Introduce
Back to The Future
The first of three movies Back to the
future is my favorite movie mainly because the first part doesn’t go forward in
time it doesn’t give out any false hope for the future it goes back to a time
people know about, also shows conciseness This film made the most out of the 2
sequels.
Video Clip Back to the Future
The Clip I chose for the film is the
town center where Biff, Marty is chasing him is on a skateboard running from
Biff in his car ending with Biff crashing his car into a truck with manure falling
into the car. I chose this scene because it features in both Back to the Future
and Back to the Future 2 the scene shows Marty McFly knock down Biff then run
out of the café getting a skateboard to outrun them they just go around and
around the park at the end of the scene Biff crashes his car into a truck with
manure falling can covering the car a passengers in manure.
Slide 8: Michael
J Fox’s Acting Style
Michael J Fox’s acting style is more
comedy and family films like in Back to The Future it is a comedy, family film
Teen Wolf is a comedy, family film Casualties of war is a drama war film he
changed his acting style to fit a more serious role. Michael J Fox was, chosen
for his part in back to the future and teen wolf because he looks like a teenager
in both the films he was in his early 20’s both back to the future and teen
wolf have a comedy side and in back to the future his character is, relaxed
which suits him but in Casualties of war he had to change his acting style
because in casualties of war it is a more serious role which is completely
different to his original style of acting
Slide 9: My
Reviews of the films
Back To The Future: The film has been
my favorite film for 8 years when the main reason I think this is possible is
because the DeLorean doesn’t go to the future and give false hope like most
time travel films this film features the best soundtracks I have heard
especially the enchantment under the sea dance with Johnny b Good with it also
showing Chuck Berry’s brother telling him about the song he will be performing
five to ten years later, also the fact with Marty changing the way his parents
meet and endangering his and his family’s existence showing that Biff in the
start was bossing George McFly and then at the end of the film it all changes
because of George standing up for himself the film is a classic comedy and I
think that’s why I still enjoy it now.
Casualties Of War: Sean Penn and
Michael J Fox working together in this film is great showing how Sean Penn’s
Character is in charge and in the army you are, supposed to follow all orders
Michael J Fox’s character disobeys orders to rape a captured VC villager
because it is against his ethics and throughout the movie showing how Michael J
Fox tries to bring justice to the members of his squad that followed Sean
Penn’s orders in the film the commanding offices told Michael J Fox that no
court-marshal would convict them because they didn’t care about the VC.
Teen Wolf: Teen wolf is a great film it
shows Scott Howard who is a basketball player who is also invisible to most
people around his school his basketball team has not won a game yet but Scott
Howard (Michael J Fox) when he changes to a teen wolf for the first time on the
basketball field the other players and people watching are, shocked for a brief
moment then the game starts off like it was before then every game they play
they win until Scott attacks another basketball player he decides to stay human
for the last game they win but only by working together unlike when Scott was a
wolf the team just threw the ball to the wolf.
Slide 10: Conclusion:
In my opinion Michael J Fox was able
to break his type casting of a teen hero for Casualties of war but it
didn’t affect his other films because after Back to the future 2 was, released
in the same year as Casualties of war and Back to the future 3 the acting style
stayed similar to back to original the future style of acting.
