Contest tips - CRITICAL REVIEW

TIPA Rules
CRITICAL REVIEW
Writing deadline is one hour.

Contestants’ subject may be related to theater, music, movie, exhibit, museum or literary and may be presented via live presentation or via video/audio. Supporting materials will be provided.

Criteria: Presentation of subject, relevant background, summary of plot/theme/focus, judgments of impact of work, support of judgments, overall evaluation of work, grammar, spelling, word choices, punctuation, creativity, style, etc.

Materials needed : Writing contests may be on either computer (laptop or portable computer with USB) or hand written in blue or black ink. Contestants may use tape recorders with earphones only. Contestants must provide note pad and writing instrument for taking notes. AP Stylebooks, thesaurus and dictionaries may be used.

TIPA 2009 Winners
1st Place
Critical Review
By Brad Basker
Sam Houston State University

From the moment the a suicidal shotgun blast sounded in its opening scene, Sunshine Cleaning painted a masterpiece of reality while transcending beyond character deficiency and circumstance.
Sunshine follows a moment of decision in the lives of the Lorkowski Family. Amy Adams plays the redheaded Rose who while cleaning the homes of wealthy clients is constantly reminded of her failures in career and relationships in addition try providing for her charmingly eccentric son Oscar. (Jason Spevack). Meanwhile, the doldrum world of sister Norah (Emily Blunt), life is better spent sleeping when work provides no stimulation.
To bring chaotic clarity to a cluttered family, father Joe (Steve Zahn) is full of uplifting promises while leaving a trail of disappointing financial endeavors.
The faculty at Oscar’s school decide that medication is the best remedy for his increasingly expressive behavior, but Rose would rather find the fiscal means to place him in a private institution. It’s through this incidence that Rose starts Sunshine Cleaning, a company that “comes into people’s lives when the experience something profound.”
After recruiting her sister they began an adventure through bloodied bathrooms and burning houses that revolutionizes their lives. Adams and Blunt embody the Lorkowski Sister’s essence by being completely molded under the pressures of their character‘s trials. They are become so unified as the Lorkowskis that they are unaware of their charisma.
The extremity of Rose and Norah’s chemistry is balanced by utility additions of Arkin and Spevack. Their adventures into binocular acquisitions and occasionally unsavory business
opportunities displays a pleasantly dysfunctional relationship between a grandfather who often is stuck babysitting his inquisitive grandson.
The film is delightfully sincere in its projection of a family that despite being faced with mounds of self hindering obstacles is able to see light shining through dark horizons. The film is more about the cleanliness of the motivations and relationships of the Lorkowski family than the crime scenes that need sanitary attention.
Somewhere along the way the sisters can no longer continue to clean the crushed lives of others, without attending to their blood stained history. They find a piece of themselves in dilapidated houses and the tears of widows, and are able unearth the truth that binds them.
Sunshine is utterly spotless because it’s an honest film dealing with the harsh realities. It’s only through their hardship that the Lorkowski families character is exemplified. Whether it be self motivating repetitions or a tenacity to succeed in business, they’re blessing is birthed in the hardships they endure. Their circumstance is not so far‐gone that it alienates audiences, but at the same time is not so melancholy that it looses it’s comedic edge. It’s a public service announcement for anyone in a mess, seeking a little bit of sunshine.


2nd Place
Critical Review
By Laura Garcia
UTPan American

The old adage goes “blood is thicker than water” and Sunshine Cleaning puts that exact theme at the forefront of it all. The same ol story of a semi‐happy, struggling, single mother takes an unconventional direction in this film by director Christine Jeffs.
Rose Lorkowski, played by Amy Adams (Doubt Enchanted) decides to start up a crime scene clean‐up service after she has to foot the private school bill for her son Oscar. Lorkowski takes on the disturbing, yet somehow healing task with her sister Norah Lorkowski, played by Emily Blunt (The Devil Wears Prada).
Thrown into the mix of this family is the girls’ father Joe (played by Alan Arkin), and Winston – the janitorial supply store owner. Ironically, the girls’ mother committed suicide when they were young, which left quite a mess.
As the movie plays on, some scenes are reminiscent of Little Miss Sunshine, which happens to be produced by the same crew. The same dysfunctional – yet loving – family dynamic becomes evident with each situation. The sister relationship isn’t your typical “I hate you” or “I love you” relationship. It is a mixture of both. It has its ups and downs, but mostly it is the older sister filling the mother’s shoes.
However, this is the only relationship explored throughout the film. Some of the other characters fall short and pop‐up here and there but the writers never really go into depth which is sad because it seems like every one of them had an interesting back story.
Then one relationship and character seems very odd and completely out of place. The question of “is she gay or not” comes up on more than one occasion.
Overall, the film was touching, different and unexpected. With it’s dry humor
(Joe Lorkowski references “retard classes”) and off‐beat situations, it is very well worth the ticket.
It will make up laugh and cry and when a film can do both, it is a true success. Grade: B+


3rd Place
Critical Review
By Mark Bell
TCU

Sunshine Cleaning is from the same producers as Little Miss Sunshine and you can tell. But that’s not a bad thing.
Sunshine Cleaning uses the same things that made Little Miss Sunshine a great film, touching and realistic performances from a strong cast and a well‐written script that deals with life issues, to deliver an enjoyable, funny and heartwarming movie experience.
Amy Adams plays Rose Lorkowski, a former cheerleading captain still living in her high school glory days. Except that now she has a kid and her football captain lover is married to someone else. Rose works as a maid but when she needs money to put her son in private school. She and her deadbeat sister Norah (played well by Emily Blunt), start a crime scene clean‐up business. What follows is a series of struggles that show the importance of friends and family, remembering the past, living I the present, and preparing a better future for your loved ones.
Adams is the real winner in the film. She delivers a strong, realistic portrayal of a woman coming to realize there is more to lift than impressing others. Adams tells Rose’s story with the details, the former cheerleader’s tendency to smile even when cring and the heartfelt embraces with her son, sister and dad.
Jason Spevacks, the young actor that plays Rose’s eight‐year old son, Oscar, also gives a strong
performance, stealing many scenes as an incredibly curious and smart child. Alan Arkin rounds out the main cast as Joe, the father and delivers a characteristically strong performance to be expected from the Academy Award winner.
The movie deals with many broad themes such as dying, remembering the past, and finding happiness, but does so successfully by the small things. A comforting hand for an old woman who lost her husband, two sisters finally able to cry together over their dead mother and a grandfather breaking down because he can’t give his grandson what he feels he deserves are telling examples.
Sunshine Cleaning is a distinctly American movie. From its small town Americana setting of Albuquerque (small, rustic American town, another Little Miss Sunshine comparison) to the characters’ desire for the American dream, to make life better for their loved ones and children. More than anything, Sunshine Cleaning is a triumph of the human and American spirit. While people are dying and committing suicide all around them, the Lorkowski family drives through with love and hope. In these trying economic times there is something to be said about a movie that celebrates pushing through, even if it isn’t glamorous, to provide a better future for
your loved ones. As Norah says, she “just wanted to do the right thing,” and as rose notes,
there is something about “doing a little bit of good.” With a series of great performances, the film delivers admirably in showing this American ideal.