Monday, May 28, 2007

control


i don't think my generation of moviegoers appreciates the fine art of movie posters. i can thumb threw vintage movie posters for hours. i hate to sound nostalgic but how can you resist the sight of a seductive sue lyons in those heart-shaped sunglasses or those sanguine stained lips with the graphic goth background? so much of film these days is the bottom line and part of that is very obviously and very plainly featuring the big distracting visage of the star in the poster. they want you to see the movie because jennifer aniston has pretty hair in it, not because there is something alluring or intruiging about it.

i adore this poster for anton corbijn's debut feature film "control" for everything i think is missing in movie poster art. it's bold, moody, and beautifully composed. it may feature the lead actor of the film, but because he's an unknown actor we are not commenting on what he did in us weekly last week. he's isolated on one side of the poster suggesting the solitary and private pain ian curtis endured before his death. he's cool looking like a rock star with his dangling cigarette, but slightly odd looking juxtaposed against the towering cityscape. the simple font only adds.

the film gained mostly positive reviews:

"Somber, sad and compelling, Ian Curtis biopic "Control," about Blighty '80s post-punk band Joy Division's lead singer, is a riveting, visually arresting portrait of a soul in torment."
--russell edwards, variety

it's almost as if he's describing the poster. i think this could be one of the films to watch this year.

check out a clip from the film here.

No comments: