Friday, November 18, 2005

Top 10: One-Sheets


This week's Top 10 was inspired by a discussion at Film Freak Central. Too often nowadays, marketing departments resort to "big heads" to sell a movie. The ten posters below all evoke the specific tones and themes of the films they represent. They are iconic, elegant, and can stand on their own as striking works of art.

1. Alien
2. Jaws
3. Batman
4. Altered States
5. 2001: A Space Odyssey
6. Miller's Crossing
7. American Beauty
8. Ghostbusters
9. Return of the Jedi
10. Full Metal Jacket

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

1. Lolita
2. 2001:A Space Odyssey
3. Carrie
4. Alien
5. Vertigo
6. Rosemary's Baby
7. Amadeus
8. Poltergeist
9. Manhattan
10. Jaws

-Jess

Andrew Bemis said...

Damn, how did I forget Lolita? Good call.

Anonymous said...

Great list. I wish I could recall some other good ones. I think the original Superman could fit into that list.

It's always interesting to see what the goal is, how the marketing machine tries to sum up a movie with one shot. I'd be curious to know what your top ten "money shots" from films would be.

Anonymous said...

1. Apu's Trilogy
2. Metropolis
3. El angel exterminador
3. A bout de souffle
4. Pierrot le Fou
5. Ladri di biciclette
6. The seventh sign (Sjunde inseglet, Det)
7. Roman Holyday
8. Umarete wa mita keredo
9. Madadayo
10. Yojimbo

Andrew Bemis said...

Yeah, that Superman poster is fantastic, and one of the many I had to painfully whittle out (along with The Exorcist and A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors to get the list down to ten).

You make an excellent point about "money shots," as often, the best posters (see the Miller's Crossing one) are made from the film's most defining moment. Too often nowadays, the "money shot" just means a one-liner or CG effect; the best ones tap into our subconscious fears and desires, and would make for a fascinating list. Off the top of my head, the "You're gonna need a bigger boat" scene in Jaws and the "I am your father" scene in The Empire Strikes Back easily fit the bill. But it can also be a more subtle moment, like Bill Murray whispering in Scarlett Johansson's ear.

Andrew Bemis said...

Much agreement on the Metropolis poster. Very worldly list.