comment #1

Alex (FirstShowing.net) says ...

Really don't like it that much... It's much too flashy and convoluted. And I don't think the "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" graphics really work anymore, they just make this look even worse. I would've preferred if they used the t-shirt logo from the title sequence of the film instead. Because this is just not the classic poster I was hoping to see for such a great movie...

comment #2

Josh Massey says ...

I've been waiting years for a film to meld Run Lola Run, Leaving Las Vegas and "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" together! Eureka!

comment #3

huntermdaniels says ...

Terrible.

First off, it looks like a DTV Run Lola Run knock off. And why bother with that since almost no one even saw that film.

Second, the quiz show angle is underplayed and feels like an afterthought. My eyes didn't even catch it until I looked at the poster for about 10 seconds. (And I only looked that long because I loved the movie).

Second, subsection A, why isn't the question the same as the one that opens and closes the movie? The way that one played out gave me chills in the theater. This one is too word and less evocative.

Second, subsection B, why doesn't it say TRUE love?

Third, the crossed images has been done to death. Deception had this poster, The Prestige had this poster, Insomnia had this poster...and a dozen other generic thrillers.

Fourth, the colors make it look like it's set in a rave rather than India. (Though, the studio is probably trying to hide the fact that the film is set in India and partially subtitled).

Fifth, the title treatment is HORRENDOUS. It gives the feel of low budget horror. Something akin to The Hills Have Eyes with it's florescent yellow and jagged edges.

Sixth, why is the girl, a secondary character, placed at the center focus?

Seven, the image is just flat. The movie is breathtaking, adventurous and romantic. It has every reason that anyone goes to the movies. It's a thing of beauty and wonder...this poster makes it look like a sequel to GO. (Not that Go was bad...it just wasn't 1/100th of this film).

Eight, without the context of Indian Slums this sounds like a movie about a talking dog who comes into money. (Baily's Billions anyone?)

I suppose the image conveys motion, but little else. It's a truly terrible poster. Almost as bad as the DVD art on WRISTCUTTERS: A LOVE STORY

comment #4

The InSneider says ...

Yeah, it's a little busy but I do like the color scheme. It conveys the film's energy, and I like that the question/answers deal with the theme of destiny, though like hunter, I would've preferred the question that begins and ends the film. Would've liked a clearer shot of Dev Patel and the TIME quote seems too prominent but what were we expecting? It's just a poster. The movie's a tough sell and poses a real marketing challenge. I think it works. But the movie speaks for itself. That said I was surprised to see on Gold Derby that everyone agrees it's the only lock for Best Picture. I thought it was a great film but at no point did I ever think about awards during it, although maybe that's a good thing... Either way, Searclight will have a hit on its hands once word-of-mouth spreads.

comment #5

buckzollo says ...

I like it. Nice touch with the WWTBM overlay. Movie is better though.

comment #6

huntermdaniels says ...

Sneider, this film is the best example of classic hollywood storytelling that I have seen in ages.

This film and Hedwig and the Angry Inch are the two movies from this decade that have really made me FEEL something about fictitious characters.

comment #7

doobiedoo says ...

meh - doesn't do a lot for me. the title treatment in particular.

comment #8

Sabina E says ...

you are all crazy. this movie looks FANTASTIC (from the trailers) and ive been hearing so much good stuff about it.

can't wait to see it.

comment #9

ScottMendelson says ...

I saw the film last week. It's pretty darn good.

It makes a charming, quirky, but intense drama look like a bad romantic comedy that otherwise would have starred Kate Hudson. I saw the film and liked the film. But I would not want to see this film at all based on the poster and the way its being sold.

As for the much-disputed R-rating, the film may feel like a PG-13 picture in tone and spirit, but there is just enough R-rated content to put it over (specifically language and the opening scene). It may not be fair, and the MPAA guidelines may be flawed, but the filmmakers had to know they were crossing certain lines that would prevent a PG-13. Comparisons to The Dark Knight are bogus. That film felt R-rated, but was very careful to avoid R-rated onscreen content and edited its violence in such a way to avoid the R.

The biggest problem with the poster:

SPOILERS...
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This poster is very spoiler-ific. It reveals an image from the end of the film. As does, for that matter, do most of the few screenshots that have been released to the public, which means I've been recycling the few non-spoiler pictures when I discuss the film on my site. Even worse, the 'question' at the center of the poster reveals the primary motivation for the lead character, something that isn't revealed until the finale.

I have not seen the preview so that may be just as spoilery, but the press screening invite revealed nothing about the film that isn't detailed in the opening fifteen minutes This poster, not so much.

comment #10

Josh Massey says ...

"you are all crazy. this movie looks FANTASTIC (from the trailers) and ive been hearing so much good stuff about it. "

Did you bother to read what this thread is actually about?

comment #11

The InSneider says ...

"Sneider, this film is the best example of classic hollywood storytelling that I have seen in ages."
Interesting, considering it's a film based on a book from a director who I never really considered "Hollywood," featuring a cast full of non-stars. Beaufoy does do great work with the adaptation and thanks to his collaboration with Boyle, the film really moves and lives and breathes. It's a testament to their skill as filmmakers, because in lesser hands, this might not have worked as well as it does. That said, I preferred the characters at their youngest. I thought those kids did a fantastic job. And the person I saw the film with (who didn't love it, btw) made a pretty good point that we really don't know all that much about the characters besides the brother. We know more about him than Jamal since the whole movie he is either answering questions or asking the same question over and over again, trying to find the girl. The brother, I feel, is a much richer character with many more complexities. One of the things I really liked about the film is that you're never 100% sure where his loyalty lies until the end. As for Hedwig, I could never really get into it (though plenty of my NYU friends love it) but I did genuinely love SHORTBUS, an underrated work of art and quite possibly a masterpiece, albeit one with a lot of graphic buttfucking... I would say Brokeback Mountain definitely made me FEEL for its characters, as if I could smell Jake's shirt along with Heath.

comment #12

moviesquad says ...

I loved this film, but I think the poster is horrid. If I didn't know anything about the movie, this poster would not make me interested in seeing it.

comment #13

Sabina E says ...

JohnMassey, I'm talking about the negative comments up there.

comment #14

huntermdaniels says ...

I am well aware of who Boyle is. He's one of the first filmmakers whom I ever really followed. I also realize that he's literally not hollywood in the sense that he works mostly in Europe.

It's just that this story and the way that everything ties together reminds me of classic hollywood stuff.

I am a philosophy geek, so I loved that Hedwig was all about Plato's symposium.

As for Brokeback, not a big fan. I mean, if it were a story about a man and a woman it would have been the most boring film ever made. Beautifully shot, but it didn't do it for me. When I heard the premise and the cast I knew exactly what the movie was. There wasn't a single surprise.

comment #15

K. Bowen says ...

I need a lifeline on that one. call Jeff Wells, please.

comment #16

Ghost072 says ...

Does anyone know where a full trailer can be found for this movie? I've seen the clip on the film's website, but a actual trailer would much appreciated. As for the poster design, I actually quite like it, because it is evocative of Run Lola Run, which is one my favorite movies of the last 10 years.

comment #17

ScottMendelson says ...

Ghost072...

My advice is to not view any trailer. I haven't seen any trailers, but if it's anything like that poster, it'll give you far more information than you want to know going in. I went into it almost blind and enjoyed the film quite a bit. The movie opens in less than three weeks. If you live in an area where it will be playing on November 12th, I'd suggest waiting.

Oh, and the movie is nothing at all like Run, Lola Run. Both are good movies, but they couldn't be more different.

comment #18

Ghost072 says ...

Thanks, Scott. Unfortunately, I am in Florida, so I am not near any of the advance screening locations. I hear you on the going in blind suggestion, but my impatience and desire to see this film has me chomping at the bit for more. Still, doesn't look like there are any trailers available, at least not that I've been able to find, so I'll just have to suck it up.

comment #19

Josh Massey says ...

"JohnMassey, I'm talking about the negative comments up there."

The negative comments are about the poster, not the movie.

comment #20

janee says ...

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