Seine Vibe

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I meant to run a comparison of these two posters for An Education last week but I couldn't convert a PDF image of the Australian version (r.) with my Corel photo manipulation program...don't ask. And then In Contention's Guy Lodge ran with it yesterday. Sony Classics' domestic poster (a) conveys a neutral romantic vibe and (b) conceals/Photoshops the fact that Peter Sarsgaard's character in the film is much older than Carey Mulligan's, which of course is a major plot point.

Sony Classics' An Education poster, intended for U.S. audiences (l.); the Australian version (r.).

The Aussie poster doesn't focus on their faces in order to include the romantic ambiance of Paris, which I personally find much more appealing than the two-shot. Oh, wait...I get it. The Sony Classics ad guys figured that under-25 American Eloi/moron class would feel alienated by a shot of Paris ("eewww...is this movie in French?") and decided to go generically "romantic". Both posters conceal the fact that the story takes place in 1961, which would probably be a problem for a certain Eloi percentage as well.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 12, 2009 at 7:36 AM

comment #1

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

Sarsgaard looks like Ewan McGregor in those shots. But I am so looking forward to this one.

Posted by MikeSchaeferSF at August 12, 2009 8:12 AM

comment #2

SnarfTheFierce says ...

Yeah, it's the Paris setting that would turn off the uninformed. Not the lack of star power, the good-but-vague title, the art-house pedigree, etc.

If you're going to take non sequitur potshots, at least make them sensible.

Posted by SnarfTheFierce at August 12, 2009 8:18 AM

comment #3

Sabina E says ...

No, Wells! Paris isn't a turn-off for under 25 American Eloi/ morons. remember when AMELIE came out in 2001 and was a huge hit?

Anyway, I like the Australian poster much more.

Posted by Sabina E at August 12, 2009 9:02 AM

comment #4

caslab says ...

The Photoshopped-Sarsgaard is pretty off-putting, but I prefer the American poster. I'm not under-25, I'm not anti-Paris and I don't think I'm a moron (although I suspect it's like being crazy . . . the people who are, don't know it).

The Australian poster's vibe reads as more generically "romantic" to me.

Posted by caslab at August 12, 2009 9:04 AM

comment #5

Rich S. says ...

Geez, Jeffrey. Didn't the failed marketing of Hurt Locker teach you anything?

You've been championing this film for months. Who cares how it's marketed as long as it puts butts in the seats? The "Eloi" poster isn't an out-an-out lie, so if it gilds the lily a bit, so what? If it turns just a few more people onto this movie than would have gone otherwise, it's all to the good.

(Besides, I think your Eloi argument breaks down rather severely if and 18-year-old Yvette Mimieux is factored into the equation. But I digress.)

Posted by Rich S. at August 12, 2009 9:04 AM

comment #6

drbob says ...

I think both posters give off a similar vibe. I think the only reason why the American poster goes with the head shot is because the marketing is essentially saying "yes, we know our leads are unknowns, but look how hot they are together."

Posted by drbob at August 12, 2009 9:11 AM

comment #7

raygo says ...

The hair and dress in the poster scream 60s vibe (and remind me of Hairspray for some reason).

Posted by raygo at August 12, 2009 9:29 AM

comment #8

crazynine says ...

Well, it's only an opinion, but to me, the poster on the left is MUCH better.

The one on the right looks like they're well-to-do heroin addicts sprawled out on the sidewalk. The first looks like loving relaxation (not to mention they both look FAR more comfortable).

As for Eloi, is that the magical Pee-Wee's Playhouse word of the month here or what? It certainly makes *me* want to scream and yell.

Snarf has it precisely right: any American audience afraid of seeing a romance set in Paris is *afraid of seeing a romance*, period. That doesn't make them Eloi; that makes them heterosexual men.

Posted by crazynine at August 13, 2009 6:06 AM

comment #9

eoguy says ...

The poster on the right makes it look like it's a Wed Anderson comedy.

Posted by eoguy at August 13, 2009 1:13 PM

comment #10

eoguy says ...

Wes Anderson, of course.

Posted by eoguy at August 13, 2009 1:14 PM

comment #11

ayseasli says ...

60s in the UK ... Location, clothing, hair and even with music I should say exactly mirrored. Carey Mulligan Audrey Hepburn and even the weather does not display. I found a very successful actor. An Education (2009)

Posted by ayseasli at August 30, 2010 5:51 AM

comment #12