True Grit poster analysis:
Colour:
This poster uses a very neutral colour scheme consisting mainly of browns and greys. This is done to highlight the genre of the film as crime western films often consist of very neutral fiery colours to highlight the drama that occurs.
Font and layout:
The font choice suggests an old fashion and western feel, which the film includes. The grey colour also suggests this as it creates an aged look. The text is significant in suggesting the film genre and showing who is in the film/ who’s created in it and what it’s called. As well as showing reviews from top critiques.
Codes:
Symbolic codes are used through the guns resembling violence, crime and death. This adds and aggressive feel to the film. Written codes are also used, for example the film title is put central in the largest font to make the film title clear and the main focus.
The tagline of the film is ‘Punishment comes one way or another’. This suggest that someone has done something that others want them to get revenge for it. It suggests to the punishment being one of violence through the tagline appearing to be said in an aggressive nature.
Institution:
On the poster, the company name is not mentioned. This might be because they don’t want to distract the audience away from what the film is about and who is in it. However, the company of the film is Skydance Productions. This film was released in 2010, which is not shown obviously in this poster. The brand image of this film shows that it will include violence, action, adventure and drama.
Representation:
On the poster there are the four main characters within the film. These include big names such as Matt Damon. Themselves and their names are made as one of the main focuses of the poster, with Matt Damon’s name in the middle of it. This is done to draw attention to the fact that big celebrities are in the film as this will make people want to watch it more if there are people in it that they know of and like. In the middle of the poster, we see two of the main characters with their backs to each other, this ay be done to show confrontation between these two characters which may suggest what happens within the film. All of the characters are shown as looking very serious which suggests that the film has a very serious and perhaps violent topic. The characters are all dressed in fairly stereotypical clothing for that time period and area which was in around the 1880’s in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Genre and audience:
We are shown the genre of the film through the use of guns within the poster. The man who is placed closest to the camera is given the biggest gun to suggest that he has the most power and that he perhaps most of the violence and drama will occur with him. There are also other guns in the image to again highlight that violence and perhaps that maybe deaths will occur within the film. Other signifiers used include the appearance of the characters. Their serious looks suggest a serious plot within the film. The primary audience for this film is male audience, which we can infer through the guns and masculine colours being used.
Central image:
This image is shot from slightly below however is a long shot as this way it is able to include all of the four main characters in it. The main character (Jeff Bridges) is placed in front of the other characters to highlight his importance and dominance. However, the other characters are then placed in downsizing positions, this suggests how they are positioned within importance in the film. They are all looking straight into the camera to make the audience feel somewhat intimidated. The camera angle is positioned straight onto the characters to show their importance. They are all positioned in front of a wooden wall. This is done to add a western feel to the poster. Some of the characters are carrying guns which suggests violence and drama.
