Movie posters need to be immediately appealing to lure the potential customer into the cinema. Some though go way beyond appealing and are really artistic. I will share some of my favourites in this blog, aiming for a grouping of twelve around a certain theme. Today's theme is 'Glasses', because we saw The Aviator a few weeks ago. The movie posters are listed in chronological order. The image above is made via Photofunia and is free from copyright restrictions.
Lolita (1962)
Lolita is a 1962 psychological comedy-drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on the 1955 novel of the same title by Vladimir Nabokov. It stars James Mason, Shelley Winters, Peter Sellers, and 14 years old Sue Lyon in the title roll. The poster is a good representation of the controversial subject.
Straw Dogs (1971)
Risky Business (1983)
Risky Business is a 1983 American teen sex comedy film, directed by Paul Brickman and starring Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay. The film is best known as Cruise's breakout film, and features him prominently on the poster, in the classic looking over the glasses pose - which I'm surprised I did not encounter more often in other posters.
The Big Lebowski (1998)
The Big Lebowski is a 1998 comedy crime film written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. It stars Jeff Bridges, Sam Elliott, Julianne Moore, and Steve Buscemi. The poster is a stunner in its limited use of colour, giving even more emphasis on the trippy psychedelic pattern reflected in the glasses.
The Matrix (1999)
The Matrix is a 1999 science fiction action film written and directed by the Wachowskis. It is the first installment in The Matrix film series, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving. Four (sun)glasses for the price of one in this poster.
Almost Famous (2000)
Almost Famous is a 2000 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, and Kate Hudson. I really enjoyed watching this movie about a fictional rock band in the early seventies - not least because it was that decade that really sparked my interest in rock. Brilliant idea to put the title in Penny Lane's sunglasses on the poster.
The Aviator (2004)
The Aviator is a 2004 American epic biographical drama film about the life of Howard Hughes, directed by Martin Scorsese, and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, and Kate Beckinsale. The poster is an inspired choice, with the glasses reflecting the sky that continued to draw Howard Hughes.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 2011 Cold War spy thriller film directed by Tomas Alfredson, based on John le Carré's 1974 novel of the same name. The film stars Gary Oldman, with Colin Firth, and Tom Hardy. The poster depicts secret agent George Smiley (Oldman), with most of the image constructed from numbers.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 fantasy film directed by David Yates. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson (and dozens of British actor celebrities). Of course, Harry Potter had to be included in this post, as he is probably the most famous bespectacled character in movie history.
Incredibles 2 (2018)
Incredibles 2 is a 2018 American computer-animated superhero film produced by Pixar Animation Studios. It was released 14 years after Incredibles, which remains my favourite work in the genre. As usual in recent years, there is a series of posters for the movie. This one contains my favourite secondary character Edna with her trademark glasses. Love the catch phrase as well ("It's been too long Dahlings...").
Operation Finale (2018)
Operation Finale is a 2018 American historical drama film about the capture of former SS officer Adolf Eichmann. It was directed by Chris Weitz, andstarred Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Lior Raz, and Mélanie Laurent. The poster conceals and reveals the theme quite cleverly, thanks to the swastika shaped crack in the glasses, and the Eichmann silhouette in the blood stain.
Rocketman (2019)
Rocketman is a 2019 biographical musical fantasy drama film based on the life and music of Elton John. It was directed by Dexter Fletcher and starred Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell and Richard Madden. The posters shows the lead actor sporting one of Elton's famously bizarre glasses. I like the subtle reflection of the piano keys in the glasses in particular.
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