The Top 10 Film Posters of 2010

In an age where advertising is so often the bastard step-child of the art community, done with a certain amount of talent but too self-serving to be considered works of a lasting impression, you will now and then get an advertisement that stands out as something more- a representation of a bigger idea.

With film posters, this is an obvious truth. Their job is simple: condense a tone, a feeling, or a thought, which will best represent the story their client is telling and, hopefully, attract the masses to that tale. Many times, this task isn’t easy and often the final poster is simply  a representation of the latest photoshop trickery and/or popular style trends (orange and blue anyone?). But sometimes, in the rarest of moments, you will have a poster come out, which, not only accomplishes its purpose, but also stands on its own two feet- making it a good piece of work, even if the film it represents turns out to be mediocre at best.

Now that we’re reaching the end of the year, I’ve chosen ten film posters, which I believe best represented this idea- proving to be both exceptional as an advertisement and, dare I say it, as art.

10. Tiny Furniture

Yes, this poster is certainly going for that “indie vibe,” but, with its interesting color palette and massively huge (and rather unique) tagline, it’s hard for this one not to make you grin.

9. Howl

You got to love when new posters still give off that classic style, evoking the sadly lost era of painted film posters, which most likely went out with the retirement Drew Struzan and rise of digital artwork. At least, now and then, beauties like this one still arise.

8. Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps

Power…power incarnate. A portrait of a young man with the devil over his left shoulder and an angel nowhere to be seen. It’s simple and effective.

7. Greenberg

A great poster doesn’t have to have a ton of explosions and lens flares to make it appealing. In fact, tiny words amongst a large blank canvas speak just a loud, if not louder.

6. Buried

Of course this is Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” reimagined but isn’t that what makes it so fun?

5.  127 Hours

Though a rather normal looking poster at first glance, once you read the tagline, “Every Second Counts” and then take the poster all in, you suddenly see what makes it so brillant.

4. Happythankyoumoreplease

I had never heard of this film until recently and have yet to see a trailer for it but, on poster alone, you can only hope it is just as inventive and fun.

3. The Social Network

How do you sell a movie about Facebook without ever saying it? Pretty much with the best tagline of the year. Also, props to the designer for putting the films title where the internet giant’s name would be in the first place- it says it all without stepping on any corporate toes.

2. Black Swan

You almost wish this film was a book first, simply so you could have this picture on a book cover. Inventive, smart, and minimalistic according to today’s poster design standards, this poster is both ominous and timeless.

1. Rabbit Hole

Talk about evoking emotion through color. This one is easily my favorite because it’s busy in just the right ways and just as equally quiet. If a picture says a thousand words, this poster represents a 9000 word thesis on love, passion, depression, and grief.

So how bout you? What film posters peaked your interest this past year? Let me know in the comments section below!