Like many other critics, we unabashedly loved Danny Boyle’s exhilarating, and electrical new film, “Slumdog Millionaire,” when we saw it early this year at TIFF. but we are not feeling its design at all (Anne Thompson had it first exclusively).
A small quibble perhaps, but we think FoxSearchlight should go back to the drawing board here. Though they probably don’t have time.
Thompson notes that Searchlight rushed and went from “zero to 100 when it took over the release” of the film, which now comes out November 12 in limited openings and maybe this is why the poster feels like a rush job. It doesn’t quite capture the joyful tone of the film, but we suppose it does catch the kinetic energy in a bottle and quick-like moving camera and pace of the picture. What happened to the color old palette though? Much better. Oh well.
It shouldn’t detract anyone from seeing the film, but that logo, ooof. That’s like a font we used in 1997. According Ms. AT:
TV spots will take advantage of the movie’s Bollywood soundtrack and closing dance number, and eventually reviews and awards. Natch, Searchlight is supporting an Oscar campaign for the filmmaker—“it’s time,” says Utley—and adapted screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy, who was Oscar-nominated for the label’s The Full Monty. “We always have the little underdog,” says Utley, who’s banking that Slumdog will place favorably against darker, grimmer Oscar competition. “This movie makes you feel good in a time of deepening anxiety.”
We’re big Danny Boyle fans and feel like a lot of his work since “28 Days Later” has been overlooked, so we’re happy for him to see this underdog get some good press. PS. Every film festival ‘Slumdog’ plays, the crowd pleaser earns itself a standing-ovation. Everyone loved it at Telluride and TIFF and it seems like the reaction at the Austin Film Festival was similarly super enthusiastic.
