poster analysis of american gangster

1. The focal point of the image is the actor, Denzel Washington; this
makes the audience understand that the film is centred on this
character. Denzel Washington is represented photographically as the
maincoloursusedinthe poster are highly contrasted use of black and
white andredwhichare typicallycoloursforagangster film, whichthis
genre conforms to, reflect the terror, and corruption that is
represented in the movie. The highly contrasted white suit connotes
Crowe’s character’s purity, as he is on the side of the law. Russell
Crowe is facing Denzel Washington, suggesting that both are on
opposite ends of the law and that Crowe has to take him down.
The use of iconography
showed in the poster for
example the Gun and
suits, which are icons,
used in the genre of
crime gangster movies.
The use of the gun shows
the corruption of the
main character or a hint
of the lifestyle the main
character may be part of
coupled with the white
suit may imply how he
was about to get to the
positionof himbeingable
to wear the suit through
violence and terror.
The gun to the side also
suggests the character is
superstitious and always
on edge, giving us a
further glimpse into his
lifestyle.
Although there are no
critics quotes on the
poster, the poster does
show the previous movies
that the director of this
movie has been on e.g.
the “gladiator and the
black hawk down” this
also gives way for an
audience who watched
the two moviestobe able
to watch this one,
expecting it to be the
same or even better
quality as the gladiator or
the black hawk down,
even though there is no
tagline on the poster, the
use of the notable actor
“Denzel Washington”
gives the audience and
fans of Denzel
Washington an interest
into the movie.
The filmtitle isboldandplaced
in the middle of the poster,
making it clear to the
audience. The little splash of
redseen lookssimilartoblood,
helping to create the
impression that there is
violence and brutality in the
film, as it is a crime film. The
red line could also be a
metaphorforthe lie of crime:a
person starts off straight and
narrow, but eventually the
lines get blurred.
The police badge on
Russell Crowe helps
establish that he is
working for the police,
confirming that
Washington’scharacter is
the titular ‘AMERICAN
GANGSTER’.
The poster follows the conventions of all posters and
features the production and distribution companies at the
bottom.
The eyesare
partiallyvisible,
whichaddsto the
elementof
mysteryandthe
incognitoof both
characters.
The poster being in
blackand white suggests
the film is a period
piece/drama, which is
true, with the film, is, in
fact, set in the late
1960s.