The film poster for Goodfellas uses traditional serif fonts and images of the main actors in black suits to indicate that the film is a gangster genre film set over three decades involving the mafia. Violence is depicted through a dead body on the street. The director Martin Scorsese and actors Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are prominently featured due to their association with gangster films. The color scheme of black and white creates an ominous tone appropriate for the genre.

1. Goodfellas film poster analysis<br /> <br />1. The film is called 'Goodfellas' and the font is a traditional serif type, this is because it looks old fashioned which relates to the Mafia. Thus giving the audience an indication into the gangster genre, as this font is associated with the mob, as shown with other gangster films containing the same font e.g. Goodfellas, Casino. It also links with the strapline 'Three decades of life in the mafia' creating the sense of traditionalism.<br /> <br />2. The main image is of the three main characters, this is because the star actors are the unique selling point, as they include Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, well established actors who are closely associated with the gangster genre. Their attire of black suits, ties and white shirts with large collars also represent a traditional gangster and connote a funeral, illustrating violence will be involved. The secondary picture is of a man lying dead in the street in a suit and Capone hat, showing that violence will be involved and further clarity into the gangster genre.<br /> <br />3. I believe the film will be about three gangsters involved with the mafia, participating in crime. I believe it will be in the gangster genre as the men are in black suits with black ties, violence is shown and these actors working together signifies that it will be a gangster film.<br /> <br />4. The actors starring in the film are Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta. These are well established actors who are closely associated with the gangster genre. The actors’ names’ are on the top of the film poster as it is a USP for the film.<br /> <br />5. The most prevalent colours are black and white. This is because black and white are commonly used in gangster films to create an ominous undertone and serve as a harsh contrast, which are displayed in gangster films through the characters extreme violence but love for their family. The colour black represents death, moral darkness and lack of knowledge while white represents purity and innocence. These colours could also represent a gangster suit, a subtle hint into the genre.<br /> <br />6. 'Three decades of life in the mafia'<br /> <br />7. I believe the target audience for the film is males aged between 18 and 30, the poster seems attractive to this audience as it shows a man dead in the road and clearly represents that the main action in the film will be violence, giving an indication into the genre.<br /> <br />8. I believe the USP for 'Goodfellas' is the director and actors. Martin Scorsese is a very well known and critically respected director, popular due to his great gangster films, thus he will appeal to a mass market and to a niche market. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are well known and respected also and closely associated with the gangster genre.<br /> <br />9. The producer (Irwin Winkler), the director (Martin Scorsese), the actors (Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta) and the distributor (Warner Bros.)<br /> <br />10. Warner Bros. <br /> <br />