#13: POSTER PARALLEL - THE MINIMIZED HERO

Radical Studios' Oblivion (2013)

"...a film so big, it doesn't really matter who's in it...sort of..."

That seems to be the ongoing suggested theme from the posters of a number of theatrical, sci-fi juggernauts pending a 2013 release.  Towering monuments of iconic, mid-century architecture crumbling in ruins...dirt and debris churned up from natural disaster and catastrophic warfare...while in the distance, the glimmer of a euphoric city skyline hints to the prospect of a satisfying resolution.  Meanwhile, in the minute foreground, our seemingly tiny (but present) hero(es) overlook the Brobdingnagian scene. 

One recent example of this theme is the preliminary poster for Radical Studio's Oblivion, the post-apocalyptic, post-alien invasion vehicle coming out in the new year (adapted from the graphic novel by Joseph Kosinski).  The poster shows that Oblivion is clearly a film that features cataclysmic destruction and degradation in the aftermath of an unfriendly alien visitors.  Our hero stands at the base of the waterfall, representing the prevailing existence of humanity in an era of irreversible chaos.  His figure is minimally scaled down, emphasizing the film's visual grandiosity.  Then, as your eyes wander over to the Alien-influenced text, it is revealed that our hero is portrayed by the most presidential of A-Listers, Tom Cruise.

Following through with my notorious fixation on the potency of A-List stars prominently featured in film posters (i.e. see post #4 on Bruce Willis), it's an striking turn having Cruise scaled down to a square inch of the poster's size, facing away from the fourth wall; this is a rare representation of Cruise, whose world renown profile has consistently carried promotional artwork for such as...well, have a look at the posters of any Tom Cruise film and you'll see my point. What's especially appealing about this style of promotion is the market's returned interest and faith in content, character and story, moving away from the habitual dependency on simply showing a blown out image of the film's most bankable star.  Instead, the poster significantly identifies with the film's story and titular symbolism, visually communicating an epochal end of humanity and the earth's looming demise into "oblivion". 

Here are a few more film posters that have currently personified this panoramically stylized theme (along with a few influential examples from past releases):

Paramount Pictures' "Star Trek Into Darkness" (2013)

Walt Disney Pictures' "Oz the Great and Powerful" (2013)

Paramount/Dreamwork's "Transformers" (2007)

Sony/Columbia's "Men in Black" (1997)

- MTK