Textual Analysis - Film Poster 1 - The Sweeney

From an initial glance at The Sweeney film poster my eyes are automatically drawn to the serif font, "SWEENEY". Many codes have been incorporated within the text with the use of text effects, primarily achieved through image manipulation software. Bullet holes have been added to the text providing emphasis on the films heavy action. Secondarily the metallic 3D effect on the text gains the poster power and the colour silver could also be symbolic of the police badge, being the film is based around London's "Flying Squad".

The conventions of the strap lines have been followed but the grey serif text seems hard to see and provides very little premise. Alternatively the designer could have decided to do this to provide a sense of ambiguity to the film.

The background of the poster incorporates the recognisable London Skyline creating the environment and setting for the film.

In contrast between the two protagonists portrayed by "Ray Winstone" and "Ben Drew" both include their character in the poster. Notably Winstone is positioned in front of Drew providing a hierarchy system of the two. Winstone's acting integrity opposed to Drew is much greater. In response to this, the listing of starring cast included is ordered by integrity of the actor with "Ray Winstone" then "Ben Drew" and finally "Hayley Atwell" whose picture is not shown. From a feminist critical view, the film poster is advertising a masculine dominated film and providing little consideration of equality of women in the Police.

In conclusion to this poster, visuals of character are highly dominated with a male integrity advertising the film primarily to the male audience, thus limiting its target audience.