Posters advertising films are rarely memorable, but Apocalypse Now a dark, masterful film about the Vietnam War, had a poster worthy of the film that inspired it. It, along with many other posters of figurative poster art, can now be seen at “Ballyhoo!” an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.
The Apocalypse Now poster is filled with overwhelming pain and internal conflict. It takes you into the dilemma of war and evil forces. Marlon Brando starred in the film. His face is featured on the poster, but it seems to melt in red and black, engulfed in the darkness. He plays a rogue American officer who has set up his own operation in Cambodia, a warlord who is never at peace. The film presents the journey of a special agent with orders to find and eliminate Brando, giving the audience a feel for the surreal aspects of any war, but especially the Vietnam War.
From an artistic stand point, the poster is successful. It presents an interpretive constructed domain with surreal images layered on top of each other. When looking at the poster, the forces of corruption and turmoil seem to pull you into a world of torture.
The aesthetic impact is achieved by contrasts in the poster. The size of Brando’s face is large in the upper foreground, because the story has to do with the change of morality that corresponds to his becoming more important in his mad, twisted environment. The background symbolizes his journey into the heart of darkness of his mind. The artist places a calm river on the lower half of the poster to contrast with the contortions of his face. The river flows back and forth between two sides of the poster as it heads into space. The boat moves along, but does not show which “direction” it’s going in. The colors of the city and bridge disappear to blind you from what is ahead. The bridge is mirrored above and below the river surface. An urban life of sparkling lights, glamour, and partying seems to flow with the river, but it twists and curves toward the darkness and blood around Brando, showing a world that could easily go out of control.
The truth of war is revealed in Brando’s face. He has become a monster. The poster design intends to make the viewer experience discomfort and feel imbalance. Even the poster’s typography supports the themes of chaos and evil. The title is jagged and sharp and positioned on the diagonal to throw the composition slightly out of balance.
The poster immediately shocks the viewer into a new and personal awareness. It is aesthetically upsetting. As one of the first films about the Vietnam War, the poster sparks interest in the movie as an important film to see. The poster conveyed an intended message, which was to cause the public and young people to think twice about supporting a war.
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