In Contention

Yes, but you didn’t actually WIN

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There are several reasons I’m bothered by this one-sheet for gay rom-com “I Love You Phillip Morris,” which has built up a fair amount of goodwill from its appearances at Sundance and Cannes this year.

I Love You Phillip Morris

For starters, it’s yellow, but I admit that’s an odd bias on my part. More irksome is the fact that the poster’s designers seem to believe that “McGregor” is two separate words. (Speaking of which, if it is a romantic comedy, shouldn’t, you know, both guys be on the poster?) And then there’s the minor problem that the whole thing, from layout to typeface to poor Photoshopping, is absolutely hideous.

Still, none of this irritates me quite as much as that slyly dishonest “Caméra d’Or” badge above the title. Yes, I know the film contended for said prize (awarded to the best debut feature) at Cannes in May, and I know that Cannes selections often wear that status proudly in their marketing.

But a film that was merely shortlisted for the top award doesn’t get to slap “Palme d’Or” across its poster. Anyone who didn’t know any better would assume that “I Love You Phillip Morris” actually won the Caméra d’Or, and not that critically adored little Australian flick that doesn’t star Jim Carrey. Oh, well.

Comments

13 responses to “Yes, but you didn’t actually WIN”

  1. Frank Lee Avatar
    Frank Lee

    Might I add that the title is missing a comma before a name used in direct address — that is, “I Love You, Phillip Morris”?

  2. Jim Avatar
    Jim

    And what about his teeth? They’re too white! Isn’t he supposed to be a smoker in a movie about Philip Morris? Just kidding :p

  3. AmericanRequiem Avatar
    AmericanRequiem

    speaking of new posters, the new inblorious basterds poster isnt anything to sneer at guy, check it out.

  4. RichardA Avatar
    RichardA

    Those are the weirdest looking wrists–on the left, and on the right arm. I’d see this movie to solve this mystery.

  5. Patryk Avatar
    Patryk

    This one just smells bad. Loudly.

  6. Bastian Avatar
    Bastian

    I’m sure you know know that Michael Haneke is from Austria, not Australia.

    But what makes me really wonder is that “designers seem to believe that “Mc Gregor” is two separate words” – I hate when they do that (Di Caprio? DeNiro?).

  7. cca Avatar
    cca

    Bastian, Michael Haneke won the Palme d’Or, not the Camera d’Or, which was won by the australian film “Samson and Delilah”

  8. Guy Lodge Avatar

    Thank you, CCA.

    Requiem: There’s ANOTHER new Basterds poster this week? I can’t keep up. Thanks.

  9. Jonathan Spuij Avatar

    So yellow is the new pink for gays? (Bruno had it too you know!)

  10. Simone Avatar

    The graphic artist for this one-sheet was higher than a fucking kite.

  11. Mike_M Avatar

    I noticed the same thing with the Caméra d’Or badge, I was confused because I know they didn’t win it. Not cool.

  12. The Dude Avatar
    The Dude

    a) They should have just used the “Cannes Selection” badge so as not to confuse/trick people into thinking this movie won an award.

    b) This poster looks like it’s trying to mimic the Apatow posters (40Y-Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People) but something went horribly wrong. I’m all for yellow, but this is WAY too much yellow, and the profile of Carrey doesn’t convey anything that relates to the title of the movie (ex: in the 40Y-Virgin poster, Carrell had a look about him that screamed dorky virgin, which was genius imo).

    c) What’s with all the movie title having “I Love You” in the title in the past months? “I Love You, Man,” “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” and now “I Love You, Philip Morris.” It’s a trend that isn’t really all that funny.

  13. Glenn Avatar

    “I Love You, Too” is an Aussie romantic comedy out next year. Yeah, I don’t get it either.