In Contention

EXCLUSIVE: ‘The Way Back’ poster

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I’ve written plenty about “The Way Back,” Peter Weir’s first film in seven years, here, here and here.  And I talked to Weir at length about the project here.  So I’m tapped out for now, though I’m eager to hear what others will have to say.  The UK trailer dropped a few weeks back giving an overall sense of the scope of the endeavor (I’m told a domestic trailer is on the way), and today, we’ve been given an exclusive first look at the official poster for the film.  Have a look at the full image after the jump.

Comments

33 responses to “EXCLUSIVE: ‘The Way Back’ poster”

  1. RyanT Avatar
    RyanT

    It’s a little too “book cover now a motion picture” type of look. Not saying that’s bad necessarily.

    There’s also something a bit off about the guys. While I’m sure ALL of them, including Ronan, are photoshopped into the background, the guys look a bit less polished.

  2. tintin(uruguay) Avatar
    tintin(uruguay)

    Nice poster!

  3. Ella Avatar
    Ella

    The lower image reminds me of the Von Trapps coming over the mountains.

  4. JJ1 Avatar
    JJ1

    Well, it looks artificial, but actually very pretty, overall.

  5. Beatleowl Avatar
    Beatleowl

    Thank you Kris!

    The website is noted at the bottom, they include a quote from you!

  6. Kristopher Tapley Avatar

    Oh really? I’ll have to take a look.

  7. Hero Avatar
    Hero

    I like it!

    Then again, I’m giddy about this movie.

  8. […] An Incontention exclusive. […]

  9. Lucas Avatar
    Lucas

    Anyone else bothered that the order of names and faces aren’t the same?

  10. Graysmith Avatar
    Graysmith

    A bit too generic for my tastes. The image at the bottom is what they should be selling, and in a nicer, more dignified packaging.

  11. The InSneider Avatar

    Horrible poster. The fonts make it look like an indie comedy. Why is WAY super huge? Why are the last names so big, as if HARRIS and RONAN have international cache. Why is the tagline below the credits? What is Sturgess holding? Who okayed this thing? Ugh… almost as bad as the Morning Glory posters that are everywhere, which J.J. commissioned himself!

  12. […] In Contention website has published an exclusive first look at the official movie poster for The Way Back, directed by Peter Weir and starring Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Saoirse Ronan, and Colin Farrell. […]

  13. Robert Hamer Avatar
    Robert Hamer

    I completely agree with Graysmith. Drop the faces and sell the scope of the film. Then again, what the hell do I know about marketing?

  14. j Avatar
    j

    I like that the poster gives Ronan equal weight with the other three. Hers is the perfrmance I’m most excited to see this year after King’s Speech’s Firth.

  15. Duncan Houst Avatar

    It looks kind of light-hearted, which betrays a lot of what I’ve heard about the film.

  16. Liz Avatar
    Liz

    Lucas, I agree. That’s just a personal pet peeve of mine, but I hate it when the order of the names don’t match the faces, even when I know who everyone is.

    Of course, this wouldn’t be a problem if studios got a little more creative and didn’t resort to the floating heads so often.

  17. Antonio A Avatar
    Antonio A

    The lettering is beyond bad, it destroys the whole poster.

  18. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Yeah this poster kinda sucks. Simple is better, especially with epic movie style posters. The bottom image was all that was needed imho, and the font needs to be re-thought. It doesn’t deter me from seeing the film it just isn’t at all an impressive poster.

    p.s. – cool for having your quote added on the website! Maybe it will show up on the tv spots too (;^P)

  19. The Dude Avatar
    The Dude

    I have a lot of problems with this poster. As already stated, the actors look overly photoshopped (as do the backgrounds they appear in front of). The color scheme of the text seems to conflict with the color scheme of the scenery backgrounds. And I have a REAL big problem with the fact that the title is right-justified but the words are different sizes…makes the whole thing look like it was slopped together by an intern who doesn’t know how to use powerpoint.

    I’m still anticipating this, though.

  20. Dennis Avatar
    Dennis

    Kris, Harris has top billing here, but most think he is a contender in Supporting. In which category do you think he would be most likely to get recognized?

  21. Glenn Avatar

    My face actually twitched when I saw this. Those… god… damned… STRIPES!!!!

  22. JoeW Avatar
    JoeW

    I don’t mind it. It does what’s supposed to do, sell the movie. And what are its best selling points? The cast and all the vast locations featured in the movie. It’s a bit of a no-brainer way to go to market the movie. Not saying I don’t wish for something a bit grander and stylistic, but it gets the job done. I’m still stoked as hell to see the movie

  23. […] The Way Back opens January 21st.  Click here to check out the trailer.  Via In Contention: […]

  24. Kristopher Tapley Avatar

    Dennis: Supporting for sure. He has top billing because he’s obviously the most recognized star.

  25. Filipe Avatar
    Filipe

    everyday i fall more and more in love with Saoirse. :)

  26. billybil Avatar
    billybil

    My God this is so retro. It looks so much like all those epic posters from the 50s, doesn’t it? And the way everything looks a little articifical? Very interesting. Are they going for the “old” folks? I agree with the order of names vs. photos, the font issue, and the “lightness” of the poster but, all together, it just conveys a retro epic feel to me which I’ve gotta believe is exactly what they’re looking for.

  27. […] The Way Back opens January 21st.  Click here to check out the trailer.  Via In Contention: […]

  28. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    Lucas and The Dude couldn’t have said it any better. I would add: busy doesn’t begin to describe this. So, Sturgess gets all the names; Farrell gets the “Peter Weir film” line (which helpfully reminds us that he directed “Master and Commander”); Harris gets the giant “Way”; and Ronan gets the fake tagline “inspired by real events”. Then, for good measure, we have the real tagline buried under the credits. Huh? The one plus: it looks bright and appealing.

  29. […] first poster for Peter Weir’s wonderful looking ‘The Way Back’ has made it’s way online via incontention. I’ve been sold on this film ever since it was announced. From the trailer that was released a […]

  30. […] marketing puzzle, in the form of a poster, for Peter Weir’s The Way Back. The poster comes from InContention, and you can see a snippet below, but if you want to see the whole thing, head over there and take […]