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Released by: Filmrise
Released on: July 10th, 2018.
Director: Kevin Burke
Cast: Joe Dante, Thomas Hodge, Paul Ainsworth, Dave Alexander, Andrea Alvin
Year: 2016
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24x36: A Movie About Movie Posters - Movie Review:
24x36: A Movie About Movie Posters is, as the title clearly states, a movie about movie posters. Directed by Kevin Burke, the film basically explores the methods behind illustrated movie posters, how they became very popular in past decades and then eventually fell out of fashion only to have been resurrected in recent years by smaller studios cranking out interesting, original work. Mondo is a great example of this, and some of the guys from that organization are interviewed here.
But let's not get too far ahead of the game here. Before we get to the modern resurgence we get a nice history lesson and some interesting interviews with artists behind some of the more iconic movie posters out there - Blade Runner, Halloween, Star Wars, Apocalypse Now, Alien, E.T., Raiders Of The Lost Ark. John Alvin, Richard Amsel and Drew Struzan are interviewed here, among others, and we learn of their creative process first hand as they talk about what went into creating the images that have, in the decades since these movies were released, gone on to become important parts of pop culture history.
From there we learn how, once the nineties rolled around, illustrated posters fell out of fashion, typically to be replaced by generic shots of the cast, only for them to make a comeback in recent years thanks to the efforts of certain boutique design and printing houses. In this section of the movie we hear from some of the guys at Mondo and Phantom City Creative as well as artists like Jason Edmiston, Akiko Stehrenberger and Gary Pullin. Additionally, we get a look not only at what goes into the artwork for these newer (and often times very limited) editions, but at the screen printing process that's used to create them as well.
Generally speaking, this is pretty interesting stuff. It might be a little niche to appeal to a mainstream crowd, but for anyone with even a passing interest in both the historical and current side of the movie poster business this is worth taking the time to watch. In addition to covering the subject from a historical angle, the movie also features some interesting discussion about the pros and cons of the limited-edition model certain companies have embraced to some controversy. Of course, with a subject this broad obviously the documentary can't cover everything and some might be disappointed that the movie doesn't really go 'all in' on the history of the movie poster (it focuses primarily on late sixties films into the eighties and then on the more modern side of things) but what's here is very well done. First time director Kevin Burke does a fine job with the pacing and the movie is well-shot and quite well-edited.
24x36: A Movie About Movie Posters - DVD Review:
The 1.78.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer on the DVD looks just fine. The movie was shot digitally and so there are no issues with print damage or grain. Detail looks about as good as you'd expect a standard definition presentation to look. Colors are fine, black levels look good - no problems here, and the disc is free of any major compression issues.
The English language Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track on the disc gets the job done.
Extras include some extended interview segments and a trailer for the feature. Menus and chapter selection are also provided.
24x36: A Movie About Movie Posters - The Final Word:
24x36: A Movie About Movie Posters is a genuinely interesting feature length documentary that covers quite a bit of ground that should prove worthwhile to anyone who appreciates the history or the artistry of a cool movie poster. The DVD isn't stacked with extras but some of the extended interviews are intriguing and the presentation is solid. Recommended.
