Clockers

This is the movie poster from the 1995 Spike Lee film Clockers.  The poster was used to advertise the movie when it came out but now the artwork serves as the cover of the DVD.  Although his films can be violent and disturbing, Spike Lee is one of my favorite directors because of his poignant social commentary.  I was looking for a movie on Netflix and this caught my eye for two reasons.  First, I haven’t seen this particular Spike Lee movie (and this I must remedy).  Second, I am studying Saul Bass for my influential designer presentation – it reminds me of his movie poster for Anatomy of a Murder - more on this later…

The typography is reminiscent of an old-time typewriter. The letters are blotchy and smudged and of different thicknesses which add to the typewriter-ish feel of the title. I like the staggered lettering style and the lower case “e” used.  The artwork is a body constructed of simple shapes in flat black color straddling color-blocked background (white & red).  I have always been attracted to simple, uncluttered designs.  I like white space.  I like a piece to breath.  This piece breaths in a late modern, Saul Bass kind of way.

Now for Saul Bass' poster for Anatomy of a Murder.

Very similar, don’t you think? The body, the color blocking, the odd angle of the head...  An obvious nod to Saul Bass.