"Takers Analysis"

Takers.
The names of the characters are placed right at the top of the poster, showing that these actors are well known as their names are more important than the name of the movie itself. The title of the movie is placed at the bottom allowing the main image to dominate the poster. The title is written in white which contrasts to the shades of grey and blue used throughout the image. The dark colours tinting the whole image gives a very serious look to the movie and atmosphere of the setting of the poster, the serious is then supported by the facial expressions of the characters.

The iconography plays a huge part in the poster in portraying the genre to the audience, the gun on the table connotes violence, death, crime, the silver briefcase connotes money, power, robbery, and the cigar also connotes power and wealth, all these connotations show that the movie is of the action/ gangster genre. Like all gangster movies, the money and business plays a massive part in the plot, which is shown by the briefcase. The city view and the alcohol show a city life of the men. The whole mise en scene shows the typical stereotypes of a gangster/action movie. The champagne connotes celebration which can that they have gotten what they wanted which typically would be the money in the briefcase.

The shot of the image is a medium long shot as you can see more than just the shoulders of the characters, but all characters are positioned either far back in the image of right at the front, which shows the importance of the characters. The male on the left hand side in the front has a very serious face which shows he means business this makes the audience see that he is not interested in jokes, he’s here for what he wants and he could be the “taker”. The male in the middle in the front shows a more laid back approach to the image he seems comfortable and more sinister than the other characters, the audience may also see him as the main character as he has been given the privilege of sitting in the middle and on a seat. The male on the right in the front has a more up front stance, he sits with his body positioned slightly forward which shows he is eager and in it for the money, and he also seems sly by his facial expression, he also seems more cunning and could deceive his "family".

The male on the left hand side in the back seems to be more of the young, inexperienced one, his hand positions show’s he’s trying to be big or fit in, also his face tries to mimic the others but he does not reach the full potential. The male in the white seems to have the most power within the show as he is the only one who is dressed in a totally different colour, and he also holds a cigar which shows power. His face is somewhat relaxed and this could be because he is protected from all sides, which again shows he is the most powerful and the most important one, as he is being protected. The male on the right hand side in the back seems to be oblivious to the whole scene, his eyes are fixed away from the lense, and therefore not specifically directed at the audience, the drink in his hand unlike the others shows the audience that he is just here for all that he can get and maybe is not too bothered about the money which everyone else is.

By all the men looking directly at the camera, except one of them instantly creates a relationship with the audience and makes them feel like they are what they “after”. This also intimidates the audience as they feel over powered by the characters.

The low key lighting helps to create a dark atmosphere around the whole image, and gives the characters less of a “glamorous” and more of a brave, masculine outlook. The slogan reading “everyone’s after something” shows the audience that the men are only working with each other in order to get what they want individually, they are only in it for the good for themselves.
The “mafia” look usually contains people from the Italian origin, but as it is based in America having black characters shows the stereo types of the “street people” in America. Having a completely male based poster shows that there is sexism, as women were not seen to have enough significance to be the protagonists of the movie. This can also show that the only relationship the men are looking for are related to money.

There is a play on words where “taking theatres soon” is placed, this shows that they are very powerful, and again they want to take over the audience.

The movie overall is very Business and money based, the iconography helps to show the stereotypes of a American gangster genre, the facial expressions also help to support the seriousness of the image. The dark tint running through the whole image also shows a sinister cunning look to the set.