The title is challenging. The subject matter is edgy. The actual film has divided audiences and critics and generated some heated discussion. The poster is blue and sedated. One of this things is not like the others.
I think I understand what they were going for here. We have had many pictures over the years that show the dysfunction that can hide behind some peaceful suburbia neighborhoods. American Beauty comes to mind due to the Alan Ball connection. So you show a teenager not looking too happy in the middle of a perfect looking neighborhood and hope that people will read the deep dysfunction into it.
But it’s just not enough. It’s not a strong memorable image. It’s not complex. It doesn’t make you think. It doesn’t really tell what the movie is about. It’s not appealing. And it’s not even upsetting in any way. It’s a big pile of nothing.
Serious dramas are perhaps the hardest kind of movie to create posters for, which is why I often don’t comment in the latest bland attempt. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to come up with exciting posters for them, and it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t expect more.
I hated this movie. That may be part of the intent, but oi, it’s button pushing in a very obvious and often embarassing way. Alan Ball should take some lessons from Lars Von Trier, Gaspar Noe or Michael Haneke on how to not make such a fool of himself doing this type of provocateurism:
http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/tiff-report-nothing-is-private-review/