Film Preview: Passengers (2016)

Page Revisions:

(September 25, 2016) Original
(December 18, 2016) New Posters (#2-#4)

Release Date:

December 21, 2016

Synopsis:

From IMDb: “A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early.”

Poster Rating: D+ / C (3)

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Review: (#1) The earthy, flesh tones of the design are a stark decision and that works, so too does the recognizable visages of Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratty, but this design is also dull a dishwater. It’s bland and lacking in genuine creativity.

(#2-#4) Three posters. Three different color schemes. Three different image qualities. Tinkering with the visuals of a poster is dangerous if you can’t find an overarching concept that actually works and this one doesn’t.

Trailer Rating: B+

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Review: For sci-fi enthusiasts, this trailer hits all the right button. Space travel, malfunctions, potentially dangerous computer program, and dense visual effects are all there and then some. That this is ostensibly a romantic drama set in that environment will give non-sci-fi fans something to potential engage with. The trailer works quite well, though the hint of something nefarious is unnecessary given the genre.

Oscar Prospects:

Morten Tyldum’s last film was an Oscar contender, though this year his year-end endeavor is not only science-fiction, but must compete against another prominent sci-fi flick, Arrival. It could be a contender in several tech categories, but right now, I’m not sure it will be in play for the major categories.