A critical analysis of the Total film cover page featuring the Sherlock Holmes film

1. Critical
analysis of
Total Film
Magazine
front cover

2. Like many others of its issues Total film overlap their main image character
with the masthead of the magazine to put more emphasis on the focus of the
cover which is the movie. This issue the magazine presents the masthead in a
crisp white font to contrast with the faded blue to white background, and as
conventional magazines do it is positioned at the top of the issue covering the
width span of the page. Alternatively this issue breaks conventions by
overlapping three subsidiary images as seen in the top corner, which will give
them extra attention from the viewer as maybe the editor wanted this.

3. The main image of the issue is that of
the actor Robert Downy Jr who plays
the character of Sherlock Holmes in the
new up and coming film. The character
is shown in costume creating the theme
of the page and its style, it also gives it
an informal status as he is shown with
his hands in his pockets as if in
character. By showing the main
protagonist of the film, this increases the
chances of possible sales, as more often
than not they are played by a well
known and respected actors/ actresses
that the audience can identify, peaking
their interest.

4. The covers splash is placed conventionally in the centre of the page below
the main images character. Shown in the aqua blue and white to contrast
with the dark grey background of the actors coat but also to create symmetry
with the other colours on the page like the also blue and faded white
background. The clever use of font colours in this issue creates a link
between the whole page, the images and its texts making for a professional
look. As well as this we can see pull quotes from what we the audience
presume is from the actor himself talking about the stage that the production
is at, giving the audience the incentive to keep an eye o the movies
production and anticipate its upcoming release. “World Exclusive” also has
the same effect upon us.

5. Subsidiary texts/ Banner lines are also used in the
issue to fill in any dead spaces and to also promote
other areas of the magazine using attractive pull words
like “EXTRA” and “SNEAKY” to draw the reader in
to there extra areas of information. Again like the pull
quote and the splash they use colours to contrast with
their backgrounds, using the aqua blue and black
against the faded blue to white background. This is
shown similar in the banner along the top, but as the
fade is darker they have switched from black to white
to gain more effect. Finally the price tag is well placed
at the bottom right hand corner of the issue,
maintaining the same distance from the edges as the
rest of the texts and images making it look more
symmetrical to the eye and therefore more attractive