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See The Bland As Hell Teaser Sheet For Scorsese's THE DEPARTED!!


Merrick here...


…with a look at a poster for Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED (a remake of the HK crime opus INFERNAL AFFAIRS) .

Can’t say it’s a terribly exciting poster. Harry says the logo design at the end of the film’s trailer would be a fantastic teaser image, and I agree wholeheartedly.

But…this? This feels like they were going for a retro feel, and waayyyy missed the mark. Ended up with something that looked cheap instead of evocative. It reminds me of the title sequences for BARNABY JONES or THE STREETS OF SAN FRANSISCO. “The Departed – A Quinn Martin Production! (in Color)”. Whatever.

Ah, well…here it is. Decide for yourself!





You can read some early, test screening reviews of THE DEPARTED HERE, HERE, or HERE.




Readers Talkback
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  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:04 p.m. CST

    I LIKE IT!

    by McGsStepson

    The DE and ED are reversing GET IT!

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:04 p.m. CST

    AND FIRST!!!!

    by McGsStepson

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:06 p.m. CST

    Hey I like it... I don't think it's that bad.

    by Bean_

    But is it supposed to be grainy? Or is it just a shitty scan?

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:06 p.m. CST

    When I saw this on JoBlo this morning...

    by McGsStepson

    I was really hoping for a TB as they ripped it over there too. Well I still like it. At least it's not the awful and horribly shitty poster for GANGS OF NEW YORK.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:06 p.m. CST

    I like it too.

    by Daredevil

    Not sure what's wrong with it. Definitely stands out from the average movie poster, and it doesn't look cheap to me. It reminds me of a crime thriller novel title, except with photos in the letters.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:10 p.m. CST

    Terrible

    by El Scorcho

    I didn't know Damon and Nicholson were fused at the head.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:10 p.m. CST

    It's better than imitating other posters

    by chrth

    Hey, why not have DiCaprio facing forward with everyone else's head on either side, a la Scream (and countless others)? I'll tell you why not: because Scorsese isn't a fucking tool.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:13 p.m. CST

    Nice going AICN...that's a fake.

    by indiephantom

    the real one-sheet has an action still a very tall and bald Daniel Day-Lewis. It's awesome...trust me.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:16 p.m. CST

    do damon and nicholson play siamese twins?

    by newc0253

    you know, because that would be an interesting twist on the original.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:17 p.m. CST

    looks good to me

    by nef

    gonna def go see this one

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:17 p.m. CST

    thats the fucking tits...

    by Dick Sleazly

    the tits

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:17 p.m. CST

    I don't like the fact it has the title twice

    by Big Bad Clone

    It would look cool if it was on it's side and bigger.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:19 p.m. CST

    i like it.

    by JacksonsPole

    i don't get what's so bland to you guys.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:27 p.m. CST

    The main type treatment is cool as hell

    by Garbageman33

    But there's too much other stuff going on. We can see DiCaprio, Damon and Nicholson in the damn pictures. Do we have to read their names, too? Or is that a concession so Marky Mark doesn't get left out completely?

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:29 p.m. CST

    Gee, I like it too...

    by Frank Black

    Clean graphic design. Bold. Strong. Eye-catching. Better than the usual photo shoped heads.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:32 p.m. CST

    Wow!

    by ebolamonkey

    The pictures are coming through the letters! This was probably done on a computer.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:33 p.m. CST

    no skool like the old skool

    by sevadro

    Looks like it came from the seventies, but that's why I like it, you stupid cocksucker.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:49 p.m. CST

    I really want to like it ...

    by dregmobile

    But I know they could have done better. The vertical text just doesn't work.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:54 p.m. CST

    I don't think it's bad, like it. But then again, I'

    by CopOnTheEdge

    A cop on the edge! miss ya, Bruno!

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:56 p.m. CST

    hey

    by ipolo

    can't comment. still mourning carson daily

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:56 p.m. CST

    The De Parted?

    by CaptDanielRoe

    There's no hyphen after the DE, so this is The De Parted. . . . . . And as for the blurb's question... Uh... Dunno. What is the difference when you are facing a loaded gun between cops and criminals? Assuming you aren't a criminal, and the cops aren't either, you'd be better off with the cop than the criminal pointing a gun at you, especially a loaded one. But if the cops ARE criminals, which seems to be the inference, then I suppose that's a different story. But all in all, this is a lame pitch. . . . . . . Who wouldn't rather have "Raging Bull II," where De Niro fights Valuev and they both have mohawks?

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 4:59 p.m. CST

    The one thing I like about it...

    by alienindisguise

    is the old school look from the 70's. Other than that, I think the rest of it's crap.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:03 p.m. CST

    That is horrible

    by Dannychico

    It's not even legible. No one sheet should make you sit there and stare at it before even figuring out the title.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:03 p.m. CST

    I've seen worse

    by jimmy_009

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:03 p.m. CST

    Yeah, this will deflate Harry's ass foam

    by Monkeybutt2000

    Produced by Brad"Puppy Dog"Pitt?

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:04 p.m. CST

    It can't be said enough

    by Lando Griffin

    MAATTT DAAMMMOON!!!

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:06 p.m. CST

    Poster is great

    by Darth Borgnine

    Very cool retro-70's look. What the fuck's so uncool about Quinn Martin??

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:11 p.m. CST

    Hey Merrick - what would you have wanted to see?

    by Russman

    Just curious. This really isn't all that bad. I'd rather them keep the name Infernal Affairs and fix the shitty trailer they scraped together.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:11 p.m. CST

    Stringer Bell is dead, ya'll!! He's Dead!!!

    by Russman

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:15 p.m. CST

    Stringer Bell is dead, ya'll!! He's Dead!!!

    by Russman

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:15 p.m. CST

    Stringer Bell is dead, ya'll!! He's Dead!!!

    by Russman

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:15 p.m. CST

    Stringer Bell is dead, ya'll!! He's Dead!!!

    by Russman

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:16 p.m. CST

    Stringer Bell is dead, ya'll!! He's Dead!!!

    by Russman

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:18 p.m. CST

    sorry about that!!! Freaking netscape and this site

    by Russman

    are going nuts.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:39 p.m. CST

    I'm baffled by the hyphen...

    by Childe Roland

    ...usage. I mean, either use them at both breaks or don't use them at all. This makes it look like some weird phonetic way of pronouncing the word, and when I think about phonics I think of about a million dumb fucks who can't be bothered to work out a word's correct pronunciation. That's not baggage I want to bring into this movie, Marty. So fucking fix it al read-y.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:39 p.m. CST

    What in the hell?

    by Archduke_Chocula

    Are Damon and Nicholson starring in Stuck on You II? http://k105.blogspot.com/

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:46 p.m. CST

    It's bad because you can't even read the title

    by Dannychico

    The average moviegoer is going to look at that for one second and move on.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:48 p.m. CST

    Is it just me or does Matt Daemon look like.....

    by Vim Fuego

    A young Hof?

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:51 p.m. CST

    Frankly, it looks too "busy"

    by TheSeeker7

    Yea, I guess that's a good word for it, busy. You got too much wording of very contrasting looks like right on top of each other all over the place, I mean it's red colored tag line is running right into the white colored cast names. Then the title in medium big letters (the SECOND version of the title, on the same poster, that is :eyeroll:) and then bam, running right into that is the whole layout of the credits, which itself has got to be like at least 1/10th the layout space of the whole damn thing. WAAAAAY to jumbled up of a mess. Less is more, folks

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 5:57 p.m. CST

    Where did this come from?

    by JonQuixote

    Looks really, really phony. The weird slogan at the top, the odd formating of the cast names, and the repetition of the title. Weird.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:04 p.m. CST

    Snakes aren't the threat, people...

    by paulh

    LIQUIDS are... http://tinyurl.com/j2hzb :D

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:05 p.m. CST

    childeroland

    by mocky_puppet

    i had the same reaction to that hyphen. strange.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:06 p.m. CST

    Looks pretty cheap

    by Vi

    If "looks like something out of the 70s" means, "Terrible design work," then you can have your "70s." The text is all over the place with no discernable pattern. Maybe the poster is supposed to do something "artistic" to us like make us feel "uncomfortable" looking at it. The only discomfort I feel when looking at it is noticing the only reason that put a hyphen in there to begin with is just to fill in the negative space. I bet you a million they intitially designed the poster without the hyphen then someone in the office walked up and said, "What's all that black space nest to 'part' for?" The designer then says, "Oh shit..." to himself and throws in a hyphen.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:06 p.m. CST

    *next

    by Vi

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:08 p.m. CST

    why is matt damon framed by the letters 'PAED'?

    by newc0253

    is this a secret message that he's a paedophile? maybe i'm overanalysing this. either that or i'm just bored.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:09 p.m. CST

    Looks radical. Apart from the

    by eighteenseconds

    head-melding nicholsondamon creature.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:25 p.m. CST

    excuse me while i clean...

    by yassoo

    the barf from my keyboard. looks way too busy, makes me nauseous. also why is the title there twice? also i have to concentrate on the letters to see their faces. i do like the old school font though.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 6:38 p.m. CST

    Lest my eyes deceive me...

    by Mel Garga

    I believe this movie stars both Maaaatt Daaamon and Arec Barwin...

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 7:01 p.m. CST

    Take a closer look at the lettering . . . .

    by lavaboat

    I see text shaped like a gun and an uzi. Penway

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 7:13 p.m. CST

    Crap. Unreadable crap.

    by JackPumpkinhead

    I probably would need to squint to read this "THE ... DE ... PART- ... ED" crap if I didn't know what it was. And yes, it does look like a poster for a freaking Golan-Globus VHS production.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 7:19 p.m. CST

    Oh, and "what's the difference"?

    by JackPumpkinhead

    I'll tell you "what's the difference", you fucking anonymous PR moron (or studio executive?) that came up with this dumb line: if an officer is pointing a gun at you, he's doing it to make sure things go down right and most often to protect YOU, too. When a criminal is pointing a gun at you... well, I hope you'll find it out on your own in a dark alley some night, you "great poster designer", whichever damn studio spawned you. "Ooh, ooh, cops and criminals are the same" - brilliant! Is there (c)rap "music" in this film, too? That noise pollution would go well with such logic.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 7:22 p.m. CST

    Too soon!

    by JackPumpkinhead

    And that's just to unload the nonsense that this poster is. Also, cast Hulk Hogan as The Departed. (Or is it "De, part Ed"?)

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 7:33 p.m. CST

    All these goats are re tard-ed.

    by Red Ned Lynch

    This poster was made with spider sugar. Doesn't hurt the spiders!

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:06 p.m. CST

    THE

    by Elmore Rigby

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:06 p.m. CST

    DE

    by Elmore Rigby

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:06 p.m. CST

    PART

    by Elmore Rigby

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:06 p.m. CST

    ED

    by Elmore Rigby

    Shitty poster!

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:07 p.m. CST

    what's so wrong with this?

    by Suki_Jonze

    i think its pretty nifty. ~ suki http://www.dvdnewsroom.com

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:07 p.m. CST

    The Deepthroated, Starring Regina Taylor!

    by The Ender

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:13 p.m. CST

    I Can Solve This Mystery, The Cops And Robbers Shit

    by The Ender

    What's the difference when the guns come out? Hmmmm....probably I dont know. The SAME FUCKING DIFFERENCE BEFORE THE GUNS CAME OUT!

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:18 p.m. CST

    Snakes on a Plane Contest

    by gopherkhan

    Dreamlogic's got a contest up. Win a t-shirt, soundtrack and other snakes junk. http://www.dreamlogic.net/archives/contest-snakes-on-a-plane

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:28 p.m. CST

    Nicholson is missing a nose on the poster.

    by CreasyBear

    It's an insider call-back to the nose injury in Chinatown. Trust me.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 9:33 p.m. CST

    I can't wait for this move!!!!!!!!!!

    by ssr12

    Fucking awesome!

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 10:08 p.m. CST

    That 70s Poster!

    by Christopher3

    Hey, at least it's not *floating* heads.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 10:27 p.m. CST

    Not even a 70s poster...

    by Mgmax

    It's a 70s paperback.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 10:37 p.m. CST

    De Mented. De Ranged. DeCeptive. De Parted.

    by Osmosis Jones

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 10:44 p.m. CST

    Looks fake..

    by movieman742

    to me. There is alot of empty space to it. With that much going on I'm suprised they didn's space it out a little more. Or maybe they are trying to say that the undercover guys have no room to move or something. Kinda "meh" overall but I like it.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 11:29 p.m. CST

    Yikes

    by Amadeus Zero

    A one-sheet should make you _want_ to see the film. This has the opposite effect.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 11:37 p.m. CST

    At least they didn't make Brad Pitt's name big too...

    by Flim Springfield

    ...God knows they were probably tempted to.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 11:50 p.m. CST

    At first I liked it, but then...

    by grievenom

    I used the hang on my wall test, and it didn't pass. As a poster i think it looks ok, pretty good. But is it a poster I'd frame and hang in my home theater? I think not.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 11:52 p.m. CST

    also, why a dash after "part" but not "de"?

    by grievenom

    i don't get that.

  • Aug. 16, 2006, 11:53 p.m. CST

    Nicholson billed AFTER Damon and DiCaprio?!?!

    by Cletus Van Damme

    ...at least he beat out Dirk Diggler, I guess.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 12:04 a.m. CST

    too many words!!!

    by chickychow

    feel like i'm a number and i've been sentanced to word weel, and shit.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 12:27 a.m. CST

    upon further inspection

    by yassoo

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 12:30 a.m. CST

    upon further inspection (sorry)...

    by yassoo

    the font of the red tag-line looks like that of the 1974 walter mathau classic The Taking of Pelham 123. correct me if i'm wrong please.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 12:45 a.m. CST

    Poster rules

    by Aust1n

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 12:54 a.m. CST

    yeh i quite like it also

    by davidaq

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 2:46 a.m. CST

    Hey!!!

    by Vi

    Without the nose Nicholson looks like Brando!

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 4:04 a.m. CST

    poster

    by tompbeast

    fucking love it!

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 5:55 a.m. CST

    JackPumpkinhead

    by Arnzilla

    The tagline originates from Nicholson's character as heard in the trailer.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 6:20 a.m. CST

    THAT IS NOW ILLEGAL IN THE UK

    by Ra Ra Rasputin

    In 2003 a law was passed forbidding any men from sporting a goatee beard in a public place, as Di Caprio is clearly in breach of this law if he arrives in the UK sporting said beard an immediate warrant for his arrest will be issued. Saying that a loophole could be exploited by Di Caprios legal team as he clearly has a full head of hair and the law states that the combination of Goatee and shaved head is the only instantly aresstable offence. I thank you.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 6:29 a.m. CST

    I don't know....

    by indiebum

    I like it, it's very well done. Let's just hope the movie is too.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 8:35 a.m. CST

    MAAAAAAAAAAAATTT DAMONNNNNN!

    by Wolfpack

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 8:49 a.m. CST

    Maybe Di Caprio insisted...

    by Childe Roland

    ...that the official title of the film be changed to The Di Parted and this ridiculous treatment represnts some bizzare compromise? I still just don't get the decision to break up the word this way and, I know this is going to sound irrational, but it's lazy/sloppy shit like this that makes me skip movies at the theater.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 9:26 a.m. CST

    Put me in the like it column

    by mortsleam

    Not that it matters, but I'm a graphic designer, and I love the throwback to 70's style blockletter design. All the necessary information is there. DiCaprio, Damon and Nicholson in a Scorcese picture about cops and criminals. I like the fact that it asks the viewer to spend more than two seconds looking at it. Tells me they trust the audience and might give us more than standard cop movie bullshit.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 9:28 a.m. CST

    I loved the logo artwork in the trailer...

    by viola123

    It's awesome. I thought they would have used it too, but maybe they will. Maybe we'll get another poster with that logo and just the names = goosebumps! This? Not so much, but still very excited about "The Departed." I'm hoping!

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 9:34 a.m. CST

    Editing above post...

    by viola123

    'k, I've stared at the poster a bit longer, *g*, and I'm starting to really like it too. Although, I still love the logo in the trailer, and hope they eventually use it for more promotion (I want THAT poster!), but this one -- I do like it. I like the way the title's broken up and Leo looks great. :) -- Plus Matt and Jack. But yeah, bring on "The Departed"!

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 10:32 a.m. CST

    Awful

    by Bobcat3000

    One of the worst posters I've ever seen. By the way, wouldn't DiCaprio look a little more "menacing" if he could grow decent facial hair? As it is, he always reminds me of a 12-year-old boy who didn't get the new bike he wanted on his birthday.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 10:44 a.m. CST

    I wonder if Brad Pitt makes a cameo

    by R.C. the "Wise"

    Since he and Brad "Sopranos" Grey produced it.

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 12:03 p.m. CST

    Wipe the foam...

    by loggerlee

    ...from your screens talkbackers. Get a grip. The poster looks fine, yeah a bit retro, but it has Leo, Jack and Markie boy looking terribly moody.....

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 10:26 p.m. CST

    Cool Soundtrack

    by Departed06

    From the trailer we know Comforably Numb and Gimme Shelter appear in the film. Does anyone know what songs they use. The Departed movie forum http://www.thedeparted.org

  • Aug. 17, 2006, 10:26 p.m. CST

    Cool Soundtrack

    by Departed06

    From the trailer we know Comforably Numb and Gimme Shelter appear in the film. Does anyone know what other songs they use. The Departed movie forum http://www.thedeparted.org

  • Aug. 18, 2006, 12:48 a.m. CST

    MATT DAMON!

    by Dead Bothan

    Can't help but think of Team America.