Textual analysis of a movie magazine (Michael)

Textual analysis of a movie magazine

 Total film is a British movie magazine published by future publishing 13 times a year. The magazine was launched in 1997 and offers film, DVD and BLU-ray news. Guest editors have included Peter Jackson, Kevin Smith and Ricky Gervais

 The front cover consists of a near middle aged Caucasian male posing with two guns. He is also wearing a dark heavy jacket. The two guns are placed at an angle which gives the audience the impression that the man posing with the weapons is highly skilled to use them or is maybe even an assassin. His fingers are clenched tightly on the two guns which could denote he is ready to pull the trigger or could denote he is holding someone hostage. The background of the magazine indicates the setting of the photo is set in a snowy cold day which could connote the fact the main character has no empathy for anyone. The use of a mid-shot on the front cover covers up the lower body of the male and arouses and creates suspicion as to what exactly the male has on him in terms of weapons

The look on his face is one of seriousness which also denotes he is has no sense of empathy. His posture is very aggressive and relates very well to the plot of the film due to the fact in the film; he is seeking vengeance for the death of his wife and child. His costume is black which gives the audience the impression that he is not a bubbly person. The lighting for this magazine is mostly low key. For example in the chest area of the Caucasian, this part of the body appears to be darker then any other part of his body which could give the audience the impression that he is hiding something sinister underneath his jacket. Also the low lighting used in the picture could connote that evil and darkness has engulfed him and twisted him. This relates well with the plot of the film; in the film and the game itself he is a normal happy person with a bright future with his wife and newborn child. When his family are murdered he seeks vengeance and in my opinion, the more and more he sought after it, the more and more he changed. The prop of the guns are cleverly placed at such an angle that it could connote he is on a crossroads in terms of his psyche and his mental stature. 

The main anchorage that the target audience are immediately directed to on the front cover reads: MAX PAYNE. Wahlberg finds his bourne. The text is not formal and is in sans-serif font. The other text in the magazine follows a colour scheme and goes well with theme of the main front cover, due to the fact the colours, for instance, the colour grey is a dark colour. However at the same time, the colours juxtaposes with themselves because of the fact, for example the colour yellow is a bright colour and is used in the magazine. The masthead of the magazine (Total film) is big and bold which could relate to male in the magazine front covers bravery. It’s in sans serif font which connotes it has a modern appeal which may be used to appeal to the magazines target audience