There are some great sci-fi films coming up in the next few months with Looper and Neill Blomkamp's Elysium, but one that I'm looking to nearly as much is Branded. Like the best science fiction stories, it features a dark twist on a real facet of our lives, exploring the dark and twisted effects of excessive marketing on our culture. Directed by former ad execs, Jamie Bradshaw and Alexsandr Dulerayn, the two have taken their skills to the max with a pervasive internet campaign involving trailers with literally dozens of unique QR Codes. Pretty cool.
Even without the internet hype backing the film, Branded would still look great, and it definitely has a John Carpenter vibe going on. Ed Stoppard plays marketing genius Mikhail, who discovers that all of the marketing and advertising is actually controlling people's minds. Reluctantly taking on the role of heroic savior, Mikhail discovers a dark, alien power backing the corporate power structure. Leelee Sobieski co-stars, along with the great Max von Sydow who is also featured in one of the two newly released clips.
We've got an interview with Jamie Bradshaw coming up on this weekend's show, so tune in for that. For now, check out these clips from Branded and look out for it in theaters on September 7th....
