Domino’s- JOMO
The latest commercial from Domino’s UK gleefully trashes the idea that a night out can be fun or interesting.
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Medication for Memory
An unconventional direct marketing campaign by Redfarma, a pharmacy network in Chile.
Alternate version (with partial English voiceover)
Liquid Death- Certified Cursed
The latest commercial from bottled water brand, Liquid Death, continues to push forward its anarchistic approach to promoting itself. In case you’re wondering, the gentleman in the commercial is a real-life practitioner of witchcraft.
Movember 2019
The Movember movement helps raise funds for researching men’s health issues such as prostrate cancer and testicular cancer. Their signature annual event involves encouraging men to grow moustaches in the month of November. As part of this year’s campaign, they’ve released a couple of quirky videos:
Miller Lite- Followers
A risky new commercial from Miller Lite. Here’s a link to the story behind it.
A Provocative Spin on ‘Cattle Class’
An audacious new commercial from Canadian airline, WestJet. They’ve also released a ‘behind-the-scenes’ video.
Undergarments Mystery
From a news report from Zimbabwe:
IN a bizarre incident that has left villagers in Mkuze Village under Chief Mkoka in Gokwe South shell-shocked, women at a funeral wake miraculously woke up without their panties last week.
The undergarments were later found hanging on a tree near the homestead.
Get More Than You Expect
This is a series of spots for promoting MU Personal Loans- an offering targeted at millennials- from Merchants Union Consumer Finance, China.
Anyfin- Loan Shark Zones
Anyfin is a Swedish firm that refinances consumer credit loans. I didn’t think much of their online/ TV spots. But their recent outdoor campaign is solid guerilla marketing. Signs (such as the one below) were placed outside the headquarters of competitor brands across inner-city Stockholm.
The Capture (2019)
If there were any justice, everyone would be talking about The Capture right now. Ben Chanan’s surveillance thriller isn’t just one of the most cleverly plotted dramas of recent years – it’s also one of the most satisfying.
Without a doubt, this is one of the most fascinating television dramas that I have seen in recent memory. It is also one of the most unsettling. But that’s about as much as I should say: it’s best to watch this, knowing as little as possible. You could check out the trailer, if you like: it gives you a peek, without spoiling anything.
I must mention that while the first 5 episodes were pretty much universally acclaimed, the finale split viewers and reviewers. From what I gather, many people expected an over-the-top ending befitting a more pulpy thriller such as The Bodyguard (with which some people seemed to draw needless comparisons). What was offered was much more dark, grounded, and partly ambiguous. As one reviewer put it, it was “a smart, streetwise resolution that harked back to classic paranoid conspiracy thrillers.” Personally, I thought it fitted well with the subject matter.
To Catch A Serial Killer
If you’ve seen ITV’s recent, superb real-life crime drama, A Confession, you would certainly know who Steve Fulcher is. For those who don’t, he was a Detective Superintendent of Police in Wiltshire county, in England, who was in the spotlight in a missing girl’s investigation in 2011, and the subsequent trial. Without giving away too much, that investigation threw up uneasy questions about what should be the boundaries of ‘due process’ in the arrest and questioning of a suspect, and how much flexibility is it fair to accord to an investigating officer. To be clear, I’m not alluding to torture- just plain questioning.
It’s a thought provoking case. For those who are interested, especially those who can’t see A Confession anytime soon, or are simply short on time, I recommend a 2018 ITV documentary, To Catch A Serial Killer (not to be confused with the very different, CNN documentary of the same name). In some ways, it’s a better introduction to the case than A Confession.
The Sound of Silence (2019)
This movie is centered around an unusual lead character- a ‘house tuner’. From what I could gather, he helps individuals to have a more restful existence by harmonizing the sounds in their houses. My quick take on the movie: interesting but unsatisfying.
What I liked about it: Apart from the intrigue surrounding the lead character, I thought it was a well shot movie. But most of all, what held my attention were the performances by the leads- Peter Sarsgaard and Rashida Jones.
What I didn’t like: After setting up the lead characters as individuals I cared about, I couldn’t relate to the direction that the story eventually took. If I were to look deeper, this movie began life as a 17 minute short film, which it intended to build upon. Yet the most interesting parts of its story are arguably those that were fleshed out directly taken from the source material. It seemed to me that either the writer (or the director) didn’t know what to do with the characters, or didn’t care enough.
Still, to anyone with an open mind, I would suggest checking it out. It’s definitely a lot better than its IMDb rating suggests. The first twenty minutes or so are absolutely worth it and, who knows, you might like the remainder of the movie more than I did. Movie buffs might find it worthwhile to compare it with the original short movie.
Here’s a link to the trailer.
Rescue is Our Favourite Breed
This outstanding ad for the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home portrays their denizens as animals with verve, attitude, and character.
Dream Foundation- Rest In Peace
Dream Foundation describes itself as a “dream-granting organization for terminally-ill adults” that “fulfills final dreams that provide inspiration, comfort and closure at the end of life”. With that objective, it sources donations. This is a recent print campaign. In case you find the text hard to read, I’ve typed it out at the end.
Sarah had it coming. One last cycle to the summit. Give a terminally ill adult the joy of a final dream come true.
James got what he deserved. One last trip to Hawaii. Give a terminally ill adult the joy of a final dream come true.
Kenny asked for it. One last family cookout. Give a terminally ill adult the joy of a final dream come true.
Women’s Equality Party- Anti-Abuse
The ad campaigns of the Women’s Equality Party in the UK have stood out for their direct and hard-hitting messages. Here’s a selection of the latest.
The Small Escape
This 4 minute video from BMW recreates a bit of Cold War history- how the tiny, two-seater BMW Isetta became an unlikely vehicle for smuggling people across the Berlin wall.
Here’s a link to the full story.
Tikkurila- Endangered Colors
A paint collection inspired by endangered animals. Here’s a link to a video that gives some background to the initiative.
Risk & Investing
A rather odd campaign for investment products, or so I think. While there are some guarantees baked into the products, I can’t wrap my head around the idea of promoting them as free of risks, at least in the way that the ads may suggest, and without any disclaimers.
PurelyGreat- Witch Hunt
An extraordinary ad on so many levels- astonishing in its setting amongst filth and squalor, and stunning in the blackness of its humour. And it’s unlike any deodorant commercial you might have ever seen. As one reviewer succinctly observed:
Have you ever seen an ad that kills off its heroine and then uses her burning arm in the product shot?
The Drowned Bottle Openers
Creativity at work in an unusual but very interesting way. Here’s a link to a video that explains the campaign.
Breath (2017)
This is the feature directing debut of Simon Baker, probably best known as the star of The Mentalist. It’s a gently paced, elegantly filmed, coming-of-age drama, set in the 1970s, in a small town on the Western Australian coast. It centers on two teenage boys whose lives are transformed after they come into contact with an enigmatic ace surfer. On one hand, the movie looks at the appeal and attraction of surfing; on the other, it touches on the themes of thrill-seeking, risk-taking, masculinity, fear, and role models. The movie tells its story with sincerity and sensitivity, and I liked it a lot.
I must point out that there is one scene in particular, late in the movie, that some viewers might find disturbing and maybe unnecessary. That’s an integral part of the source novel. Though I haven’t yet read the novel, by all accounts, the movie has considerably toned down or eased out its darker elements.
Here’s a link to the trailer.
The Banker Who Claims To Be Sherlock
It was one of the most bizarre public assertions by a corporate bigwig, that I have ever come across. Speaking to CNBC, Aditya Puri, Managing Director of HDFC Bank, one of India’s biggest banks, made the outlandish claim that he was a “modern version” of “Sherlock”. Assuming he was referring to Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective, the reasons that he presented, had no relevance whatsoever to his claim. In his words:
I am here only to protect the interest of my depositors, as well as offer fair and competitive pricing, and people who do not behave in a proper way, I am here to kick them.
Could it be then, that he meant ‘Shylock’ instead of ‘Sherlock’? That would definitely be a more apt comparison, and would tie-in somewhat better with the reasons given. It’s just that a banker would need to have a very questionable mindset to take pride in that.
Regardless, what I also found bewildering was his stated intention to “kick” those who misbehave. That’s not something that you expect to hear in a business interview. In fact, further ahead in the interview, he reiterated this point, startlingly, using the second person pronoun.
If you behave badly with me, I’ll kick you.
Here’s a link to a clip of his dubious pronouncements.
I couldn’t help but notice his slurred enunciation of the word ‘kick’, the first time around. I was also struck by how his gaze momentarily shifted after he said it the second time. Maybe he saw someone off-camera who was visibly appalled, as I was, by what he had just said.
The Tomorrow Man (2019)
If you’re open to the idea of a gently paced love story between two people “on the wrong side of 60”, then this is a movie worth checking out. It’s a beautifully shot, heartfelt, endearing movie. While the plot may be largely predictable, the idiosyncrasies of the lead characters infuse it with a certain freshness. But the real glue that holds it all together are the performances by veteran actors, John Lithgow and Blythe Danner.
Here’s a link to a short clip from the movie. Here’s a link to a slightly longer clip.
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
This is one of those movies where, if you see the wrong trailer, or look too hard at the poster, you might get the wrong idea about it. You might think it is a comedy, which it isn’t. Or you might mistake it for an action movie or a thriller. This is a Western, for sure, but an atypical one at that. Its narrative gives the illusion of leading to an urgent and conventional goal but its aspirations are much more leisurely and philosophical. It is probably best enjoyed by going with its flow and soaking in its moments of subtle humour, occasional gunfights, and the nuanced exchanges between its lead characters. It is a beautifully shot movie and features excellent performances from its top-notch cast.
It stars Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Riz Ahmed.
Here’s a link to the trailer that I’d recommend checking out.
iPhone User Sues Apple For Turning Him Gay
According to this piece, a Russian man is seeking more than $15,000 in damages from Apple, accusing the tech giant of “manipulatively pushing me toward homosexuality”.
Renaissance Man
The latest fun ad from Kasikornbank Thailand, to promote Madhub- a “solution hub for online traders”.
Sabina- Seamless Fit
Also dubbed as “Mission Non-stoppable”, this ad from a few months ago, recently resurfaced and seems to be getting a fair bit of attention.
As Darkness Falls…
This is the background description released for this animated short film:
India, the land of a thousand gods and goddesses is facing a devil of its own. Fuelled by rumours, borne of intolerance and spread on social media, incidents of hate crimes across the country are on the rise. And a mere mobile phone in one’s hand has now become the most dreadful weapon of destruction. Leading to hundreds of innocent people falling victim and losing their lives to these mindless cases of ‘mob lynching’ over the last few years. Turtle, one of India’s most progressive fashion brands partnered with Wunderman Thompson to raise awareness around this menacing social evil looming large in the country. For this, the agency chose the perfect platform - social media, where such issues thrive and are spread to create havoc. And the ideal occasion - Durga Puja, the country’s most celebrated religious festival was picked to release the film. And then, on Mahalaya, the auspicious day that marks the arrival of Goddess Durga, the Goddess of Power, this intriguing film was launched. Needing around 3 months of painstaking animation, every frame of this 2min 17sec film is a bed of fabric with photo-realistic textures and patterns. Animated meticulously and layered with a goose-bumping soundtrack this film builds a dystopian, avant-garde world of evil with a noir feel. The essence of the message is delivered in a way never seen before and the threads of peace and harmony is woven in the hearts of every viewer.
Here’s a link to the film.
Are You Pushing the Sausage?
This is a public interest ad and it might be worthwhile to first see the ad, then read the description below.
The campaign revolves around a young man named Mads and his battle against the peer pressure from his friends. However to show the absurdity of how Danish youth often pressure each other into consuming more alcohol and tackle how normalised this kind of behaviour has become, we have replaced all alcohol in the scenes with red sausages. We follow Mads through a range of different drinking (sausage) situations and the continuous pressure from his friends to consume more and more sausages. When Mads has finally had it with the pressure and takes a stand against his friends, he fails miserably as the peer pressure overwhelms him. The call to action in the end says: “Are you pushing the sausage?". Urging young people to stop peer pressuring each other into drinking more alcohol.