OneMetal.com book REVIEW:
The Art of Drew Struzan

Among the many stars and attractions of Hollywood quietly sits Drew Struzan, artisan and connoisseur. His fame belongs to the golden days that fewer people remember but many revere: the artistry of film posters. His diligently rendered paintings sell as collector’s items and hang in centerpiece frames, evocative of emotion and passion for classic films directed by household names like Spielberg, Lucas, and Guillermo del Toro.

The Art of Drew Struzan, a new coffee table-type hardcover from Titan Books, is dedicated to commemorating Struzan’s work over the last thirty-some years. Filmmakers David J. Schow (The Crow) and Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) introduce the book, 300+ pieces (both full color posters and compositions) sandwiched between crisp pages.

Struzan himself narrates the rest, providing behind-the-scenes accounts and anecdotes. The book is very much his, a chance for the voice behind the art to speak and honor past experiences, good and bad. Sometimes he throws in extra comps because they’re endeared to him for one reason or another. Through two-toned comps and finished posters, readers can trace a work’s evolution, but the book’s real worth surfaces with Struzan’s details: his recollections of long hours spent perfecting commissions and the joy gained from such creative accomplishments.

The book’s mood is bittersweet. Struzan frowns upon the new digital age of thoughtless poster-making, but realizes that his time was sweet, even if sometimes sullied by green-eyed studio executives who dumbed down otherwise careful designs. As a reader captivated with page after page of rich colors and expressive figures, it’s easy to come around to Struzan’s point-of-view. The book might even enrage the empathetic reader upon learning of picky marketing choices and disgruntled customers.

Some of the poster descriptions lack clarity, but overall they educate through inspiration. Whether readers carefully engage with the book or merely flip through its pages, The Art of Drew Struzan immortalizes a man who contributed much more than film advertisements. He gave America icons and the magic to remember them by.

Bottom Line

The Art of Drew Struzan offers movie lovers and collectors the chance to celebrate a landmark figure in film history.