Naomi Campbell, John Malkovich Star in Pirelli Long-Form Ad

pirelli_the_call.jpg

In the works since last year, tire maker Pirelli will, in March. release The Call, a 10-minute video, created by Leo Burnett and set in the Vatican, starring John Malkovich who plays a priest and Naomi Campbell who plays the devil. Using the power stuggle between good and evil, Pirelli claims the film, directed by Antoine Fuqua, will be a metaphor for the company's "power is nothing without control" tagline. The film will be released exclusively online and receive promotion through online, print and television.

This is Hollywood-style, celebrity-powered ad is sure to give Russell Crowe plenty of ammunition to further castigate celebrities for selling out. That said, if we, as an industry want better ads, we have to tap better talent. Big names bring a sea of eyeballs and getting noticed in today's media environment is becoming an impossible task. Granted, Malkovick, though a superb actor, isn't A-list in terms of popularity and Campbell, while very popular, is no Malkovich in the acting department but together, they just might bring some notoriety and sales to Pirelli and its sleepy, commodity-like category of automotive tires.

by Steve Hall    Jan-30-06   Click to Comment   
Topic: Campaigns, Celebrity, Commercials, Good, Online, Opinion   

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Comments



Comments

Jesus Christ, that's good advertising. And someone get that announcer guy a lozenge.

Posted by: owen on January 31, 2006 8:57 AM

did you think that was malkovich talking? Didn't sound like it to me. And can you get any looser of an association with tires? I don't know. A "Transporter" mini-movie/prequel would be better. And remember, Pirelli has an excellent name in performance tires. Their annual calendar (J Lo is in it this year) is a thing of legend. I'm very torn by this. And Fuqua. Gotta love that name.

Posted by: Dave. T on January 31, 2006 2:21 PM

Of course that's not Malkovich talking, Dave. It's that Hollywood movie announcer dude doing a voiceover like every other movie preview. Get it?

Posted by: Steve Hall on January 31, 2006 2:38 PM

Guess they couldn't get Madonna for this one.

Posted by: owen on February 2, 2006 1:21 PM