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A movie’s greatness relies on the harmonious alignment of various elements such as acting, writing, directing, cinematography, editing, hair, makeup, and more. It can be disheartening for viewers when some of these components come together while others fall short. Hair and makeup play a pivotal role in shaping the film’s ambiance and style, making any shortcomings in these areas glaringly apparent.
The visual aspects of a movie hold significant importance, and when there are discrepancies in hair and makeup, it can give the entire production a sense of a glaring fashion blunder. On film sets, the teams responsible for hair and makeup put in tremendous effort, but at times, it’s the audacious artistic choices of a director or designer that don’t always yield the desired results. These movies present serious characters, yet it’s challenging to take them seriously due to the extremely distracting and ill-fitting hair and makeup styles.
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10 Movie Characters With Distracting Hair & Makeup Styles
Cletus Kasady – Venom
The 2018 film “Venom” stands as a respectable comic book adaptation that has aged well. Tom Hardy plays the role of Eddie Brock, a tough journalist on a mission to expose a sinister bioengineering company. Along the way, he stumbles upon an extraterrestrial symbiote that eventually takes control of him, resulting in a battle to maintain his own identity.
One intriguing aspect of the movie is the post-credits appearance of Cletus Kasady, also known as Carnage, portrayed by Woody Harrelson. However, what caught viewers off guard was Harrelson’s distinctive hairstyle, featuring a curly wig intended to make Kasady come across as an eccentric character. Nonetheless, this choice in hairdo came across as peculiar to many. In the sequel, “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” they altered Kasady’s hair, but it still featured a less-than-flattering comb-over.
Willy Wonka – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Tim Burton’s 2005 fantasy adventure film, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” centers around Willy Wonka, played by Johnny Depp, an eccentric chocolatier with a peculiar personality. Wonka extends invitations to contest winners for a tour of his enigmatic chocolate factory, but most of these guests turn out to be spoiled and misbehaved children. Throughout the movie, the audience gains insights into Wonka’s unusual childhood and past, while the ill-behaved children meet unfortunate fates due to their greed.
While “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” is an enjoyable movie, some critics argue that Willy Wonka’s distinctive hairstyle and makeup choices detract from his character. Depp’s iconic bob haircut is a significant departure from the original 1971 version of Willy Wonka portrayed by Gene Wilder. Additionally, his makeup, characterized by pale tones, aligns with Burton’s distinctive visual style but can sometimes come across as distracting to viewers.
Goblin King Jareth – Labyrinth
In the 1986 film “Labyrinth,” Jennifer Connolly plays the role of Sarah, a 16-year-old girl who becomes frustrated with her baby half-brother’s constant crying and wishes for him to be taken away by the goblins from one of her fantasy books. To her surprise, the Goblin King Jareth, portrayed by David Bowie, appears and takes the baby.
Jareth is a distinctive character with a unique appearance, sporting the bold and flamboyant style that was popular in the 1980s, characterized by big hair and heavy eyeliner often associated with male rock stars. While some viewers may find his extravagant hairstyle and makeup a bit distracting in the context of 2023, those who have an appreciation for the film will be pleased to know that a sequel to “Labyrinth” is currently in development.
Captain Hook – Hook
In 1991, Steven Spielberg helmed “Hook,” a live-action adaptation of Disney’s 1953 animated classic, “Peter Pan.” The film features Robin Williams as Peter Pan, who has now grown up and become a lawyer. When Captain Hook (played by Dustin Hoffman) kidnaps Peter’s children, he must return to Neverland to rescue them. In a thrilling climax, Peter engages in an epic sword battle with Captain Hook and, without giving too much away, emerges victorious.
For those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, “Hook” holds a special place as a nostalgic film. However, it’s hard to ignore the overpowering hair and makeup styles of Captain Hook, which were intentionally designed to mimic a cartoon character. In particular, his mustache and eyebrows can be quite distracting. On a positive note, it’s worth mentioning that the film could have taken an even different direction as it was originally considered to be a musical.
Mrs. Doubtfire – Mrs. Doubtfire
In the 1993 classic film “Mrs. Doubtfire,” the late Robin Williams plays the role of Daniel Hillard, a voice actor who undergoes a heartbreaking separation from his wife, resulting in limited visitation with his children. In a desperate attempt to stay close to his kids, Daniel assumes the identity of Mrs. Doubtfire, a British nanny, and remarkably secures the job of looking after his own children.
While Robin Williams delivers his trademark comedic brilliance in the film, some fans had reservations about the extravagant costumes and makeup, finding them somewhat implausible and questioning how the children and their mother could fail to recognize that Mrs. Doubtfire was, in fact, Daniel. Nevertheless, the role remains one of Robin Williams’ most outstanding performances in his career.
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Padme Amidala – Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
In Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, the story revolves around Jedi knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, who aim to resolve a galactic trade dispute. During their journey, Qui-Gon encounters Anakin Skywalker, a 9-year-old with apparent Force abilities. Qui-Gon places a bet on Anakin in a pod race, leading to his freedom from a dishonest junk dealer.
Natalie Portman portrays Padme Amidala, the Queen of Naboo, in the film. Her performance in the Star Wars franchise has sparked mixed opinions, but it’s her distinctive makeup and elaborate hairstyle in The Phantom Menace that garnered a polarizing response. The solid white makeup and elaborate hairdo were bold choices, not universally well-received. Queen Amidala’s appearance in the sequel, Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones, notably underwent a more subdued transformation, possibly in response to the initial criticism.
The Grandmaster – Thor: Ragnarok
Upon crash-landing on the trash-filled planet of Sakaar, Thor, portrayed by Chris Hemsworth, is unexpectedly thrust into a life-or-death gladiator battle against his former Avenger comrade, The Hulk, played by Mark Ruffalo. The eccentric Grandmaster, portrayed by Jeff Goldblum, orchestrates this combat purely for his own amusement in the Contest of Champions. However, it was not the fight but rather The Grandmaster’s outlandish hairstyle and makeup that left viewers in awe.
Jeff Goldblum has a reputation for embodying quirky characters such as Dr. Ian Malcolm in “Jurassic Park” (1993) and scientist Seth Brundle in “The Fly” (1986). Nevertheless, The Grandmaster’s flamboyant fashion choices in “Thor: Ragnarok” were seen as a tad excessive by some, as they appeared to lack a clear explanation within the film’s narrative.
Ari – Planet of the Apes
In 2001, Tim Burton directed a reimagining of the classic 1968 movie “Planet of the Apes,” featuring Mark Wahlberg in the role of Leo Davidson, an astronaut who crash-lands on a planet controlled by apes, where humans are subjugated. Leo teams up with an ape named Ari, portrayed by Helena Bonham Carter (who was married to Burton at the time), to lead a rebellion and escape.
While most of the hair and makeup in the film were considered satisfactory for the time, some viewers found Ari’s prosthetic makeup to be a bit distracting. Helena Bonham Carter herself mentioned that wearing the prosthetics for extended periods, even for bathroom breaks, was quite tiring.
For fans of the “Planet of the Apes” series, there’s an exciting new Disney+ series titled “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” to look forward to, set to be available for streaming on Disney+ in May 2024.
Caine Wise – Jupiter Ascending
In the 2015 film “Jupiter Ascending,” the character Jupiter Jones, portrayed by Mila Kunis, is an unassuming janitor who unbeknownst to her, possesses a royal lineage in the intergalactic hierarchy. Her true identity as a potential ruler is revealed when a genetically enhanced soldier named Caine Wise, played by Channing Tatum, arrives on Earth to locate her. Despite being directed by the Wachowskis, the film underperformed at the box office. In 2022, Mila Kunis acknowledged that she had anticipated the movie’s lackluster reception.
The Wachowskis took a distinctive approach with Caine’s appearance, incorporating eye-catching eyeliner and noticeable prosthetic ears. “Jupiter Ascending” received six Razzie Award nominations in 2016, which are given to recognize the year’s worst films. Among these nominations was Channing Tatum’s inclusion in the Worst Actor category.
Gretchen Carlson – Bombshell
In 2019, Jay Roach directed the film “Bombshell,” which focuses on the women at Fox News who exposed CEO Roger Ailes (portrayed by John Lithgow) for his repeated sexual harassment. The movie features a cast that includes John Lithgow as Ailes, Nicole Kidman as anchor Gretchen Carlson, and Charlize Theron, Kate MacKinnon, and Margot Robbie. While “Bombshell” received acclaim for its performances, it faced criticism for its underwhelming script. Some viewers found the film to be heavily dramatized, with distracting elements such as exaggerated hair and makeup. Nicole Kidman’s character had notably different hair from her usual look. Despite these criticisms, the film did receive recognition by winning an Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, particularly for John Lithgow’s transformation.
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