METTEL RAY

Thursday Movie Picks: Unrecognisable Actor Transformation

Hello April, let’s do this! Here is the first post of Thursday Movie Picks and it’s a fun one! This is all about unrecognisable actor transformations and for once I know all three recommendations right away. I actually have a theme for this week too because why not!?

1. DOUG JONES in The Shape of Water (2017)

You might already have guessed my theme within a theme – it’s heavy make-up! And there’s one guy who comes to mind right away, Doug Jones. He is the guy who’s face you might not necessarily recognise, but his work is in a way, brilliant. Remember how Jim Carrey complained about his Grinch costume? Doug Jones is the guy who takes on a Grinch role almost every time. His work in The Shape of Water seems especially impressive considering the quality of CGI these days. Who would go through such a long process of putting on and taking off make up, if not a very dedicated actor.

2. JIM CARREY in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

I can’t believe this movie is almost 20 years old… this makes me feel ancient. Anyway, like I just mentioned, Jim Carrey went through hours of make up for his role and he hated every moment of it. Which is weird, since he also did The Mask, but I guess he didn’t have to be all green all the time in that. Grinch was all body, a lot of hair, and a lot of padding! Carrey stuck it out, will probably never do a similar type role ever again, and the result is an unrecognisable Carrey. He does shine through though, which is just proof of how recognisable his style of acting is. It’s all movements and body angles but still, unrecognisable in a way.

3. WARWICK DAVIS in Harry Potter 

Last but not least, it’s time to praise Warwick Davis in .. almost everything? I’m not really specifying the films, nor any specific role, because the guy has done a lot of unrecognisable roles. He manages to play roles of different calibre and importance, and yet do it differently each time. Not to mention the make up, which, for instance, to Harry Potter is an overall nod. There are so many moments of amazing transformations in Harry Potter, but having Davis play 2 (almost 3) roles in one film – now that’s a true unrecognisable transformation times three. Amazing!

THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES

 

mettelray

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Thursday Movie Picks

10 responses to “Thursday Movie Picks: Unrecognisable Actor Transformation”

  1. Brittani Avatar
    Brittani

    I love your theme! It never even occurred to me to go the makeup route.

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      Hah, thanks! It means a lot. I try so hard to think outside the box with these, that it’s a huge compliment if others find my picks surprising. 🙂

      Reply
  2. SEK Avatar
    SEK

    Great choices! I like that you went with the makeup transformations. I wasn’t a big fan of The Grinch itself, but Jim Carrey really nailed the role lol. And so much praise for Warick Davis! Loved him as Flitwick AND Griphook!

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  3. Allie Avatar
    Allie

    Oh, great choices! I didn’t even think about the make-up angle.
    Jim Carrey was a perfect Grinch ❤

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      See, and I think many didn’t so I’m happy to surprise you guys! 😀

      Reply
  4. Joel Avatar
    Joel

    All impressive makeup jobs though I didn’t care for two of the films. After a promising beginning I thought The Shape of Water was one of the stupidest things I’d ever seen. I’m just too fond of the original animated Grinch to be able to warm to the Carrey one. The Harry Potters are a variable lot, they got better as they went along-which is rare, but I enjoyed them. Haven’t watched them since that initial view though.

    That type of heavily immersive body makeup must be hell to endure getting into and out of. I read that when Albert Finney was playing Poirot in the original Murder on the Orient Express, and appearing in a play during the evenings, he would be picked up in a sort of converted ambulance in the mornings and the artists would layer on the prosthetics while he slept! You have to wonder if they get paid more for those type of roles because of what they have to put up with and the extra hours required.

    Here’s my three:

    The Lost Moment (1947)-Publisher Lewis Venable (Robert Cummings) is desperate to acquire love letters between noted 19th century poet Jeffrey Ashton and Juliana Bordereau (Agnes Moorehead). Learning that Juliana is still alive at 105, Lewis arranges an introduction. Assuming the identity of a rich author, Lewis meets the now-blind Juliana, who allows him to rent rooms in her home. As Lewis’ searches for the letters he must contend with the resistance of Juliana’s great-niece, Tina (Susan Hayward) a tightly wound schizophrenic duel personality obsessed with Ashton. This slightly reworked version of Henry James The Aspern Papers isn’t for everyone, star Susan Hayward hated it and referred to it as The Lost Hour and a Half, but features a most impressive makeup job on Agnes Moorehead who though in her mid-forties is unrecognizable as the ancient Juliana.

    Mask (1985)-Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz) a sweet-natured extremely bright teen suffers from Lionitis which caused his facial features to be deformed taking on the appearance of that beast. Thanks to his wild but tough and loving mother Rusty (Cher) and biker friends who see him for who he is Rocky doesn’t let his affliction get in the way. But the greater world is not so understanding, at least at first, and there are many obstacles to face. Based on a true story Stoltz is buried under mountains of prosthetics but manages to convey Rocky’s essence extremely well, matched every step of the way by Cher.

    Bettlejuice (1988)-Tim Burton’s wild ride of a movie tells the tale of Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) freshly dead in a car accident, finding themselves stuck haunting their country residence and unable to leave the house. When the unbearable Deetzes (Catherine O’Hara, Jeffrey Jones) and teen daughter Lydia (Winona Ryder) buy the home, the Maitlands attempt to scare them away without success. Their efforts attract Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), a rambunctious spirit whose “help” quickly becomes dangerous for the Maitlands and innocent Lydia. Keaton done up in wild style is brash and inimitable.

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      I haven’t seen your picks but I totally get your feelings about The Shape of Water. It’s a weird film. I liked it upon the first viewing and I still like it but I’m not like 100% in love with it.

      Reply
  5. sati Avatar
    sati

    Man this is some dedication, I cannot imagine how uncomfortable it must be to wear this stuff not to mention, really freaky when they look into the mirror!

    Reply
    1. MettelRay Avatar
      MettelRay

      I know right! Mad respect for all of these guys. Especially Doug Jones who does this regularly!

      Reply

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