Fifth article in our 5 weeks series on Campaigning for an Oscar!
By Open Book
In 2011 we’ve seen Meryl Streep and Leo DiCaprio endure hours in the make-up chair to become J. Edgar Hoover and Margret Thatcher. This dedication to their craft has resulted in another Oscar nomination for Meryl Streep. Does time spent in the make-up chair equal an Oscar nomination? Some believe (in Hollywood) to win an Oscar one must be willing to get a little ugly. Is that true? Well we want to challenge that theory and pose another one. Do moviegoers identify more with the less than attractive individual than not?
We know actors change their physicality like they change their socks. According to an article written by Dre Rivas entitled To Win an Oscar it, Pays to be Ugly illustrates,
“Playing ugly helps both actors and actresses in nailing an Oscar, and if you’re a woman, the prettier you are and the more you can ugly up, the more the Academy will appreciate your efforts (see: Cotillard, Swank, Kidman, and Theron). Men, meanwhile, always have a better chance if they start out ugly, though both handsome men and ugly men will be recognized if they ugly up.[1]”
Here are a few definitions of ugly from thefreedictionary.com[2]
- Ugly – displeasing to the senses; “an ugly face”; “ugly furniture”
- Unattractive – lacking beauty or charm; “as unattractive as most mining regions”
- Awkward – lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance; “an awkward dancer”; “an awkward gesture”; “too awkward with a needle to make her own clothes”; “his clumsy fingers produced an awkward knot”
- Displeasing – causing displeasure or lacking pleasing qualities.
Its no secret reality TV has changed the way we view entertainment. Today in order to make a story believable we want our flaws and beauty on display, to evaluate both sides of a coin. Meaning seeing the competition between imperfection and perfection appeals to a wider demographic. So what is realism? According to New World Encyclopedia it states,
- “ In the visual arts it refers to a style of depiction that attempts to portray subjects as they appear in everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation. The term is also used to describe works of art which, in revealing a truth, may emphasize the ugly or sordid. Realist artists focused on that side of “reality” which had often been excluded in Romantic art, the unflattering truth of the underside of elite culture.”[3]
So what actors (who are considered sex symbols) took on a flawed character to win an Oscar?
- 2010-Best Supporting- Christian Bale- The Fighter– (lost weight, endured some time in the make-up chair to look like a heroin addict).
- 2006-Best Supporting-George Clooney- Syrianna– (Gained weight).
- 2004- Best Actress-Charlize Theron- Monster– (Gained weight, wore make-up & wigs to play a serial killer with sun damaged skin and over processed hair).
- 2003- Best Actress-Nicole Kidman- The Hours– (Wore an unflattering prosthetic nose).
As you can see, these actors have also graced the covers of GQ & Vogue magazines. They have at one time been voted a sex symbol. Although, these titles can make an actor bring in women and men at the box office. The “reality” is in Hollywood. If you want an Oscar you have to be willing to get ugly.
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
Sorry: This is a very funny article.
Thanks CR!
I think one can be ugly both inside and out. Take for example Charlize Theron in “Young Adult” that character was so ugly inside that it made her outward appearance ugly without all the makeup. Unfortunately, it did not earn her an Oscar nomination. Now granted there was a lot of competition this year but I thought she was great.
Why do u think this article is funny?
Where should I start?
Prior to the discussion, it is a surprise how honest it is.
Hmm! Start wherever u like…. your always quite candid with your comments. Love it!!
OB! I love this article. 🙂
Honestly, I don’t look at how one is dumbed down in looks. The actors you mentioned who have been nominated–I honestly was impressed with their dedication to truly BECOME their character.To me it’s not “willing to get ugly” that should be earning an actor an Oscar nod. It should be their willingness to physically, mentally, emotionally bring to light the flaws, imperfections, and reality of a person. I didn’t love Bale in The Fighter because of just his looks. That amazing man took it upon himself to become Dicky Ecklund. Anyone can have a great make up artist transform their look, but it’s what comes from within that delivers the Oscar performance.
LB-U Said: “To me it’s not “willing to get ugly” that should be earning an actor an Oscar nod. It should be their willingness to physically, mentally, emotionally bring to light the flaws, imperfections, and reality of a person.”
OB: Like u said the willingness to physically submerge yourself into a role is more than just changing ones outward appearance with make-up. Theron portrayed a ugly person inside and it was just as compelling. Showing our beauty as well as our flaws humanizes us IMO!!
Do you think that maybe when an actor does ugly down, that it strips them down as a person and therefore a oscar worthy performance is born?
Hi Francesa!
Great question! I would absolutely think so..
Hi Francesa,
Yes! Yes! Yes! To that great answer. I think it makes the performance more believable as well. Audiences today are so cynical and will quickly point out if a person’s behavior, look etc… is artificial.
Hi Everyone!
Welcome to our discussion tonight. Please feel free to jump in.
Hi OB! 🙂
How are you doing today? I just woke up from a 1.5 hour nap and feel GREAT! hahaha!
Hi,
I feel good. I was listening to Whitney songs on the site everyone posted.
“My love is your love”…… la la la la…LOL!!
I hope you sung fool out. That’s the only way to do it! 🙂
LOL!!
“sang” and “full”. oh my gosh I can’t even WRITE correctly. Good grief!
Q: Many filmmakers are making films look like a documentary. Do u think it makes the performances look more realistic?
My brain is on a slow burn, can you give me some film titles?
Sure! Sorry…… Bad brain. LOL!!
The film “Young Adult” had a bit of a doc. look to it.
The film “Hurt Locker” very doc. look.
The film “Green Zone” very doc. look
Thanks! yes, then to your question. When they make documentaries/films that look like documentaries, are camera angles and lighting different?
Yes! The camera looks like it’s being hand carried. A lot of shaking etc…
Hi Everyone!
i completely agree with Francesa. However, I do have to say I’ve been “uglied” up before and the make-up helped to enhance my performance. I was able to get into the character better, if that makes sense.
I was going to mention that. But again I think it’s the talent of the actor who is able to use the make up as an enhancement. some people will never be able to act whether dolled up or “uglied” down.
ITA.
Hi Paris,
Yes! Makes a lot of sense. How are u?
Alive. The wheel bearings and tire rods shot out on my car.
Other than that, I’m great!
Argh!!!
Oh! My gosh!! Are u serious? I’m glad your o.k. That had to be scary.
yes. thanks.
how are you?
Good! Thank U!!
think Paranormal Activity, Blair Witch Project.
yes, excellent!! How do u like this type of filmmaking? Do u think it enhances the realism or takes away from the performance?
honestly, i can’t stand it. If i wanted to watch a film shot like that. I’d watch my own home videos.
LOL!! ITA.
I like it to an extent. I think some scenes the moving around can have more of an effect. Other times, just stand still camera man.
What about in Eclipse the shaking camera by David Slade?
Honestly I didn’t even notice.
what shaking camera in Eclipse? What scenes?
The nightmare scene when Bella is dreaming about Jasper.
Q: Do u think reality TV has influenced the way we look at films? Meaning we have a low tolerance for formulaic performances, plots etc…
A: Reality TV is the biggest waste of television brain cells. They have actually made me appreciate quality work MORE that comes to the theaters and gives me hope that there are still directors, producers, actors, etc…who want to give us substance in our viewing pleasure.
And I was being kind in my first sentence. 🙂
ITA LB
LOVE IT!! LOL!! Take a bow. I guess we can thank Reality TV for some things. LOL!!
ITA! Most people don’t think Reality shows aren’t scripted. They are sooooo formulaic and predictable. My brain cells are reducing just thinking about it.
The only reality TV shows I watch are clips on The Soup and So You Think You Can Dance.
I use to like watching “The Amazing Race” but after the third season I stopped.
Q: Can u list some actors performances who are considered sex symbols who’s performance really moved u? Did their look and or performance earn your admiration?
I’m sorry actors who are sex symbols who “uglied up.” Name the actor, film and character they portrayed. Does that make sense?
Hmmm…I’m thinking. I already mentioned Bale as Dicky. Let me think of another.
yes and the only one i can think off who actually de-aged was brad pitt in the curious case of benjamin button.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssss!!!! OMG I friggin cry at the end every single time.
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose, Edith Piaf
although i wouldn’t consider marion cotillard a sex symbol.
True!
Q: Do u think it’s a positive or negative thing to be labeled a “sex symbol” in HW if u want to be a serious actor?
Mmm, Idk. I think depending on the personality and quality of the person and their talent, it won’t matter.
LB,
I totally agree!
Hello-
I am not sure if they performance moved me, but what about Colin Farrell in Horrible Bosses. I did not even recognize him
Hi Francesa,
Yes! He was quite ugly and funny. LOL!!
OB-
Sex symbol is all in the eye of the beholder. I think that “term” is to widely used in today’s HW. When I think of sex symbols I think of Marilyn Monroe, Jane Mansfield. There is nothing left to the imagination any more and I feel as though they just oozed sex. Does this make sense
You said, “There is nothing left to the imagination any more and I feel as though they just oozed sex.”
There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING left to the imagination. IMO those that I would label sex symbols are those who dress modestly, act modestly, are genuinely kind and honest, have manners and style, are positive personalities, and treat their fans wonderfully.
Ahh! I love u LB!! Wonderfully put!!
Francesa,
I applaud u for saying this. Yes! Today there is NO mystery. People think they have to show everything. I HATE that. What’s the problem with using your imagination. People have become so short handed with everything. Even SEX!! It’s horrible. I digress!!
Hi Francesa!
How are you?
I am well Parisienne. Back to somewhat of a normal life. Yeah
it’s so great to see you on here. 🙂
That’s good. Its good to “see” you again. 🙂
ITA LB…I think that society on a whole confuses the two. You cannot be a sex symbol without sex. But as you said it is much more layered than that.
Ladies,
I need to go for the evening but I look forward to checking back in. Again, thank you for the wonderful article OB. 🙂
Everyone,
I’m going to go as well. Take Care and great article, OB!
Thanks LB & Paris.
Goodnight!.
I think of about Halle Berry and her performance in….I can’t think of the name, the one where she won the academy award. Anyway, IMO her performance was okay, not oscar worthy, just okay. But since she showed a lot of herself, and there was a big deal put on that. Did that help her chances of getting the award
Ya, know I’m not sure I saw that performance.
Oh! Monster Ball.
ITA her performance did not blow me away either. I think she did not show the full range of emotions. IMO!!
Francesa,
I honestly think HB ran a smart campaign that got her the Oscar. She caught people by surprise. Voters really didn’t have a chance to evaluate her performance because the film was submitted so late.
Hi. Wow, missed Paris and LB.
Hi Francesa and OB.
Hi CR!!
How are u?
I thought Michele Williams portrayal of Marilyn Monroe was quite amazing. Did anyone see her performance? Given she did not ugly up she still gave a great performance.
Given this fact. Do you think Williams or Meryl Streep will win the Oscar?
Nothing wasn’t wrong with Michelle Williams performance. She was great. I went to the theater exhausted and missed a great deal of the movie because I was asleep. What I saw was really great.
######## Mild embarrassment ###########
LOL!! So great u went to sleep….. U know this is not a good endorsement.
[Bear with me, the second paragraph is better]
Being one from the visuals category of artists, I frequently admire my cousins in the musical camp. There are many different kinds of musicians as there are artists. Yet like us they are admired for their mastery of aesthetics. Like us they frequently deliver content to our audiences. Yet also like us it is difficult to deliver that subject matter to our audiences if they are disturbed by the way we do it.
Using a completely different skill set, actors are a completely different strain of cousin. Using their entire bodies, their expression frequently addresses human psychology and behavior. Like us (visual artists) they frequently provoke admiration by visually representing the world we see around us. But the reason I am awed by actors is I frequently see them as astronauts. When they travel into different philosophy, politics, personalities, and periods, they essentially take us to places many of us can’t go. Though I did not believe some of historical information that was delivered in “J. Edgar” and “Iron Lady”, I still was floored by their attempts to pull off their efforts.
CR! This is great and ITA with this statement.
“Though I did not believe some of historical information that was delivered in “J. Edgar” and “Iron Lady”, I still was floored by their attempts to pull off their efforts.”
I think Leo. Dicaprio performance was great and his efforts sabotaged by overdone make-up and poor direction. IMO!!
CR- Who do u think deserves the Oscar. Streep or Williams?
I’m scared. I don’t know.
I think too many acting artists; get their image mixed up with their character’s. I wish they were more like India Arie in this video.
Sorry.
Meaning if an actor takes a new role she or he should be willing to change their look to inhabit a new character.
When Arie claims she is not her hair she is claiming the real her is inside.
As an actress she would have no difficulty shedding what people might think is her (be it her nose, eyes, or hair), in favor of what she really is.
Pink’s version is really cool too.
CR-
Exaaaaaaaactly!! I love this song!! Both versions are great! Now I’m dancing and singing……..
ITA with your statement and examples here.
Unfortunately, I need to go. Nice talking to you again Francesa. See you OB.
Bye.
Bye CR.
I’m going to go as well. Francesa nice to see u again.
I will check back later if u have more comments.
Thanks for joining me.