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May 30, 2009Men with EyelinerKathy Fennessy
"I feel pretty, oh so pretty." "What a drag it is getting old." ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** Specifically: actors. I've been keeping track for awhile now. I'm not talking about I'm thinking specifically of straight-acting movie or television actors in straight-act-
In the order in which I watched the movie or TV show:
*Cusack and Pacino worked together in City Hall, but I'm ** All the men in The Bank Job appear to be wearing eyeliner. Granted, Roger ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** I realize this survey may seem superficial, but that's kind of the point. I'm not suggesting that these actors are vain—though that may be a factor—but that they, their makeup artist, or director view eyeliner as a way to enhance their on-screen image. It also adds an intriguing, possibly unintentional whiff of sexual ambiguity. And since I was thinking specifically of men who aren't known for wearing cosme-
Sidenote: In Pop Star on Ice, Johnny Weir extols the virtues of Laura Mercier. His friend, Paris, adds that all male figure skaters wear makeup whether they care to admit it or not. Aside from the fact that he isn't an actor, I'm leaving Weir off this list since he has more of an off-the-ice penchant for lipstick and mascara than eyeliner (the next Pop Star screening takes place at the Kirkland Performance Center on 6/5). Endnote: Images from This and That and More of the Same, 2 CommentsLeave a comment |
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An offshoot of and affordable substitute for live theater, film began with the same performance style and design (including stage makeup) and evolved with technology. Rudy was, as I understand, unsophisticated (a polite way of putting it) and as straight as they come. His character in The Sheik (1921) would be considered quite insensitive by today’s standards and essentially, a rapist. Silent era actors mostly wore heavy pancake on their faces, which in turn required a need to outline the eyes. As lighting and film speeds changed, so did the makeup. Some performers, Mary Pickford for instance, rebelled against the use of heavy makeup and exaggerated stage acting. She was a trendsetter. The important distinction to point out here is the difference between technical necessity and a style preference. Another factor is type. All the men on your list would loosely be categorized as "pretty-boy" types. Can you imagine Spencer Tracy or Russell Crowe with eyeliner?
Two other notables for your list are, Billy Crudup (Stage Beauty) and Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange).
If you include the cultural influence of popular musicians, you could also consider Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Steven Tyler.
Thanks, David. I'm primarily interested in examples circa 2007-09, but I agree that the history of make-up, both male and female, in the movies is a fascinating subject. Orson Welles may not have been conventionally pretty, but he took his love of stage make-up, especially the putty nose, to the silver screen. Sometimes it works; other times, as in 1971's "Malpertuis," he took the greasepaint fetish too far.