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fall movie preview 2012
September 6, 2012

A Guide to Fall’s Most Questionable Movie Hair

By Amanda Dobbins

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Given the time-honored “go ugly, win an Oscar” strategy, a handful of surprising (read: bizarre) makeovers is to be expected during the fall movie season.  There is usually at least one big-name actress working a unibrow; someone is always scarily thin, and someone else has added at least 20 percent more body weight.  This season, however, the various experiments have come together in one dominating aesthetic awards season trend: bad hair. Or maybe “bad” is a little harsh — how about unnatural? Startlingly blonde? Seemingly plucked off the floor of Ricky’s Halloween Shop? Here, just take a look for yourself.

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1 / 11 Photos
"Where did all this hair come from?" a confused, mop-topped Affleck wonders. "How did they hold their heads up in the seventies, with all this hair? Is the physical and existential weight of this hair even worth an Oscar?" "Where did all this hair come from?" a confused, mop-topped Affleck wonders. "How did they hold their heads up in the seventies, with all this hair? Is the physical and existential weight of this hair even worth an Oscar?"

"Where did all this hair come from?" a confused, mop-topped Affleck wonders. "How did they hold their heads up in the seventies, with a...

"Where did all this hair come from?" a confused, mop-topped Affleck wonders. "How did they hold their heads up in the seventies, with all this hair? Is the physical and existential weight of this hair even worth an Oscar?"

Photo: Claire Folger/?2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Pop quiz: What substance was used to grease Pitt's hair back? (a) Chicken fat (b) Hand sanitizer (c) The stuff that leaks from your air conditioner that is not water (d) Hitman Hair Pomade Pop quiz: What substance was used to grease Pitt's hair back? (a) Chicken fat (b) Hand sanitizer (c) The stuff that leaks from your air conditioner that is not water (d) Hitman Hair Pomade

Pop quiz: What substance was used to grease Pitt's hair back? (a) Chicken fat (b) Hand sanitizer (c) The stuff that leaks from your air conditioner th...

Pop quiz: What substance was used to grease Pitt's hair back? (a) Chicken fat (b) Hand sanitizer (c) The stuff that leaks from your air conditioner that is not water (d) Hitman Hair Pomade

Photo: Melinda Sue Gordon/? 2011, Cogan’s Productions, LLC
In Anne's defense, cutting your own hair and singing about your failed dreams is tricky to do simultaneously. In Anne's defense, cutting your own hair and singing about your failed dreams is tricky to do simultaneously.

In Anne's defense, cutting your own hair and singing about your failed dreams is tricky to do simultaneously.

Photo: Laurie Sparham/?Universal Pictur...

In Anne's defense, cutting your own hair and singing about your failed dreams is tricky to do simultaneously.

Photo: Laurie Sparham/?Universal Pictures
Important vampire question: Can they grow hair? Or is this wig just a very honest representation of the fake hair options that would be available to Rosalie in Northwest Washington? Please inform. Important vampire question: Can they grow hair? Or is this wig just a very honest representation of the fake hair options that would be available to Rosalie in Northwest Washington? Please inform.

Important vampire question: Can they grow hair? Or is this wig just a very honest representation of the fake hair options that would be available to R...

Important vampire question: Can they grow hair? Or is this wig just a very honest representation of the fake hair options that would be available to Rosalie in Northwest Washington? Please inform.

Photo: ? 2008 Summit Entertainment N.V. All Rights Reserved.
Little known Count Vronsky fact: His favorite actress is Shirley Temple. Little known Count Vronsky fact: His favorite actress is Shirley Temple.

Little known Count Vronsky fact: His favorite actress is Shirley Temple.

Photo: Laurie Sparham/? Focus Features
Little known Bilbo fact: His favorite actress is Shirley Temple caught in the rain. Little known Bilbo fact: His favorite actress is Shirley Temple caught in the rain.

Little known Bilbo fact: His favorite actress is Shirley Temple caught in the rain.

Photo: James Fisher/(c) 2012 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and ...

Little known Bilbo fact: His favorite actress is Shirley Temple caught in the rain.

Photo: James Fisher/(c) 2012 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.
Are long, luscious locks scarier than a bowl cut? What if there's a wind machine placed in front of the villain, for extra hair movement? Are long, luscious locks scarier than a bowl cut? What if there's a wind machine placed in front of the villain, for extra hair movement?

Are long, luscious locks scarier than a bowl cut? What if there's a wind machine placed in front of the villain, for extra hair movement?

Photo: Fran...

Are long, luscious locks scarier than a bowl cut? What if there's a wind machine placed in front of the villain, for extra hair movement?

Photo: Francois Duhamel/Skyfall ?2012 Danjaq, LLC, United Artists Corporation, Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All rights reserved.
That teen lesbian werewolf sure does look like teen vampire Robert Pattison (from the roots up, at least). Was Taylor Lautner not available for consulting? Stick to your own look, teen werewolves! That teen lesbian werewolf sure does look like teen vampire Robert Pattison (from the roots up, at least). Was Taylor Lautner not available for consulting? Stick to your own look, teen werewolves!

That teen lesbian werewolf sure does look like teen vampire Robert Pattison (from the roots up, at least). Was Taylor Lautner not available for consul...

That teen lesbian werewolf sure does look like teen vampire Robert Pattison (from the roots up, at least). Was Taylor Lautner not available for consulting? Stick to your own look, teen werewolves!

"Is this hammer big enough to crack through the hairspray forcefield currently pulsing atop my head? Also, does it work on goatees?" "Is this hammer big enough to crack through the hairspray forcefield currently pulsing atop my head? Also, does it work on goatees?"

"Is this hammer big enough to crack through the hairspray forcefield currently pulsing atop my head? Also, does it work on goatees?"

Photo:...

"Is this hammer big enough to crack through the hairspray forcefield currently pulsing atop my head? Also, does it work on goatees?"

Photo: Andrew Cooper
"Do you think Leonardo DiCaprio managed to get that hammer working on goatees?" (Jim Broadbent would also like to know the answer to this question.) "Do you think Leonardo DiCaprio managed to get that hammer working on goatees?" (Jim Broadbent would also like to know the answer to this question.)

"Do you think Leonardo DiCaprio managed to get that hammer working on goatees?" (Jim Broadbent would also like to know the answer to this qu...

"Do you think Leonardo DiCaprio managed to get that hammer working on goatees?" (Jim Broadbent would also like to know the answer to this question.)

It's supposed to look like that. That is the official hairstyle of rock star Nazi-killers. It's supposed to look like that. That is the official hairstyle of rock star Nazi-killers.

It's supposed to look like that. That is the official hairstyle of rock star Nazi-killers. 

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