The collaboration process to develop a character’s look can typically take months, going back and forth among filmmaker, artisans and actor to refine details through countless emails and photo attachments. But with four separate characters (plus a surprise fifth persona in the finale) just for Robert Downey Jr. on HBO’s The Sympathizer, prosthetic designer Vincent Van Dyke knew they didn’t have that kind of time, so he invited the key players to his studio in Burbank for a live sculpting session.
“Walking into Vincent’s studio for the first time and seeing those clay molded heads of the characters was a very surreal experience,” Downey says. “You’re not just throwing on a costume; you’re stepping into someone else’s skin. Working with director Park [Chan-wook], molding and adjusting the clay, was hands-on in a way you don’t get with CGI. It was like stepping back...
“Walking into Vincent’s studio for the first time and seeing those clay molded heads of the characters was a very surreal experience,” Downey says. “You’re not just throwing on a costume; you’re stepping into someone else’s skin. Working with director Park [Chan-wook], molding and adjusting the clay, was hands-on in a way you don’t get with CGI. It was like stepping back...
- 6/11/2024
- by Rebecca Sun
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
[Editor’s note: Spoilers for “The Sympathizer” below.]
Turns out there was a very good reason for Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple roles in A24/HBO’s “The Sympathizer,” which is revealed in the Episode 7 finale. That’s when the versatile actor turns up in a surprising cameo as the Captain’s (Hoa Xuan Nguyen) father — a French Catholic priest, donning a long dark beard — and we learn that his other four character turns are toxic manifestations of the patriarch who disavowed him.
In fact, it’s a revelation to the Captain as well when all of them blend together in his mind as troubling paternal figures during a traumatic flashback. There’s Claude, the pop music-loving CIA operative; Hammer, the gay East Asian studies professor; Ned Godwin, the military vet-turned-congressman; and Niko, the counter-culture film director. They all contribute in a surreal way to the Captain’s identity crisis as a North Vietnamese communist spy and South Vietnamese sympathizer.
Turns out there was a very good reason for Robert Downey Jr. playing multiple roles in A24/HBO’s “The Sympathizer,” which is revealed in the Episode 7 finale. That’s when the versatile actor turns up in a surprising cameo as the Captain’s (Hoa Xuan Nguyen) father — a French Catholic priest, donning a long dark beard — and we learn that his other four character turns are toxic manifestations of the patriarch who disavowed him.
In fact, it’s a revelation to the Captain as well when all of them blend together in his mind as troubling paternal figures during a traumatic flashback. There’s Claude, the pop music-loving CIA operative; Hammer, the gay East Asian studies professor; Ned Godwin, the military vet-turned-congressman; and Niko, the counter-culture film director. They all contribute in a surreal way to the Captain’s identity crisis as a North Vietnamese communist spy and South Vietnamese sympathizer.
- 5/27/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Robert Downey Jr.’s brilliant string of roles in A24’s “The Sympathizer” (streaming Sundays on HBO) is a tour de force reminiscent of Peter Sellers’ legendary turns in “Dr. Strangelove.” But Downey does Sellers one better by portraying four characters that serve as interconnected projections of American patriarchy to the Captain (Hoa Xuan Nguyen), a communist spy embedded in the South Vietnam army with a severe identity crisis. It was all part of an ingenious plan by director Park Chan-wook.
After the fall of Saigon, the Captain is forced to flee to the U.S. to continue his post-war mission. He winds up in L.A., where he continues interacting with Claude, a pop music-loving CIA operative, and his college mentor, Hammer, a gay East Asian studies professor who sponsors him. In addition, the Captain gets introduced to Ned Godwin, a military vet-turned-congressman, and Niko, a counter-culture film director,...
After the fall of Saigon, the Captain is forced to flee to the U.S. to continue his post-war mission. He winds up in L.A., where he continues interacting with Claude, a pop music-loving CIA operative, and his college mentor, Hammer, a gay East Asian studies professor who sponsors him. In addition, the Captain gets introduced to Ned Godwin, a military vet-turned-congressman, and Niko, a counter-culture film director,...
- 5/6/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
“Cruella” (Disney) and “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon) were the surprise period winners for makeup and hairstyling, respectively, at the 9th annual Muahs Guild Awards Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. They beat out such strong Oscar contenders as “Dune” (Warner Bros.), “House of Gucci” (MGM/UA), and “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Searchlight/Disney).
Additionally, “Coming 2 America” (Amazon), another Oscar contender, took contemporary makeup, hairstyling, and makeup effects honors. The latter was an impressive upset over “Dune” and “House of Gucci.” The “Coming 2 America” team of Mike Marino, Stacey Morris, and Carla Farmer perfectly complemented the Afro-punk vibe introduced by Oscar winning-costume designer Ruth Carter along with adding some new aging effects wrinkles.
While “Cruella” definitely has Oscar momentum for makeup and hair designer Nadia Stacey’s delightfully ’70s punk look for Emma Stone, the fact that the origin story split honors with “Being the Ricardos” — which...
Additionally, “Coming 2 America” (Amazon), another Oscar contender, took contemporary makeup, hairstyling, and makeup effects honors. The latter was an impressive upset over “Dune” and “House of Gucci.” The “Coming 2 America” team of Mike Marino, Stacey Morris, and Carla Farmer perfectly complemented the Afro-punk vibe introduced by Oscar winning-costume designer Ruth Carter along with adding some new aging effects wrinkles.
While “Cruella” definitely has Oscar momentum for makeup and hair designer Nadia Stacey’s delightfully ’70s punk look for Emma Stone, the fact that the origin story split honors with “Being the Ricardos” — which...
- 2/20/2022
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
“Coming 2 America” led all films at the 9th annual Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards, which were presented on Saturday evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The Eddie Murphy comedy in which makeup is used to transform Murphy and Arsenio Hall into an array of different characters, won three awards in the five feature-film categories, taking prizes for contemporary make-up, special make-up effects and contemporary hair styling.
The other two film awards went to “Cruella,” which won for period and/or character make-up, and “Being the Ricardos,” which won for period and/or character hair styling.
“Coming 2 America” and “Cruella” are both nominated for the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar, along with “Dune,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “House of Gucci.” Since Muahs relaunched its awards in 2013, no film has won the Oscar for makeup without first winning an award from the guild.
(But if they agree on winners,...
The other two film awards went to “Cruella,” which won for period and/or character make-up, and “Being the Ricardos,” which won for period and/or character hair styling.
“Coming 2 America” and “Cruella” are both nominated for the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar, along with “Dune,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “House of Gucci.” Since Muahs relaunched its awards in 2013, no film has won the Oscar for makeup without first winning an award from the guild.
(But if they agree on winners,...
- 2/20/2022
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Coming 2 America and Saturday Night Live both took home three wins Saturday at the ninth annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards, making the former the front-runner in the craft category at the Oscars.
The Amazon Studios sequel starring Eddie Murphy won for Best Contemporary Make-Up, Best Special Make-Up Effects and Best Contemporary Hair Styling, besting the feature film field during tonight’s ceremony at the Beverly Hilton.
Other film winners included Amazon’s Being the Ricardos for Best Period Hair Styling and/or Character Hair Styling, and Disney’s Cruella for Best Period and/or Character Make-Up.
Coming 2 America and Cruella are both nominated in the combined Makeup and Hairstyling category at the 94th Oscars, which will take place March 27.
Since the modern Muahs Awards began in 2014, one of its marquee winners has gone on the claim the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar every year. Last year,...
The Amazon Studios sequel starring Eddie Murphy won for Best Contemporary Make-Up, Best Special Make-Up Effects and Best Contemporary Hair Styling, besting the feature film field during tonight’s ceremony at the Beverly Hilton.
Other film winners included Amazon’s Being the Ricardos for Best Period Hair Styling and/or Character Hair Styling, and Disney’s Cruella for Best Period and/or Character Make-Up.
Coming 2 America and Cruella are both nominated in the combined Makeup and Hairstyling category at the 94th Oscars, which will take place March 27.
Since the modern Muahs Awards began in 2014, one of its marquee winners has gone on the claim the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Oscar every year. Last year,...
- 2/20/2022
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
The Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild held its ninth annual awards ceremony Saturday night at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
“Coming 2 America” dominated the night, taking home the awards for best contemporary make-up and hairstyling, in a surprise win, beating out Oscar frontrunners like “Dune,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “House of Gucci” for best special make-up effects.
On the TV front, “American Horror Stories,” “Dancing With the Stars” “Emily in Paris,” “Pose,” “Genius: Aretha,” “Legendary,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Star Trek: Discovery” all took home awards.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” won in the daytime television category for both make-up and hair. Children/teen program honors went to “Danger Force” for both make-up and hair categories.
Actress Melissa Peterman served as host for the night, emceeing to a 600 strong crowd with Covid protocols in place. The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild partnered with Vow, a top US government-contracted...
“Coming 2 America” dominated the night, taking home the awards for best contemporary make-up and hairstyling, in a surprise win, beating out Oscar frontrunners like “Dune,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “House of Gucci” for best special make-up effects.
On the TV front, “American Horror Stories,” “Dancing With the Stars” “Emily in Paris,” “Pose,” “Genius: Aretha,” “Legendary,” “Saturday Night Live” and “Star Trek: Discovery” all took home awards.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” won in the daytime television category for both make-up and hair. Children/teen program honors went to “Danger Force” for both make-up and hair categories.
Actress Melissa Peterman served as host for the night, emceeing to a 600 strong crowd with Covid protocols in place. The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild partnered with Vow, a top US government-contracted...
- 2/20/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
“The Suicide Squad,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “Coming 2 America” and “House of Gucci” lead the ninth annual Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild nominations (IATSE Local 706).
“The Suicide Squad,” released last August, was nominated in special makeup effects, contemporary makeup and contemporary hairstyling.
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “Coming 2 America” and “House of Gucci” also landed three nominations, while “Dune” scored two nods. This bodes well for all the films which made the Oscar shortlist.
As previously announced, makeup artist Michèle Burke, known for her work on the Mission Impossible and Austin Powers franchises, and hairstylist Joy Zapata, who worked on “A Star is Born” and “Wonder Woman 1984,” will receive the 2022 Muahs Lifetime Achievement awards. The Distinguished Artisan award will be announced shortly.
The winners will be announced on Feb. 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Find the full list of nominations below.
Best Contemporary Make-Up,...
“The Suicide Squad,” released last August, was nominated in special makeup effects, contemporary makeup and contemporary hairstyling.
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” “Coming 2 America” and “House of Gucci” also landed three nominations, while “Dune” scored two nods. This bodes well for all the films which made the Oscar shortlist.
As previously announced, makeup artist Michèle Burke, known for her work on the Mission Impossible and Austin Powers franchises, and hairstylist Joy Zapata, who worked on “A Star is Born” and “Wonder Woman 1984,” will receive the 2022 Muahs Lifetime Achievement awards. The Distinguished Artisan award will be announced shortly.
The winners will be announced on Feb. 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Find the full list of nominations below.
Best Contemporary Make-Up,...
- 1/11/2022
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
It's a good day for funny people, especially if your name is Tina Fey or Seth MacFarlane.
Fey's series, 30 Rock, was handed 22 Emmy nominations this morning, which stands as a record for a comedy series. She and Alec Baldwin were also nominated for acting awards. Plus, for the first time some of the other actors on NBC's laffer were recognized. Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan all picked up supporting nominations.
MacFarlane's Family Guy was also nominated for best comedy series, the first time an animated show has cracked that category since The Flintstones in 1961. Two years ago MacFarlane decided to pull his show from contention in the animated series category to have it considered for best comedy.
Mad Men, the drama about the advertising world in the sixties, picked up 16 nominations in the drama categories, including a best actor nod for Jon Hamm. Hamm is also nominated as...
Fey's series, 30 Rock, was handed 22 Emmy nominations this morning, which stands as a record for a comedy series. She and Alec Baldwin were also nominated for acting awards. Plus, for the first time some of the other actors on NBC's laffer were recognized. Jane Krakowski, Jack McBrayer and Tracy Morgan all picked up supporting nominations.
MacFarlane's Family Guy was also nominated for best comedy series, the first time an animated show has cracked that category since The Flintstones in 1961. Two years ago MacFarlane decided to pull his show from contention in the animated series category to have it considered for best comedy.
Mad Men, the drama about the advertising world in the sixties, picked up 16 nominations in the drama categories, including a best actor nod for Jon Hamm. Hamm is also nominated as...
- 7/16/2009
- CinemaSpy
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