I was watching the movie What Just Happened? this afternoon and Bruce Willis is featured as, well–Bruce Willis, playing a very difficult star who has gained weight and grown a beard, much to the disastisfaction of the studio producing his next picture. He just doesn’t look like Bruce Willis Action Hero.
“No one wants to see a running Santa,” grouses one of the execs.
I have to say Bruce doesn’t pull off a beard nearly as well as Richard (not to mention Bruce’s was a bit on the bushy side). I don’t think Willis looks as bad as Brad Pitt did during that period when he appeared to be preparing to play a billy goat. Brad’s a handsome man, although always a little too much on the bland pretty boy side for me, but he DID look like a vagrant with that scruffy, scraggly thing on his chin. ( The knit cap didn’t help. )
Now, everyone is not a fan of RA’s beard and short hair, just as they weren’t of his long S3 Guy hair. But the cropped hair and the beard works for him, just as the long hair, the tattoos and the various other looks for his characters have worked. I am amazed at how he somehow makes so much work for him. He looks good in tatty jumpers and track pants, in every sort of soldier’s uniform, in neon orange jumpsuits, in well-worn jeans and black leather jackets, in period costume and, of course, in absolutely nothing at all.
In reference to his hair–cranial and facial–his ability to work all those various looks in his own inimitable chameleon-like way can only add to his viablity for a variety of future roles, don’t you agree? Oh, the possibilities . . . In the meantime, let’s look at some of Mr. A’s bearded goodness.
