MovieChat Forums > Leatherheads (2008) Discussion > The time period and Renee Zellweger's ha...

The time period and Renee Zellweger's hair

posted 15 years ago by PhillyGal
9 replies | jump to latest

It's set in 1925. At that time, modern young women sported a fashionable bob. Yet Renee Zellweger's hair is more reminiscent of the 1940's. It reminded me especially of '40s movie star, Veronica Lake's famous peek-a-boo style. Did anyone else have the same opinion? I know it's just a movie, but it bothers me because it's an overlooked detail that could have been easily corrected with a little research.

Dear Mr. Newman, Short people DO have a reason to live.

[–] OlLineRebel 15 years ago

Almost, but not quite. Her hair reminds me more of '30s. Plaited, perfect, stiff - not long and looser as '40s hair was more often.

At least she doesn't look too much like a 2000s woman, which is typical of women in period movies - they seem like they don't want to really make their star of the period depicted, but keep her "hip" regardless of the anachronism. The '60s in particular were replete with women in past-period films looking like - well, '60s chicks!

Also an example is Drew Barrymore in the popular Wedding Singer - she looks NOTHING like a typical '80s girl (trust me, I am 1), which is supposedly what this movie is all about - nostalgia. She looked like a '90s chick with the flat dull hair except with the "flip-up" craze (I prefer to call it the "split-ends" look).

[–] RedWheelbarrow 14 years ago

PhillyGal, I was distracted by her '40's hair, also. It was too long, it was too loose, it was too flowy, it had too much volume. It was lovely on her, but it was absolutely wrong for the era. No marcelling, no fingerwaves, no bob. It was, indeed VERY Veronica Lake! They got the supporting actors' hair right, so it really accentuated the fact that her hair was wrong. A small detail, but distracting.

[–] spookyrat1 9 years ago

It was lovely on her ...

I think that's the primary reason her hair is designed that way, though I think many of the posters on this thread make a fair point. Personally I'd rather see Renee's hair like it was, anachronistic as it may be, than ... marcelling ... fingerwaves and/or bob.🐭

[–] macrophobic 14 years ago

I was actually wondering about the style of her hair too. Surprisingly, I'm not gay either

[–] leelee1592 14 years ago

I am so glad SOMEONE said something about this. I found her hair incredibly distracting, especially in the scenes where it is down and straight-ish like the speakeasy scene. I thought she looked like she just stepped off the set of "Down With Love", which takes place in the 60s. Again, small detail, but it just sort of ruined her character for me. Lol. I was kinda like, "Oh, Miss Lexi? You're so clever and modern YET you can't pick a current style? You have to have a cut from fifteen to twenty years in the future??"

[–] theboog13 14 years ago

Same here, I'm glad some others noticed this! Everything else was period except her hair, But it may have been intentional, as Clooney was trying to evoke the screwball comedy of the 30's or 40's. It drove me crazy, as I didn't finish the film.

[–] Rheli 10 years ago

Dear Mr. Newman, Short people DO have a reason to live.

Can't believe that people still don't understand the meaning of Randy Newman's song. Please educate yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_People

-----
The IMDB site says, "Create a new list", but how could I create an old one?

[–] PhillyGal 10 years ago

I heard Mr. Newman's song, enjoyed it, and wanted to use it in a humorous way since I thought the song to be funny. I've always believed music, films, books and other forms of art are open to multiple interpretations. I try to respect all opinions even if I don't happen to agree with it. Rather than telling me in a condescending manner (if that was your intent since tone seems to be lost on message boards), you could have asked me to clarify the meaning behind my signature. This would open dialogue which might be more productive.

[–] seni-2101 10 years ago

I am watching this movie right now and her hair bothers me so much that I went to the IMDB forum to see has anyone commented on it. Yeah, definetely her style is 1940's. I am sursprised as other women in the movie had typical 1920's hair like the flappers in the speakeasy scene. So maybe they wanted to potray her as different and wanted her to stand out from the rest of the women. As obviously the hair department did know how a flapper should look as they did that type of hair and make up to the extras. But speaking of her make up, that wasn't that much of a 1920's look either. It was also more like 40's to 50's.