I was recently watching War Games for the first time in a few years, and it all came rushing back that Ally Sheedy was probably the first really intense movie crush I had. I was probably 11 when I first saw it, so that would make sense.
Thirty years later (holy shit!), I still get those goofy infatuation feelings when I watch the movie, but it occurred to me that I don't think she would ever make it Hollywood these days. Granted, she was next known for the frumpy mess in Breakfast Club, but still. Her hair was kind of frizzy, she had somewhat crooked teeth, she might even have been slightly cross-eyed.
Now the average young actress is almost too perfect. I mean, particularly weird is the unnatural white teeth that has become "normal." It's like an actress can't have a big nose or crooked teeth or be slightly chubby. I'm not sure how to feel about that. While I personally have always been attracted to women that were in some fashion not conventional (this could account for the thing for redheads), what does it tell people, especially young girls, that don't fit the convention?
I know that culture critics have been up in arms for this for years, but I guess I'm not really seeing it until now. I needed to see the contrast of several decades to get it. There's a part of me that still just assumes that, because Hollywood isn't real, and real people mostly have beautiful "flaws," that no one takes it seriously, but I'm not sure now.
No comments yet.