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"Sweeney Todd" Johnny Depp's white hair

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Johnny Depp shows an evil streak of hair...

...not seen since Frankenstein's Bride...
...and Humphrey Bogart's terror turn.

In "Sweeney Todd," Johnny Depp tackles portrays a singing, throat slicing, cannibalistic barber just in time for the holidays. If his actions were not enough, Depp's evil state is telegraphed with a set of dermatologic signals, his ghostly white face and devilishly dark under-eye circles. Another marker of malice dates to cinema's earlier days: the white forelock. At one time, this tuft of white hair was a standard cinematic sign of a sin. The streaks along the Bride of Frankenstein's hairdo are a classic example. Less memorable was usually heroic Humphrey Bogart's turn as creepy scientist in "The Return of Doctor X."

The actual medical name for the white forelock is poliosis. It can occur in otherwise normal folks as a form of a birthmark. Sometimes it doesn't actually appear until later in life. Blues belter Bonnie Raitt proudly displays her grey spot and doesn't seem sinister. Rarely, poliosis can identify genetic conditions. Piebaldism shows dark and light patches on the skin. The white hair in Waardenburg's syndrome correlates with hearing issues, a unibrow, and irises of two different colors. We don't don't know if Sweeney has any of these issues, though we challenge writer Stephen Sondheim to include the disorders in a new set of lyrics.

More Depp dermatology at skinema.com:

Depp with syphilis

Depp's pimple problem

December 19, 2007 in Film | | Comments (0)

Albinos MIA in "I Am Legend" with Will Smith

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Will Smith appears relieved to be dealing with a vampire, not an evil character with albinism.

The latest film version of the "I Am Legend" tale stars Will Smith as final living human. Notably absent are evil characters with albinism. When this material was last made into a movie in 1971 as "The Omega Man," Charlton Heston single-handedly took on a cult of virally altered humans. A bioterror attack transformed Los Angeles denizens into monk-robed, sunglass-wearing villains with white skin, light eyes and alabaster afros. "The Omega Man" jump-started a trend which persisted unchecked for over 30 years: the movie stereotype of an evil albino.

After NOAH, the National Organization of Albinism and Hypopigmentation, mounted a press campaign about the vicious albino-like "Twins" in "The Matrix: Reloaded," there was lull: no major film featured an albino villain in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, however, the international suspense thriller "The Da Vinci Code," changed all of that. With actor Paul Bettany cast as a white-skinned self-flagellating albino monk assassin, the evil albino was back in full gear. That year, "The Benchwarmers" and "Flushed Away" also featured derogatory characters with albinism.

NOAH's response was far reaching, with a campaign illustrating the humanistic aspects of the condition rarely seen on-screen. Points included the fact that most people with albinism have vision problems, making them poor choices for the sharp-shooting fast-driving assassins seen in movies. "The Da Vinci Code" film fortunately dropped the stereotypical red eyes seen in Dan Brown's book (people with the condition usually have blue or grey eyes). The campaign was featured on CNN, MSNBC, Variety and People magazines.

We are delighted to report that no mainstream Hollywood releases in 2007 have featured evil albino characters . "I Am Legend" is notable for screenwriter Akiva Goldsman's decision to dump the albinism angle of "The Omega Man," and instead create gangly hissing vampire zombies. Goldsman, who adapted "The Da Vinci Code" for the big screen, was certainly aware of the controversy that film created, and opted against trotting out an evil albino this round. We can only hope this trend away from red-eyed killers with albinism will continue.

More on albinism in movies at skinema.com.

December 11, 2007 in Film | | Comments (0)

Jennifer Love Hewitt cellulite

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Jennifer Love Hewitt...

..is not the only star dealing with cellulite.

There is one villain that is terrifying celebrities this season. What is the foe that filmdom's famous feverishly fear? Is it Beowulf's ectoplasmic enemy Grendel? Is it the airgun-toting pale-skinned psychopath seen in "No Country for Old Men?" Or Johnny Depp as blade-brandishing cannibal sweetly singing for the holidays in "Sweeney Todd?" None of these cinematic enemies pose any true threat to Tinseltown's titans. If the heroes in those films don't dispatch them, then at least the movies' end credits will. No, we are talking about a nemesis that seems infinite and omnipotent. We are talking about...cellulite.

The net has recently been abuzz over paparazzi pics of actress and underwear spokesmodel Jennifer Love Hewitt. The images show Love Hewitt's hips dimpled with the dermatological divots known as cellulite. For those genetically prone, fatty tissue in the thighs and buttocks is tethered by fibrous bands that create the bumpy appearance. Unlike previous episodes where potentially unflattering photos have been ignored by their superstar subjects, the ghost whispering starlet chose to shout, urging society to re-examine our perspective on women's bodies. But an equally important question has not been addressed: Why wasn't her condition treated in the first place?

A simple online search will reveal any number of hyped treatments for cellulite. The full bore of technology has been harnessed to defeat this enemy. Mechanical interventions like endermologie purport to flatten the bumps. Lasers combined with radiofrequency blasts promise to reduce the rolls. Studies of mesotherapy in particular show minimal transient benefit after several sessions. Makers of topical non-prescription lotions actually have the audacity to use the term "cure" in their marketing.

From supplements to laser treatments to mesotherapy, stars who share Love Hewitt's tendency to the heartbreak of cellulite could certainly financially afford an intervention. TV actors like Mischa Barton, film femmes like Sharon Stone, tabloid royalty like Britney all share an incentive to eradicate the thigh bumps and regain cobble-free contours. The reason these photos exist at all? Because none of the above treatments have been proven to make a significant impact. If it was as simple as buying a cellulite banishing balm, the celeb photogs would not have so much material to publish.

So keep checking back here for updates. If a breakthrough occurs in the battle against Hollywood's most hated foe, we'll let you know.

More on celeb skin issues at skinema.com.

December 05, 2007 in Film | | Comments (0)