CGI Facial Rejuvenation Arrives Too Late To Save Faye Dunaway
The latest advancement in computer generated effects—a convincing reversal of the human aging process—is on display (spoiler alert) in an early scene of X-Men: The Last Stand, in which Ian McKellen's Magneto and Patrick Stewart's Prof. Xavier are rendered 20 years younger for a flashback. As McKellen raved to reporters in Cannes about the technique ("It's as brilliantly done as airbrushing in a magazine. You cannot tell the difference,"), director Brett Ratner fretted about how the powerful technology could possibly change showbiz forever:
"I'm scared for Hollywood, because A-list movie stars are going to be putting that in their contract. `I want 10 years taken off me.' This technology is unbelievable," said "X-Men: The Last Stand" director Brett Ratner. "It's like painting the lines out of your face. Why do people have to have plastic surgery, anymore? Just be in a movie and look flawless and perfect."
Sadly, had Faye Dunaway's career peaked only a quarter of a century later than it did, she too could have taken full advantage of the risk-free benefits of digital rejuvenation. Instead, she arrived at Cannes having taken 20 years off the old fashioned way: by storming into her plastic surgeon's office and ignoring his warning that the extreme overhaul she's demanding would make her look like Jessica Biel's terrifying aunt.