it's a very little head, really.

September 15, 2006 8:48 PM

Would you like a little head from Tom Cruise? Drew Barrymore? Brad Pitt? Lou Costello? Faces of Fame can help you... lifemasks from dozens and dozens of famous people.
posted by crunchland (42 comments total)

Friggin' creeeepy.
posted by delmoi at 9:02 PM on September 15, 2006

Ben Affleck looks like he's having a disgestive problem.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:08 PM on September 15, 2006

Uh, no, but thanks for askin'. "Life"masks?
posted by jaronson at 9:15 PM on September 15, 2006

uh.....
posted by longsleeves at 9:16 PM on September 15, 2006

these were done for various special effects projects? That makes a bit more sense.
posted by delmoi at 9:17 PM on September 15, 2006

Wow, does that from ever need to be an of, boy-me-lordy but it do.
posted by cgc373 at 9:18 PM on September 15, 2006

First from. Second one's okay. But the first one . . . my mind broke.
posted by cgc373 at 9:19 PM on September 15, 2006

So cool, I love masks!
I never realized how much JK Simmons resembled Fred Astaire until now.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:20 PM on September 15, 2006

If they are from special effects, I can't imagine how this is legal. They're the property of whatever movie studio was paying for the film, which leaves the effects company open to a lawsuit for breach of contract.
posted by ®@ at 9:34 PM on September 15, 2006

For you non-Germanic types out there, you have the option of purchasing each mask as "White and unpainted," "Bronze-gold" or "Iron-aluminum," and with or without protective varnish. And seriously? I'm thinking that something like this could actually make a really cool decor piece. Artistic, geekish and creepy all rolled into one.
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:36 PM on September 15, 2006

Actually, Fred Astaire looks like Lou Reed to me.
posted by argybarg at 9:59 PM on September 15, 2006

Damn you crunchland, and your deceptive advertising! I call shenanigans!
posted by graventy at 10:04 PM on September 15, 2006

What I'm seeing here is a great opportunity. This is the perfect tool for my burgeoning life of crime. See, I will take these, turn them into actual masks, and use them to rob banks.

Guard: All right, I know this is going to sound crazy, but I recognized all the people who robbed us.

FBI agent: Ok, were they regulars?

Guard: No, not really. It was Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Ben Affleck. I'm sure it was them. Sure, they looked a little pale, but I know what I saw.

FBI agent: Uh huh, well, we'll be sure to check into that sir.

Guard: You better hurry, Cruise looked a little out of it, but I'm really worried about Affleck. He was either really constipated, or on the verge of having a stroke.

FBI agent: ... Sir, are you on any medication I should know about?
posted by quin at 10:07 PM on September 15, 2006

Now I can make that Tom Cruise Quato I've been dreaming of.
posted by bob sarabia at 10:26 PM on September 15, 2006

I can't wait for the legal challenge when someone buys a famous celeb's mask, makes a mold from it, then makes a soft latex sex toy from it. Mass-produced blowjobs from your favourite star!
posted by Kickstart70 at 10:38 PM on September 15, 2006

Hmm, I have a guest room that needs to be decorated.
posted by Tenuki at 10:38 PM on September 15, 2006

i just lost the game.
posted by trinarian at 10:55 PM on September 15, 2006

God damn you. I thought we weren't doing that anymore.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:58 PM on September 15, 2006

Angelina Jolie looks almost like an african-american
posted by jouke at 11:09 PM on September 15, 2006

I can't believe argybarg beat me to it! I was all set to make a staggeringly insightful and interesting comment only to be usurped. Fortunately, I come with pictorial evidence.

Fred Astaire == Lou Reed
posted by aladfar at 11:35 PM on September 15, 2006

Er . . . the link above should be Fred Astaire
posted by aladfar at 11:48 PM on September 15, 2006

The site doesn't allow linking to individual pics, but there are two Ringo masks. The first one does not look like Ringo in the slightest. The second one is definitely Ringo. I don't know who the first Ringo is, but it's gotta be mislabeled. Am I wrong? See what I mean?
posted by wsg at 1:02 AM on September 16, 2006

This site serves as a reminder of how people's hair has so much to do with our perception of them. Out of several David Bowies, the instantly recognizable two of the bunch are the ones with hair. The other ones are not as obvious. (It also helps that one of the Bowies has open eyes, another key element of recognition).

And these masks make some folks, Bjork, for example, look a lot older.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:31 AM on September 16, 2006

I find the masks exquisite, even the ones that aren't recognizable without titles. The David Bowie ones were beautiful--the Ringo Starr ones confusing. Just goes to show me that I will put on a good face for my death mask! (I once saw a death mask of Napoleon, close up--it had hairs sticking out of it!) Why am I excited! about! this!?

Seriously, though, having a plaster made of one's face or parts can yield much discomfort, especially if one is alive. Some might feel uncomfortable from heat caused by the reaction or from just sheer claustrophobia. I'm terrified by having to be still for that long!
posted by bonobo at 1:55 AM on September 16, 2006

especially if one is alive.

yes, indeedy.
posted by the cuban at 2:55 AM on September 16, 2006

Michelle Pfeiffer looks more like William Fichtner!
posted by wannalol at 4:31 AM on September 16, 2006

It's weird how some of the masks look nothing at all like the face we know, but Jack Palance looks more realistic in the cast than he did in life.
posted by NinjaTadpole at 5:15 AM on September 16, 2006

Great catch line, crunch. I'm wondering if Katie Holmes is a MeFite...because I bet she'd like a little head from Tom...because that's all she's getting from him. That, and a rented baby.

Those death masks are creepy, btw.
posted by orchidthief at 7:41 AM on September 16, 2006

I forgot Jack Palance had died and now I'm bummed out.
posted by stinkycheese at 8:14 AM on September 16, 2006

Palance is still alive.
posted by the cuban at 9:13 AM on September 16, 2006

He is? He is! OK then, all's right with the world. Thanks, the cuban!
posted by stinkycheese at 9:21 AM on September 16, 2006

I understand why actors would probably have several of these made in a career -- but why does Hitchcock have one (actually, more than one) ???
posted by RavinDave at 9:42 AM on September 16, 2006

As the host of his own TV show, and since he had cameo appearances in, I think, just about every film he ever made, Hitch was a recognizable face and a personality in addition to being a director.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 10:17 AM on September 16, 2006

Oh man! He is still alive!

... or, at least he's moving. He still looks suspect.


Thanks for the good news, cuban.
I'd appreciate it if you could pull the same Lazarus trick with John Peel as well.
posted by NinjaTadpole at 10:36 AM on September 16, 2006

wsg: "The site doesn't allow linking to individual pics, but there are two Ringo masks."

Yeah it does. It just takes a little know-how. Right-click, "view image," and copy the URL. Like this. See?
posted by koeselitz at 11:24 AM on September 16, 2006

One presumes that they're called 'life masks' in order to distinguish them from 'death masks.' Really, however, the name 'life masks' simply serves to distinguish them from 'not creepy.'
posted by koeselitz at 11:26 AM on September 16, 2006

Palance is still alive.

Believe it.... or not!
posted by brundlefly at 12:45 PM on September 16, 2006

And these masks make some folks, Bjork, for example, look a lot older.

Or Bjork == Winston Churchill.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 1:05 PM on September 16, 2006

Would you like a little head from Tom Cruise? Drew Barrymore?

I wouldn't care for it from Tom Cruise, but I'd like a little head from Drew Barrymore nudgenudgewinkwink knowwhatImean knowhatimean?
posted by jonp72 at 2:00 PM on September 16, 2006

You mean oral sex, right?
posted by MikeKD at 4:31 PM on September 16, 2006

You mean oral sex, right?

Umm....yeah.... What's it like?
posted by jonp72 at 11:29 PM on September 16, 2006

Psst, jonp72. It's like this.
posted by cgc373 at 3:13 AM on September 17, 2006