I just watched Ten Inch Hero with commentary and was very disappointed by some of the things said. I’ve always assumed that Priestly ditches his style temporarily to demonstrate his dedication to Tish, perhaps to prove a point, but would ultimately go back to being himself. I was always annoyed by him still being in his Banana Republic get-up during the wedding, and every time I watch the movie, I imagine that it’s happening on the same day and he didn’t have the time to change. When asked about it, Ackles said that the decision of keeping Priestly in that style for the scene hinged mostly on the fact that he’d shaved and didn’t want to go through the process of putting on fake facial hair.
However, what the director said made me very sad and disappointed, as he referred to Priestly’s original style as a “veneer” that he was apparently hiding behind, and him “cleaning up” was him breaking out of the shell. But saying that he was hiding behind that style and that he’s “nothing like that on the inside” is like saying that no person that chooses that style for themselves could possibly be a “nice guy” and have a good heart. And that’s insulting, unintelligent and goes against everything the movie’s about. To talk about how some people are more interested in the wrapping paper than what’s inside and how people shouldn’t be judged on the basis of their looks, and then claim that Priestly was hiding behind a façade and is actually a completely different person on the inside spits right in the face of every good point made in the film. So, what, looks do matter? Now that he’s clean shaven and socially-acceptably dressed, now he’s a nice guy, and what he was before wasn’t really him, because you can’t actually be a nice guy and genuinely prefer multi-colored mohawks and piercings? Not as any kind of veneer, but because that’s actually really you? That’s just bullshit. And it’s sad if that was indeed the point they were making.
I’m sure this was all mulled-over years ago and I’m as per usual late the party, but I wasn’t there, so… I’ll keep believing in my vision of the story, because I don’t want the film to be forever ruined for me, but man, I’m just really upset right now.
