Karadzic Tipped For Best Make-Up Award At Next Year’s Oscars
By Turlough Delaney | July 23, 2008
Karadzic, before (left) and after
Radovan Karadzic, the recently captured ex-leader of the Bosnian Serbs during the Yugoslav war, has “every chance” of winning an Academy Award for his expert make-up effect, say insiders.
The man who was responsible for some of the worst atrocities in Europe since World War II was captured on a bus in Belgrade over the weekend. A photo of him in his “highly convincing” disguise was released soon afterwards to a shocked world.
Karadzic went underground 11 years ago and was rumoured to have been hiding out in an Orthodox monastery or else in the remote Balkan mountain ranges.
The news that he had in fact been living openly on the streets of the Serbian capital under the noses of the authorities who had been searching for him has impressed many in Hollywood.
Rick Baker, veteran make-up effects expert on such movies as An American Werewolf in London, and King Kong described Karadzic’s disguise as “outstanding”.
“Looking at photos of him now and then, you simply couldn’t tell it was Karadzic. Growing a beard and chopping off his distinctive bouffant obviously goes a long way, but look at his eyes and nose as well – it’s very subtle work but extremely effective. You’d swear it was a different man.”
Baker believes Karadzic will be a shoe-in for next year’s Best Make-Up Oscar: “I know he didn’t star in a film but it’s so impressive that the Academy simply has to recognise his achievement.
Indeed, Karadzic was only apprehended after a tip-off from a foreign intelligence agency who had him and a number of associates under surveillance for some time. Otherwise it is doubtful he would have been recognised at all.
A government spokesman said: “We are over the moon to have finally apprehended this vile monster and have him tried for his war crimes. Saying that, we have to hand it to him – it’s an unbelievable visual transformation he underwent.
“Over the last two decades he was one of the most famous and recognisable men in this country, and there he was all along practicing alternative medicine in a public arena and nobody was the wiser. His patients, his landlord, his neighbours – not one recognised him.”
At the premiere of Hollywood blockbuster The Dark Knight in London Monday night, stars of the movie paid tribute to Karadzic’s “incredible” transformation. Speaking on the red carpet, Michael Caine said it was “the best undercover war criminal disguise I’ve ever seen”.
“If there’s any justice then he’ll win the Oscar, not just be nominated. He’s got my vote anyway.”
Director Christopher Nolan was equally effusive in his praise: “It seems like he truly disappeared into his disguise, like he actually became another person. What we also have to bear in mind is the circumstances. It’s all well and good to have a team of make-up artists behind you on a big budget Hollywood film.
“But he was living underground with probably just one or two confidantes to do that job on him, and it’s pretty much flawless. That’s what is most impressive to me. If Saddam Hussein had same work done on him he’d still be at large to this day.”
Despite the arrest of Karadzic, his army commander, General Ratko Mladic, remains at large. He too was indicted along with his ex-president for the 1995 genocide at Srebrenica.
“Considering how good Karadzic’s appearance was, we’re not expecting it too be easy to find Mladic either,” says the Serbian official. “For all we know he could be wandering around as an elderly Kosovan peasant woman, or some other equally Oscar-worthy disguise.”
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