Shaving is one of those activities we perform every day, and in order for movies to appear realistic, we do see people shave there, either as a small thing or maybe even as a part of the plot. Shaving in movies has been around for decades, and it continues to appear, because as we said, it’s a natural thing to do and thus, it will appear in movies more often than not. That’s why it can be a great idea to learn what are some of the most interesting movie scenes with shaving. Not only is it fun, it will give a unique insight into how people think, but it also adds a whole new range of ideas to the movies.
Skyfall
One of the most popular shaving scenes in movies has to be in Skyfall. And it’s easy to see why, because James Bond is the epitome of masculinity, and we will always have him shaving or doing all kinds of manly things. But what’s interesting about Skyfall is that we have a very sensual shave, much more than you will find in the entire franchise. Instead of seeing Bond performing a ritual, we have agent Eve taking the razor and doing this task herself.
It’s a very intimate scene that tries to give control to Eve, and it’s definitely important to note that during the scene, Bond is bare-chested. He is very vulnerable, and it’s one of those situations that can end up being extremely demanding and certainly unlike anything you would expect. It’s more than just banter, and that’s what makes the scene so cool and unique in its own right. This is certainly a modern scene when it comes to shaving, and a very interesting one for sure.
Sweeney Todd
One of the best shaving scenes in movies takes place in Sweeney Todd as well. It’s a Tim Burton movie, so it does have that unique weirdness which is very well-known for the director. The razor is not just a grooming tool and instead it’s a way to manifest vengeance. We have multiple shaving scenes in the movie, and they are at the heart of it all. He is even battling a barber named Adolfo Pirelli, so there are a whole bunch of different things to tackle here, which do end up being quite the challenge for Todd.
Saving Private Ryan
It’s a movie about war, so obviously, the theme itself is quite dark and very problematic. But at the end of the day, even privates need to shave and try to keep some sense of sanity via cleanliness. It truly is one of the best movie scenes with shaving, just because it is so distinctive and unique in its own right.
The shaving scene takes place in a bombed-out village where a private needs to shave, while also looking left and right, trying to stay alive in this process. And it’s not a simple thing to do, when you are literally in danger from all corners. But it shows human condition, the focus on cleanliness, while also fighting to stay alive. Yet at the same time, we also get to see just how fragile the human life is, and how difficult it can all be, especially in dire moments like these.
There will be blood
The movie from 2007 is a well-known epic, and it also has a very interesting shaving moment early on. We have the oil titan sitting in the barber shop, with the neck exposed, vulnerable and not knowing what his future might hold. The shave is not only there for the sake of it, though. It shows a transition that the titan is making into a persona that’s more manipulative and polished as well.
Since the movie has topics like capitalism, religion, success and so on, shaving is a unique way of creating a new image and pushing the boundaries in a very distinctive manner. It’s a rare scene in movies, but one that makes total sense here, and you certainly need to take it all into consideration.
The Shining
Few movies are as terrifying, but also as realistic and distinct as this one. We have the bathroom scenes that are known to bring a lot of horror into the mix. But at the same time, we also have a very unsettling shaving scene where Jack is sitting in front of the mirror, removing his facial hair.
Like many shaving scenes in movies, it’s not there just for the sake of it. This is a symbol, one that shows how difficult life truly is, and the challenges that you are facing. Plus, the more clean-cut the character is, the more unhinged he becomes from a psychological standpoint. It’s a very interesting twist and one that will impress you quite a bit with the structure and attention to detail.
Raging Bull
Even if it’s a movie from 1980, make no mistake, it’s quite detailed and it features a whole lot of dangerous scenes. That being said, there is a scene where Jake LaMotta is shaving in his dressing room. It is a sign that he is trying to escape challenges in life and find the best ways to counteract problems. But at the same time, that does become innately difficult.
The character uses their razor as punishment. Every pass of the razor is very much like cutting through all the regret and bad moments in their life. That’s why it’s an incredibly challenging moment and one that defines the movie in a very engaging, different, yet exciting manner.
Coming to America
The movie is from 1988 and it focuses a lot on the barber shop politics. Whether we like it or not, such a thing exists, and it certainly redefines the movie in a very distinct manner, unlike anything that you might expect. With that in mind, the shave scene in the movie is meant to be hilarious. It brings a lot of comedy into the mix, while still keeping the core of the movie intact, and that’s totally something to consider in this movie.
That being said, they do a great job at making the scene funny just because the men involved here are talking a lot of nonsense. It removes any gravitas, and it just makes you laugh, which is extremely interesting considering how it all comes together and the way everything is defined. The scene itself adds a lot of authenticity, while also ensuring that you have a very exciting and distinctive scene that gives you excitement and a unique sense of ideas you rarely get to see.
No Country for Old Men
It’s another movie that features a very good shaving movie scene. In this case, we see the Sheriff Bell shaving while he is sitting. But the shave is not there for the sake of it. It’s meant to bring a sense of contemplation, as the sheriff thinks about violence and all kinds of problems appearing all over the county.
The shaving process itself feels very similar to the passing of time. It’s irreversible, inevitable, and it shows what the future can hold. Since the movie is so full of action and it has a great story, it becomes very simple for you to dismiss this scene. But it’s there, and to be honest, it’s a very thoughtful, certainly interesting scene that you rarely get to see out there.
Fight Club
A lot of people love Fight Club because it’s a great movie focused on fights, challenges and also moving onward in life. The shaving scenes here are minimal, but there is a head shaving scene since that’s a symbol of initiation in the Project Mayhem. It’s a way to show that you are eliminating any ego from your life, and that you are focusing on new beginnings. Which is definitely a very interesting, albeit rather demanding situation to happen in anyone’s life for that matter.
Despite this being a movie from 1987, it still has a very good scene that involves shaving. We basically have Al Capone who reclines and has a towel draped to the chest, as he gets shaved by a barber. During this, Capone gives some really menacing orders. It shows that even in a situation when he is vulnerable, he is still taking charge and he tries to keep everything under control.
What this does is it manages to show a lot of confidence in his mind, and it showcases just how different the world was back then, during the time this movie is taking place. It also shows the fragile ego that’s behind the power. That being said, it’s still one of the coolest scenes involving shaving from the 20th century movies. It’s iconic, it really shows challenges and a whole lot of unique ways of dealing with grief, problems, while still oozing power.
Why do we see a lot of shaving scenes in movies?
To be fair, a lot of movies have shaving scenes. Not everyone would expect that something so monotonous and a thing we do every day will even make the cut in movies. But a lot of the time, it’s one of those things that has a double meaning. Sure, the person in that movie will try to stay clean and so on, but there are other things to be shown here, like:
- The character is vulnerable, because they are basically exposing their throat and their entire life to a person who is shaving them. Sure, some will shave on their own, but that is still a vulnerable state, since they could be attacked at any moment. And a lot of movies are taking advantage of this situation, while adding a very challenging thing into the mix.
- There’s also intimacy, because you are indeed trusting a person with your life. They have a razor at your throat, so any slip can lead to major problems. And that’s totally something that you need to take into account and consider as much as possible.
- It’s also a sense of transformation. Simply put, by removing the hair, you have a shift in your identity. And even if it does not seem like a whole lot, it does manage to redefine a lot of these movies. It’s also the perfect way to show how a character is changing. Granted, a lot of the time, these characters change for the worst, but it’s still fascinating to see how all these things change in such a different manner.
- Plus, as we all know, this is a masculine ritual and one of those things that truly help you modify how you are changing your life. It truly is an exceptional and very different approach, one that you do not want to miss.
- The shift in power dynamics is very different here. It can lead to all kinds of fascinating ideas, and differentiations that will move the story onward. It also defines the hierarchy of different things, a very good and cool moment.
What really matters in the best shaving scenes in movies is how different these tend to be. We see people shaving themselves, other times there are others shaving someone who is in a role of power. It’s fascinating, but also very different, and it’s one of those ideas that continues to redefine the movie experience in more ways than expected. It’s definitely a very distinctive situation, and one that will bring in front a multitude of cool shifts within the story.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that we don’t always see shaving scenes in movies. But the ones we see are very impactful, different and have the potential to change the story in a very distinctive manner. At the end of the day, it’s important to understand that all shaving scenes are meant to make a difference, they highlight power shifts, changes in the character and so on. It truly is exciting, and you will find all these scenes fascinating!