A Different Man (2024)

This is a classic Beauty and the Beast situation, where a severely disfigured man with neurofibromatosis, Edward, undergoes an experimental medical procedure to transform himself from his beastly appearance into a handsome beauty, only to discover that changing how he looks on the outside doesn’t necessarily change how he feels on the inside. Any psychotherapist worth their salt could have told him that, but Edward discovers it for himself and he is very disappointed about it. He was a B-grade actor at best, and when he transforms his visage, his acting skills do not miraculously improve because despite his newfound attractiveness, his insecurity continues to plague him. He still carries himself with the same hunched demeanor and halting speech as before. Then when a beguiling stranger, Oswald, shows up with the same disfigured face. Oswald is confident and charming despite his appearance, and the rest of the movie is Edward struggling with that reality. This is nominated for an Academy award in the area of Make-Up and it is an achievement in that realm.