Josh James Brolin is an American actor. He has acted in theater, film and television roles since 1985. He is known primarily for his roles in the films Thrashin', The Goonies, W., No Country for Old Men, Milk, American Gangster, True Grit, Men in Black 3, Gangster Squad, Oldboy and Guardians of the Galaxy.
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» All Actor InterviewsGood morning reddit. I'm Josh Brolin and I have no idea what I'm doing here. I'm fully caffeinated, over caffeinated, and looking forward to talking to anybody who would like to talk at this hour in the morning. Right now I'm working on a movie called Sicario with Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt in Albuquerque (which is beautiful, and where people go to die). Hence the scruffy gray look, not gay look, gray look, which is not meant to be cool, but I'm told can be at times (to some people it just looks old - er). To talk about all the projects that I've done recently or that I have coming out feels a bit uncomfortable until I'm asked specific questions about what you guys are interested in. I'm here with my daughter (which doesn't mean you guys cannot be inappropriate, as she's 21 and can vote), and Victoria from reddit. AMA. I'm here to keep talking for an hour and a half, it's the longest monologue in reddit history.
https://twitter.com/reddit_AMA/status/502443418774413312
EDIT: So appreciate the serious and absurd questions. Even though it was instigated by promoting a film, it's been a great way to start the morning. There's nothing like passionate involved saturated fans. Really appreciate it guys. Thank you.
Yeah, most parents/Batman stories don't end well.
They were married 12 days later.
Be honest, Christian Bale is your half brother isn’t he? http://imgur.com/a/9RZOL
Yes.
The milkman's his dad.
To prepare for your role as a young Tommy Lee Jones in MBIII how many hours a day did you practice making your face extra weathered and wrinkly?
I have been practicing my whole life.
Shit, it's one of my favorite actors and I'm already too late for this AMA.
Uh...do you like chocolate milk?
Used to guzzle it as a kid. Loved nestle Quik, too. But Hershey's is the best. You're fucking awesome. Best question yet.
"The Goonies" is the all time best adventure kid's movie for my generation. Do you have a funny or interesting story from making that movie?
They didn't show us the - actually, I do! They didn't show us the ship that was being built, which would now be CGI I'm sure, so this was long enough ago that everything was practical (which made things much more fun & fantastical) - so it was on a stage, the stage was a massive pool with a practical 110 foot boat built in it. And they backed us up into the stage, into the water, had the camera set up so that we could have an "organic" reaction, put us underwater, I came up out of the water, turned around, we all came up out of the water, I turned around and said "Holy shit!" which ruined the whole take. And the surprise. So we had to resort to acting in the end.
Josh, your remake of "True Grit" was, in my opinion, better than the original. If John Wayne was alive today, what is something you would ask him?
"Would you ever quit smoking?"
"At which point did you come up with the persona?" There's early John Wayne, and late John Wayne. It always seems that with success,t here's a cultivation of persona, which can make an actor's career, or ruin it.
Ooh, that's so deep.
When will you start hosting the web series "Trollin' with Josh Brolin," in which you scour internet articles and post outrageous comments in message boards?
I LOVE THAT IDEA! RIGHT NOW!
Better than my old buddies' idea of "Brawlin' with Brolin"
Did you enjoy playing Thanos in Guardians of the Galaxy? What do you think of the final product?
I'm becoming enough of a fan now that it's Thanos, okay?
I was incredibly satisfied with the final product as a film. And really look forward to seeing what they'll do in the future.
Would you agree that the coolest thing anyone with the last name "Brolin" has ever done was that cameo your dad did in "Pee Wee's Big Adventure"?
Yes, first of all. And the guest episode he did for the Batman series.
That's where he met my mom, who was an assistant casting director. He played a cop on Batman.
Tell me which is grittier: Tommy Lee Jones' glare, or a literal bucket of grits?
Glare. Hands down.
is Barbra Streisand a cool stepmother ?
(hashtag: yentl)
Would you consider playing Joel in the adaptation of 'The Last of Us?'
I think you would be perfect casting!
Thank you very much. I'm stuck on Robotron and Asteroids and Galaga. But that sounds interesting...
What did George W think of your impersonation of him?
Oliver Stone saw Clinton at a art exhibit in China, where Oliver was selling some of his art. They started talking about W, Clinton (who's very close friends with W) loaned him his DVD, Oliver found out, and when Oliver asked Clinton how W liked it, his response was "Funny, but kind of sad."
What's your daughter's favourite movie: A. including you B. not including you?
My daughter, who is standing right here?
Oh god, my favorite movie with you... is probably...there's two. It's probably No Country and Thrashin' because it makes me laugh all the time, because your hair changes in every scene, I'll never forget that. And then not including him? God, I don't know, there's too many....I don't know... Dude, I have no idea.
What's a movie that we watched a lot as a kid? Like the Godfather or something?
Dog Day Afternoon!
Please don't tease us like that!
There's always a possibility. Seriously, no teasing. About every 5 years it comes up. I've never read a script. It seems that recently in the last year, there's been more talk of it than usual from the likes of Corey Feldman and Richard Donner. But that's as far as it's gone for me. I don't know how I feel about a sequel, given that I love the original movie so much.
Is there a possibility of a sequel to "The Goonies"?
We just wrapped!
What's your craziest on-set story?
My craziest on-set story comes from during the Goonies, when I came up to Spielberg and said that I wanted to climb the walls of the tunnels and that it represented my mother's womb, for some odd reason. I was reading Stanislawski at the time and Spielberg's response was "Why don't you just act."
You've spoken recently about your troubled youth and how some of your childhood friends were unable to move beyond their troubles, often resulting in their unfortunate demise. Your turn around in life can be quite inspiring. What advice would you have for troubled and at risk youth looking to overcome and succeed in life?
Erase labels.
We were proud to label ourselves as "teen-agers" and got stuck on those labels as adults, to the demise of many of my friends. I'm just one of the lucky ones.
Hi Josh, Thanks for doing an AMA!
Loved American Gangster. What was it like working on set with Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington? Did any thing wild happen on set.
Yeah. With Russell, I told him before when I was doing "No Country" that I was going to lose weight for the role, so they had the measurements of what I was supposed to be. When I showed up, apparently, I had forgotten to lose the weight, so I put on my wardrobe and went to rehearse my first scene with Russell. I was nervous (obviously) and excited, I asked Ridley if it was ok if we just ran through the scene once, I grabbed a chair and sat next to Russell. Halfway through the scene, and the seat of my pants ripped wide open. I missed the mark in making it a joke to break the ice between Russell and I. Once the scene was over, nobody was very impressed, and I went back to my trailer waiting to be fired. So while I was in my trailer, pantsless, there was a knock at the door, waiting there was Ridley, who said "I love the vulnerability you've brought to the role. Let's go more with that."
Hey Josh! I absolutely LOVED Grindhouse. What was it like working with Quentin Tarantino? He seems like he'd be... an interesting dude.
More than interesting was going to screenings at Quentin's house, and having him break down the movies for a half-hour or more of what we were about to see. I think he's the only filmmaker out there that is as knowledgeable or more than Scorsese.
Did you guys giggle everytime someone said "one eye Willy"? I never realized it was a euphemism until I went back and watched it in my teens! I've heard this story before...Why would "holy shit" ruin the take? Shit was said at other times in the movie.
My first day at work, half the day was ruined because I giggled so much. My dad didn't often bring me to the set, being an actor himself, so my infancy as an actor was wracked with a lot of giggles and nervousness.
What happened in 2007? Were you given superpowers?
What happened in 2007? Was I given superpowers? That's awesome.
It seems that way, doesn't it? I was fortunate enough to finally do movies that people saw.
Follow up question: do you enjoy paying a villain, hero or the anti-hero ala Llewellyn? I don't know you in real life so I'm curious as to what represents you best.
I would say most of the people who know me would not parallel me with the roles I've become most known for. I'm an absurdist who embraces the absurd.
Hi Josh, are you a comic book fan? Who is your favorite superhero/supervillan?
Thor and Hulk.
Richie Rich, which I am ashamed to admit. Richie Rich, Hulk, and Thor (I had a thing for blonds?)
And then got into the graphic novels of Frank Miler & all that, which isn't just to promote this film, it's the truth.
Hi Josh! Thanks for this AMA!
Two questions:
A. Being “The Goonies” your first movie, does it have a special place in your heart? If yes, more because of being the first or for the “adventure type of film and success it had?
B. When you made MIBIII, how many times you cracked up in laughter portraying a young Agent K that had to be serious but not too serious, working with Will Smith?
I've never had more fun on a movie than I did on the Goonies. I thought that was how it was going to be for the rest of my career. And even though there have been massive fluctuations in the past 30 years, I still hold that as my greatest experience.
Watch the gag reel for MIBIII on YouTube. Very hard to keep a straight face the entire film.
When are you going to record a cover of Chamillionaire's Ridin'?
They see me Brolin, they hatin..
It's been a joke my kids' entire lives.
Should we set it up now?
Hey Josh Brolin! Thank you for giving us this opportunity, I can't wait to see you more as Thanos!
What was it like working with the cast and crew of No Country for Old Men?
Do you have any off camera memories from Sin City: A Dame to Kill For?
Thank you again for this chance, on behalf of this AMA I'd like to commend you on your talents and wish you luck on your current and future projects
Nobody gets that title right, ever! Phenomenal. Very distinctive personalities. All amazing actors. Garret Dillahunt and Kelly MacDonald gave phenomenal performances, you would never know she is from Scotland on that film. It was a special time, in that nobody had the idea that the film would be seen by anyone. Again - so deep! And heartfelt!
All my memories are off camera, even when I was on-camera, it felt like I was off camera. A lot of painting with Robert Rodriguez and George Yepes (who is a painter, our teacher when Robert & I worked together - Robert has a studio out back, and we did about 8 paintings during that time).
Thank you sir for doing this AMA. You have worked with the Coen Brothers more than once and made some fantastic films. What is it about them that makes their movies so special?
One body, two heads.
Or maybe one head, two bodies?
I'm not sure which. I love mystery. I still haven't been able to figure them out. When I went out to After No Country for Old Men, I got to know Ethan fairly well, went out to dinner with him at one point, and I caught him looking down a little too often and then realized that he had brought a book to dinner. So the reason I keep working with them is less about the art, and more a personal quest in trying to solve the mystery that is Ethan & Joel Coen.
How much training did you have to do for Thrashin’? Did you already know how to skateboard?
I did. On the audition, part of the audition process was me having to skateboard outside while they watched me from across the street, second floor window. I hit a pebble, my skateboard went out into the street, and an 18 wheeler ran over it. The only reason I got the part was because the Goonies poster was up at the time. But yes I got the part.
What did Patricia Arquette's armpit taste like?
A better question: what did Patricia's armpit taste like...with hair?
Like Roll-On.
If no ones asked you today... How ya doin?
What a nice question.
I'm a bit tired. There's a few sand granules in the eyes. But I'm hanging with my daughter today. Life is good. I like that.
Love your work. What can we expect from Inherent Vice? Do you know when a trailer is coming out? I'm dying to see it.
Me too!
I don't know when a trailer is coming out, I hope soon. I'm very proud of that movie. And I think Joaquin Phoenix has reached an alien level of talent.
If you could star in any television series, from any time, who would you like to play and why?
Any television series of all time?
I want to go back and be the Fonz. And never have "to be continued" on the screen. I hated waiting the week.
Hi Josh! Thanks for taking questions with us!
Honestly, what was your first reaction when you saw Javier's haircut on the set of No Country for Old Men?
His haircut? Hilarious. I laughed, I did. It was a Coen idea. And any idea that the Coens ever have is always absurdly hilarious.
Hello, Josh. What has become of the red bandana?
Do you have anything funny or interesting to tell about Javier Bardem?
Also, I loved your part in American gangster. You were so vicious in this movie. And I want that leather jacket.
Thank you, cheers from Paris.
It'll be on Jimmy Fallon tonight, possibly.
No, but has a much better looking haircut now.
Hey Josh Brolin. You're such a cool dude. What is you're secret to being so cool? And also why do you have such great hair? The world needs to know.
Thanks. YOU'RE cool.
My hair is the product of my buddy's hair care product that he started after turning his life around. It's called original sprout.
Good morning Mr. Brolin!
I was wondering what draws you to a particular role?
Also, what is your favorite book, and why?
Thanks so much!
My favorite book? Wow... let's see. My favorite-favorite-favorite-book is probably...A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. And there's a great book I've been reading lately called Awareness by Anthony DeNello.
But 100 Years of Solitude I love too. I go back and read that every 5 years. And Shantaram, by my buddy Gregory David Roberts, whom I was with in India last year riding motorcycles through Mumbai.
Do you think shorts above the sweatpants will make a comeback?
I've asked to wear that wardrobe in every movie since. Thank god the sequel's coming out soon.
If you weren't an actor, what job do you think you'd be doing?
I wanted to be a lawyer, I was studying to a lawyer, which I realized was the same thing as acting. And there was one point where I wanted to be a chef.