Josh Brolin on His New Memoir and Why Denis Villeneuve Deserves an Oscar for ‘Dune 2’: ‘If He Doesn’t Get Nominated … I’ll Quit Acting’

As I delve into the tumultuous and unconventional journey of Jeff Bridges, I am struck by the raw, untamed spirit that courses through his memoir “From Under the Truck.” This is not your typical celebrity tell-all; it’s a wild ride through the highs and lows of a life lived on the edge, a poetic exploration of memories both cherished and regrettable.

In Josh Brolin’s frank and often self-exposing memoir “From Under the Truck”, there’s a scene where the actor, disheveled and battling a crushing hangover, encounters Philip Seymour Hoffman in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. It’s 1992, and Hoffman is newly sober and ascending his remarkable acting career on both screen and stage, while Brolin finds himself at one of his periodic lows, addicted to alcohol and drugs. The two men have a tenuous acquaintance, having met through Brolin’s interactions with Hoffman’s mother during their theatrical performances upstate, but their paths are divergent. This chance meeting is awkward, made more so by each man’s awareness of the other’s condition.

Brolin writes descriptively, “My chest is covered in sweat. I glance back towards the subway stairwell, but he’s vanished. I trust he’s sober; I am not. He recognizes this too, for I could see it in his eyes, a look that conveyed understanding of someone who doesn’t fully grasp the situation.

Looking back on that conversation years later brings a sense of sadness over Brolin, as Hoffman passed away due to a drug overdose in 2014, around a year after Brolin had overcome his addiction problems. The two actors had maintained contact, and Hoffman had been discussing with Brolon the possibility of directing him for a stage adaptation of Kenneth Lonergan’s “Hold On to Me Darling.” Brolon was aware that Hoffman had resumed using drugs.

I had told him, ‘Feel free to discuss these matters with me whenever you’re ready.’ Tragically, he passed away just over a month or two later. It was an unbearable loss. He was more than just an actor to us; he was the captain of our ship. He embodied the essence of our craft. Among us all, he was undeniably the most gifted, and his sobriety was something he wore with pride, a testament to his dedication.

Hoffman’s death is just one of many painful reminders in Brolin’s book about the perils of living hard and fast. Brolin, who writes that he was “birthed to drink,” grew up the son of an alcoholic mother, Jane Cameron Agee, who took him bar-hopping when he was still a kid. The title of the book refers to a drinking contest between his mom and her boyfriend that Brolin witnessed as a teen. It ended after 15 rounds; the boyfriend was later discovered collapsed under a truck, his legs sticking out from beneath the vehicle.

Besides being biologically her son, Brolin mirrored his mother’s experiences in other problematic ways. He didn’t merely begin drinking at an alarmingly young age; instead, he started experimenting with marijuana when he was only 9 years old and dabbled in LSD by the time he turned 13. His life story would include multiple incarcerations totaling nine instances, numerous bar brawls, and a harrowing stabbing incident in Costa Rica. Brolin acknowledges that his survival is nothing short of miraculous.

In his own words, he expresses profound gratitude for the multitude of friends who have passed away, yet it doesn’t weigh on him as survivor guilt. Instead, he feels a strong obligation to savor each moment and live life vigorously. He wasn’t among those whose actions were obscured by alcohol; his consciousness remained intact during his drinking days. Regrettably, he admits to doing unspeakable acts following his decision to drink. These reprehensible actions, though, he was willing to endure, as they provided him with a sense of identity. Without the influence of alcohol, he felt incomplete and not fully realized as a person.

However, the circumstances have evolved. Brolin abstains from alcohol now, having made the decision to stop drinking 11 years ago, following an incident where he arrived at his grandmother’s deathbed in an intoxicated state.

Brolin shares a time when she smiled at him and he felt a pang of guilt, thinking ‘Who am I to have all this?’ He then understood that despite having everything available to him, he was ruining it. From that moment, he appreciated the clarity that sobriety brings. Perhaps it’s an act, but he enjoys the defiance of choosing, after 45 years of living one way, to live the next 45 years without alcohol.

Despite his excessive drinking habits, Brolin consistently delivered captivating performances one after another. He first made a splash in the mainstream with his role as a silent cowboy in “No Country for Old Men,” and subsequently played villains, rugged characters, and even portrayed the 43rd president in movies like “True Grit,” “Milk,” and “W.” Now that he’s sober, Brolin believes he has improved as an actor, becoming more focused, more disciplined, and more open to taking risks.

He clarifies that his performance wasn’t subpar, quite the contrary. He maintained professionalism during his acting roles. While there were occasional instances where he arrived at work under the influence, it was not a regular occurrence. Now, with sobriety, he has uncovered new dimensions to his abilities.

Apart from feeling more self-assured, he’s also landed a role in the upcoming sequel to “Knives Out,” titled “Wake Up Dead Man” and directed by Rian Johnson. This film is known for its sharp and engaging dialogues.

He expressed, “I found myself thinking, ‘This is truly remarkable,’ upon reading it.” He continued, “The writing is exceptional, and it left me feeling a little overwhelmed. I questioned whether I was capable of doing justice to such intricacies, of presenting them in a manner that feels genuine and natural. However, after some extensive preparation, I felt ready for the challenge. If I had been under the influence of alcohol at the time, things might have turned out quite differently. I’m not sure if I could have managed it.

The book titled ‘From Under the Truck’ deviates from typical celebrity memoirs by being more casual, unconventional, and poetic. Instead of a chronological timeline, it jumps around, intertwining tales from Brolin’s childhood on a ranch in Paso Robles, California, where he lived with his free-spirited mother, actor James Brolin (known for ‘The Amityville Horror’), and scenes from the sets of movies like ‘The Goonies’ and ‘Inherent Vice.’ Unlike polished accounts of life under the limelight, Brolin offers raw stories, such as experiences with using hotel pillows for a certain purpose or publicly criticizing Robert De Niro during an awards show luncheon while intoxicated.

Brolin describes the book as something alive and active that he aimed to let flow naturally, rather than interfere with it. He admits it may not be easy for everyone to grasp, but he maintained an open approach and held himself to a particular level of integrity throughout.

While working on the Audible adaptation of “From Under the Truck,” Brolin found himself growing increasingly anxious, questioning whether he had overstepped boundaries.

He admitted, ‘I was almost done with it when I suddenly thought, ‘Oh no, what have I done?’ He continued, ‘I felt the urge to destroy any trace of this project. It lasted for roughly a month, but after I found myself in a cycle of shame, I decided to move past it. Eventually, I understood that this book was exactly what it needed to be.’

Brolin, in spite of the difficulties and tribulations he’s faced, has certainly mingled with some exclusive groups. His stepmother, as a matter of fact, is Barbra Streisand. It was during one of Streisand’s social gatherings that Brolin witnessed John Travolta employing Scientology methods to allegedly aid Marlon Brando’s injured leg.

Initially, it appeared to be a mere jest, but surprisingly, it transformed into an extraordinary shared event that I had the privilege of observing from a distance,” Brolin explains. “At first, I was perplexed, thinking ‘What on earth is happening?’, but now when I reflect upon it, I find myself saying ‘That was such a heartwarming incident.’ It’s important to clarify that this has nothing to do with Scientology. What struck me was witnessing someone caring for another person in such a thoughtful manner. Isn’t it fascinating how our perspective can shift?

Josh Brolin maintains his stance that the Oscars made a mistake by not nominating Denis Villeneuve for the 2021 “Dune” film. This year, Villeneuve is in contention for awards again, having directed “Dune: Part Two,” a sequel that often received more favorable reviews than the first installment. In this movie, Brolin portrays Gurney Halleck, who serves as a mentor to Timothée Chalamet’s character, Paul Atreides.

Brolin expresses that if he isn’t nominated for an award this year, he will stop acting. He describes the movie as superior to the previous one, stating it left him feeling as though his mind had been shattered. He believes it’s a brilliant piece of work and considers Denis to be among our greatest filmmakers. If the Academy Awards hold any significance at all, they should acknowledge this talent.

2024-11-21 17:33

Josh Brolin on His New Memoir and Why Denis Villeneuve Deserves an Oscar for ‘Dune 2’: ‘If He Doesn’t Get Nominated … I’ll Quit Acting’

Read More

Minority Mindset