He is that versatile, Oscar-nominated actor that has grown up right before our very eyes – and now, Josh Brolin is ready to tell his story of highs-and-lows in his new memoir, From Under the Truck.
Being the son of Hollywood veteran James Brolin and the late Jane Cameron Agee, Brolin sat down with me to reflect upon his upbringing, his celebrated film career so far and the longtime vice in his life that continues to thrill him.
Jeff Conway: I’m curious, Josh, why write this memoir now? You are 56 years young, with hopefully many years ahead of you. So, what was it about your life and career right now that felt like this is the right time to share your story with the public?
Josh Brolin: I don’t know if I thought about it like that. I think that having always written and having written several books and never even trying to get them published, it was something that’s been in my life for a long time. I’ve always appreciated writing. I’ve always put writing in kind of the number one category in my life – acting, probably second. It’s been the thing that saved me. It’s been the thing that churns me. It’s the first go-to, when I look at a script.
I’m in that place right now where I’m going – Why the f— did I do this? because it’s not a typical memoir.
Conway: So, you bring up that it’s an unconventional memoir, but I really liked it that way, Josh. For example, when you would discuss The Goonies, then quickly after, No Country for Old Men, you would give a little bit of a story and then you would move right on back to the other film, projects of yours that are 20+ years apart. What was your mindset when you were putting this memoir together?
Brolin: I think the book started to dictate what it wanted to be. It’s a more interesting way to be written – that’s my opinion. You know, with No Country, those are the two biggest milestones in my career, so why not parallel them?
Goonies feels like such a youthful, innocent time – and yet, it turned me on to a kind of view and horizon of life that I didn’t really know existed. These kids were so sweet. I ruined a half a day of filming because I was giggling so much, because I was so nervous, but so kind of in awe. Like – What the f— am I doing here? How did this happen? I was auditioning and people were telling me I should find a different profession and your dad is in the business. They didn’t want to give me a leg up, which totally contrasts this idea of nepotism. You go – Oh no, there’s people out there that will literally go out of their way, make it harder, or to make sure that you don’t get a leg up.
No Country was the same thing – and yet, it’s 22 years later [after The Goonies]. So, it’s finding those moments, you know? Goonies will go down as being one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Conway: And Josh, if I can, you bring up in the book, you say, “I was born to drink” and you said you were almost meant to be the male equivalent of your mother in a lot of ways. While you were writing about those parts of your life, was it cathartic or was it kind of difficult for you to rehash those memories?
Brolin: I think it’s cathartic. I mean, like somebody just sent me a photograph this morning of me when I was 27, and I was holding a picture of Reggie, which was my mom’s chimp, and we had the same shirt on.
There was something cathartic about looking at that photograph. I was like – Wow, that was me, maybe my most destructive. It’s a different time. I’m 56 now and I’m living in Santa Barbara, and I have a 5-year-old, and a 3-year-old, and a 36-year-old, and a 31-year-old and married 3 times.
So yes, I think it was cathartic. I think it was more cathartic than not.
Conway: Good to hear. So, you have been doing film & TV for quite a long time, Josh, but have you noticed your mindset or the interests that you have towards storytelling and the projects that actually matter to you evolving?
Brolin: No, for sure. I always had a love-hate relationship with acting. Acting to me was, I don’t know – playing characters was probably the most fun that I had in really losing yourself in a character, if you’re doing, you know, W, or if you’re doing Milk or, you know, Only the Brave or Everest or things like that – things that are super adventurous or really deep in character.
I think this is where it parallels with writing. It’s the psychology – I think that my childhood was so chaotic, especially with my mother. It was so chaotic that out of that came – Why do people do what they do? Why do they act the way that they act? What sets her off? Was she a bad human being? Where did her impatience come from? What was her background? What were her parents like?
You know, was she under pressure having been this poor girl from Texas coming out to LA, and you know, kind of surrounded by this Hollywood thing? She was Baptist and she ended up at Camarillo State Hospital, which I don’t write about, but maybe it will come up in the second [memoir].
Conway: So Josh, being a writer, a producer, a director and an actor, you have seen how Hollywood has changed throughout the years. What do you like about the ways of Hollywood today? And in what ways do you miss the ways of yesteryear?
Brolin: It’s a big question man, because it has changed. It really has changed. [My film] Brothers coming out on a streaming service to me was perfect. It’s not a releasable movie, even though they released it a week before. We knew it wasn’t going to perform. So, I love the idea of being able to tell stories and not having to worry about what it’s going to bring in opening weekend and this and that kind of thing.
Independent film is starting to kind of have its rise again. Everybody talks about this, but movies in the 70s – you look at movies in the 70s and it was about behavior. You had great commercial films that were propelled by character.
If you look at The French Connection, it’s a great action film, but what Gene Hackman is doing is astounding on a behavioral plane. If you look at Rocky – I mean, come on, man! It’s a super simple story, but it’s, behaviorally, so rich. So, it’s that kind of stuff.
Conway: Also Josh, you have such a big following in the Marvel world. You played Cable in Deadpool 2 and Thanos in the Avengers films. So, what are your thoughts on the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the trajectory of where it is heading? Do you like what you are seeing of the MCU right now? Are you paying attention at all? I’m curious.
Brolin: I’m paying attention a little bit. You know, they had this 10-year kind of book ended. It began with [Robert] Downey [Jr.]. It kind of ended with Downey leaving. And then they’re, you know, of course, it’s like a franchise.
It’s like – Let’s do Goonies 2. And you go – For what? Just let Goonies be what it is. What if these little kids are going be, I don’t know, geriatric alcoholics? And then they’re going to throw their kids into another tunnel? And then those kids are going to go through the tunnel and they’re going to find gold! That’s why it hasn’t been done because they keep going through, actively going through stories saying – Does this hold up? and everybody kind of looks at each other and goes – No! You don’t want to ruin that initial classic. So, I think that Marvel had 10 years of that.
And now, when you’re trying to stretch it out because they have a business, I don’t know if it’s inauthentic – maybe they’ll find a new authenticity, but it feels like it’s having a tough transition.
I had so much fun with the [Anthony and Joe] Russos. I don’t know if that would have been the case with another director. You know, I’m doing other business with the Russos. We’re developing other things together, just because I love them so much. I loved what they did in the [Avengers] movie.
Conway: Josh, you have been part of, arguably, the biggest film of the past year with Dune: Part Two. It has been such an achievement, both at the box office and with moviegoers. We all love your character Gurney Halleck throughout these films. There’s going be a Dune: Part Three – what are you excited to see come about, as this world expands even further, being such a devoted actor within this cinematic universe?
Brolin: Well, I love [Dune director] Denis [Villeneuve], first and foremost. I mean, he’s one of my favorite people. We did Sicario together – we became very close – and so, it was a no brainer with Dune.
I just think it’s a masterpiece. And Dune Three, I don’t know. When you get into this coming-of-age story, spiritually, it has so many aspects of it. It’s like a youth, lust, love, big picture, adolescent myopia – all this stuff and watching Timothée [Chalamet] actually go through that.
And then with Dune Two, seeing what Austin Butler did with that role, which I think was super, super special – and Florence [Pugh] – just everybody was great.
So, I really look forward to being able to continue. We haven’t gotten a script yet. We were supposed to get a script a couple of weeks ago, but you know, that happens and I’ll see what we’re doing. I’d be excited to do any of it.
Conway: Going back to your memoir, Josh, you bring up your love of motorcycles. What do motorcycles represent in your world today?
Brolin: I wish they didn’t. I wish there was some other form of a safer vice. Is it a vice because you can be killed on it, I guess? Every time I go out and I say a little prayer, and I say – Please don’t let this be the moment and I try to stay away from downtown traffic and all that, and we spend a lot of time in the hills or we spend a lot of time on desert long halls, away from too much traffic, which ultimately doesn’t matter.
You know, people go to sound baths – that’s my sound bath.
Conway: Josh, after reading your memoir, I’m curious, what would you say to the little Josh Brolin who was sitting in the sun with his mom, Jane, while she had her Dr. Pepper and her cigarette, and could not imagine his life ahead yet? If you could give him advice, after everything you have experienced and achieved up until now, what would that little Josh perhaps had appreciated hearing back then, that maybe would have helped some of the trajectory of his life ahead?
Brolin: What would I tell little Josh? You know, I have a thing right now where I wouldn’t change anything. So, I think what I would tell little Josh, instead of trying to make it okay or different, is you have no idea how proud your mother is going to be of you.
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