Joey Magidson
When Josh Brolin is cast properly, he can be among the most compelling actors in the business. His charm and intensity mix together to form someone you can equally see as an action hero or a neighbor. That’s put to great use this week in Weapons, as filmmaker Zach Cregger saw the potential in Brolin as one of the grieving parents. With the film about to hit theaters, a perfect opportunity exists to look at Brolin’s best performances. So, that’s what we’re doing today.
In my review of Weapons (here) I said the following about Brolin’s work as part of the ensemble cast:
The cast, especially the central ones, essentially get to each have their own short film to be showcased in, with appropriately effective results. Josh Brolin and Julia Garner are the closest thing the movie has to leads, though it’s very much an ensemble piece. Brolin does a wonderful job of mixing determination with grief, leading to some very bad decisions, as well as some potentially heroic ones as well. It’s a great use of not just his stature, but his talents as well.
Below, you can see what I think Brolin’s best work to date is. It’s hard to argue against Milk and No Country for Old Men being his shining moments, no matter which order you stack them in. The former even got him his Academy Award nomination in Best Supporting Actor. Then, I have a pair of deeply underrated comedic turns in Inherent Vice and Men in Black 3. Where does Weapons fall? What about his time as Thanos? You can see all of that next…
Here now are my picks for the best performances so far from Josh Brolin. Behold:
Honorable Mention: Dune, Everest, Flirting with Disaster, Planet Terror, You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, and W.
10. True Grit
9. Sicario
8. Labor Day
7. Avengers: Infinity War
6. Hail, Caesar!
5. Weapons
4. Inherent Vice
3. Men in Black 3
2. Milk
1. No Country for Old Men
What are your favorite performances so far from Josh Brolin? Let us know!
Inherent Vice. So complex
Definitely one of his best.