Josh Brolin was nominated for an Oscar for “Milk” and a Critics Choice Award for “Inherent Vice”. But I’ve got seven other Brolin performances that deserve similar recognition:
TOM CHANEY – “True Grit” (2010)
What a cast for the Coen Brothers remake of the western classic: Brolin, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper and Hailee Steinfeld.
YOUNG AGENT K – “Men in Black 3” (2012)
Sorry Marvel fans, this is my favorite Brolin performance of his career. He embodies the spirit of Tommy Lee Jones into the younger version of his “MIB” character, with one of the most moving climactic scenes of this decade.
FRANK – “Labor Day” (2013)
Okay, Jason Reitman’s relationship drama isn’t perfect by any means. (In fact, the script is kind of a mess.) But Brolin and Kate Winslet’s performances saved this one for me. (Winslet earned a Golden Globe nomination, BTW.)
MATT GRAVER – “Sicario” (2015)
Talk about a 1-2-3 power punch: Brolin, Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro, who received a BAFTA nomination for his work.
EDDIE MANNIX – “Hail, Caesar!” (2016)
Brolin re-teamed with the Coens for this satirical take on old Hollywood – and he’s, by far, the best thing in it.
ERIC MARSH – “Only the Brave” (2017)
Not enough people saw this admirable all-star firefighter drama, with Brolin paired-up again with Bridges.
THANOS – “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018)
Yes, this one had to get on the list. Definitely one of the better on-screen villains in recent years.
And, of course, Brolin reprises his role as Thanos in “Avengers: Endgame”, which is out right now. Chances are, you’re actually in line or in your seat at “Endgame” reading this piece… waiting for the three-hour spectacle to begin.
In 2020, he’ll join Jason Momoa, Rebecca Ferguson, Timothee Chalamet, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Oscar Isaac, Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgard in director Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune”. Like “Endgame”, that sounds like a major cinematic event.