#FIRSTLOOK: JOSH BROLIN IN “LABOR DAY”

Getting his first big break in 1985 Classic The Goonies, success as one of Hollywood’s top Leading Men was a long, arduous journey. After appearing off and on in several TV roles,  Josh Brolin finally received the plum assignment of a well-noticed Supporting Role in Best Picture-winning No Country for Old  Men as Llewelyn Moss, directed by the Coen Brothers. Since then, there’s been no turning back for the handsome son of Actor James Brolin and Stepson of Barbra Streisand.

Brolin in recent memory has starred in several memorable roles including a widely-acclaimed performance in W. as George W. Bush. 2008 Drama Milk saw him go-on to garner an Academy Award nomination for his Role has the hot-headed Dan White, opposite Sean Penn.  2010 would see him in another pivotal Role, re-teaming him with the Coen Brothers’ in their Remake of True Grit, which went on the garner a whopping ten Academy Award nominations.

The Actor has had a high-profile year in 2013, starring in $105-million-grossing Gangster Squad, Spike Lee‘s Arthouse Remake of Oldboy and next, Jason Reitman‘s Labor Day.  The latter widely was acclaimed at TIFF ’13, seeing Brolin fly-in to Toronto to promote the Film. Paying back a favour, he participated in a Live Read of Boogie Nights hosted by Montreal-born Reitman which drew big laughs at Ryerson Theatre.

I had the immense pleasure of finally meeting Brolin after admiring him on the Big Screen for years and he was everything I’d imagined – fun-loving, spirited and charming.  Every occasion I spotted him, whether he was out attending a Junket for Labor Day or on his way to a party, he always was giving to Fans. On one occasion I saw him roll-down his window (top left), point his finger at a Fan, taking his name and making an arrangement to take a Photo with him later in the day.  He actually fulfilled his promise.

Despite being paired with one of the most iconic Actresses of our time in Kate Winslet, much of Labor Day is carried by Brolin‘s heartfelt performance – at once volatile, at once gentle as an escaped Convict Frank Chambers, taking shelter with Single Mom Adele Wheeler (Kate Winslet) and her young Son, Henry (Gattlin Griffith).

See the Trailer for Labor Day below:

My Review of Labor Day here.

Official Artwork:

Paramount Pictures releases LABOR DAY on Friday, January 31, 2014.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong | Video credit: Paramount Pictures)