Absolutely tremendous profile of Alec Baldwin in The New Yorker, and I say that not just because it includes a line like "He was lean and intense, and had chest hair in which one could lose a telephone." (See above photo.)Basically, it's 8,000+ words of Baldwin beating himself up over every decision he's made in his life, be it professional (his post-"Hunt for Red October" movie career) or personal (the "I'm gonna straighten you out!" voicemail message). More interestingly, it's also close friends and family -- including Lorne Michaels and Billy Baldwin -- being remarkably candid about how Alec needs to stop being such a miserable SOB and enjoy his life a little. It's half profile, half intervention.
He does come off as the kind of guy who would be unable to appreciate happiness even if he found it. On the one hand, that's probably part of what makes him such an intense actor. On the other, sucks for him. It reminds me a bit of interviews I've read of Hugh Laurie, who is absolutely fantastic at what he does but seems unable to appreciate his own efforts (I believe I read something about how he can't watch himself on screen). There are probably a whole host of other self-loathing but brilliant actors I'm not remembering right now. I wonder how many of them would still be as good at their craft if they managed to get their heads straight?
ReplyDeleteWhile the article was a fascinating look at Baldwin, it seemed a little all over the place, didn't it? Maybe I just don't read enough New Yorker (or... any) to get their ADD style of writing....
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, Alan! Definitely a fascinating read.
ReplyDeleteAlec sounds like he needs a hug and I'm just the person to give it to him.
What?
Haven't read the article yet, but I'll get to it right after I say that I'm a woman who still appreciates a hirsute man. This whole metrosexual movement of men waxing their chests and shaping their eyebrows is a big turnoff.
ReplyDeleteI feel better now.
I love Alec Baldwin in a Shatner kind of way.
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking, good artists = miserable people. You have to have some pain to work with.
Great article! Thanks for the link. I recommended it to my friends.
ReplyDeleteIt was my first New Yorker.
read this today, great great piece. interesting mix of self-confidence and self-loathing. the sense of professional unfulfillment was bad enough - i might've winced reading him going thru his bomblist - but the personal failures and how it weighs on him was almost heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who liked this and has not already seen the Alec Baldwin/Garry Shandling conversation while sparring which is part of the Larry Sanders Show box set should make the effort to procure a copy. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
ReplyDeleteA couple of months ago, I was walking in from 6th Ave to 5th via 43rd or a street nearby and I could have sworn I saw Alec Baldwin walking in the other direction. He looked very unhappy/uncomfortable. And no, I wasn't hounding him for being famous because:
ReplyDelete1) wasn't sure it was him
2) even if I were to be sure, wouldn't want to bother a celebrity unless it was someone I was fanatical about. Even then I'd want to keep it fairly low key, such as, "I enjoy your work"
3) I was in a hurry to get to an appointment