“Who shot this?”: How Quentin Tarantino shaped an iconic Josh Brolin role
Being an actor can be a gruelling and unforgiving job, learning how to deal with brutal rejections, cruel casting directors and an endless stream of auditions, either leaving you with a thick skin or quitting the business entirely. However, for many people in the industry, one of the rewards of climbing your way to the top is the opportunity to be recognised for your talents without having to put yourself through these processes, with your name and talent being enough to guarantee you a job.
But regardless of this, there will always be some directors who prefer to spread their nets and continue with these processes, choosing to watch many interpretations of their script before making a definitive choice. For Josh Brolin, this ended up working in his favour, with the Coen brothers highlighting his audition tape not for his performance but for the way it was shot.
The Coen Brothers have found a huge cult following over the years for films such as The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink and No Country for Old Men, creating a unique style that is ever-changing and adaptable to the myriad of genres that they venture into. Often with a nihilistic undertone, their films use comedy to highlight the absurdism of everyday life and existentialist issues, with each character exploring our own quest to find meaning and purpose and the mishaps that come with this.
After starring in The Goonies as a teenager and becoming a global heartthrob, Josh Brolin then had a relatively slow career trajectory, experiencing a renaissance much later on life after starring in films such as Sicario, True Grit and Inherent Vice. Since then, he has come to be recognised for his captivating screen presence and dazzling charisma, working across a variety of high-stakes action thrillers and dramas that demonstrate the versatility of his talent.
However, despite being a huge name in the industry, the actor still had to audition for the Coen brothers like anyone else would, something that he achieved with a helping hand from none other than Quentin Tarantino. The actor was working with Tarantino and Robert Rodrigues on Grindhouse, a double feature that combines Planet Terror and Death Proof. Both directors merged their techniques and similar love for stylised violence to create a truly one-of-a-kind experiment.
While working with Tarantino, Brolin asked the director to help him shoot his audition tape for the Coen Brothers. The Coen Brothers described the process of watching the tape, noting how Brolin’s performance was excellent, but they kept asking themselves, “Who shot this?”. Despite the fact that he was giving his all, they were more taken by the crystal-clear direction that shone through.
Tarantino has always had great relationships with the actors he has worked with, forming lifelong bonds with Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L Jackson. But who knew that he was so crucial in helping them find work with other creatives after shooting together? Brolin ended up working with the Coen Brothers on two pictures, which sparked the beginning of his cinematic comeback.
