http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AT59S20091130 (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AT59S20091130)
In interviews with Men's Journal and Playboy, Baldwin consider's his career a failure. Here is the quote: "It's a difficult thing to say, but I believe it: I consider my entire movie career a complete failure. I'll tell you why. The goal of moviemaking is to star in a film where your performance drives the film, and the film is either a soaring critical or commercial success, and I never had that."
Baldwin claims the successful movies he was in were not successful because he was in them, but for other reasons.
True there are a small group of named stars that draw people into the theater. Eastwood, Schwarzenegger, Stallone, etc. But, at least with me, that's not the appeal of a movie.
I see film as one part theater, one part painting. And I want to see a story play out. I don't care so much for a name. If a movie doesn't have a big name, I really don't see that as a bad thing. It's all about the story. I like seeing stars disappear into a role where you just see the character and don't think about the actor or past roles. And just like my theater professor once told us, the best performances he had seen was the guy who had no lines and played guard number three.
Sure big names and their built in followings sell tickets, but how many times has it produced a stinker of a film just to give a name something to do? About half of Jean-Claude Van Damme movies come to mind.
Though I think Baldwin's pompous attitude on politics is completely obnoxious, I've never had a problem with any of his films or TV shows.
I have always enjoyed his work on the screen. Hunt For Red October was great - but I guess Connery really carried that film. Pity he didn't stick with that franchise - surrendering the field to Ford.
Baldwin just wants more attention.....
Baldwin is a good actor and I really enjoy seeing him perform. However, I'd say this is yet another attempt at gaining attention. He's been doing this for a long while now, its getting old...really fast.
King