Earlier, Smith asked about Brolin about his role in ‘Milk,’ about the first gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Harvey Milk, and his murder: "Playing this San Francisco supervisor. This is the guy who ends up killing Harvey Milk. You were so -- you make such a commitment in this role. You made this guy real." Brolin explained his desire to be in the movie: "When I read it, I thought it was a really important film...And then the timeliness of it because of Prop 8, I think it's an incredible movie, I'm glad that there's so much notice for it." On December 10, Smith declared the movie, which also stars left-wing actor Sean Penn, was "...a must-see for everybody."
(Before the election, NewsBusters illustrated with video, Brolin went on Letterman's show and blinked “vote for Obama.”)
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
8:49AM SEGMENT:
HARRY SMITH: With us -- joining us right now, we have Josh Brolin who, as of about three minutes ago, knows that he just got an Academy Award nomination.
MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ: Bravo! Congratulations.
JOSH BROLIN: Thank you, guys. Thank you so much.
RODRIGUEZ: How did it feel when you heard your name?
BROLIN: I had to wear my hat because my hair was sticking straight up, so.
RODRIGUEZ: It's early.
[LAUGHTER]
BROLIN: I'm protecting you guys.
SMITH: Tell me about the moment.
BROLIN: Well, I tell you the truth, actually, because I'm in Sundance right now and it's an hour later, I woke up here at 5:55 and I looked at the clock, and I go, oh, well, I guess it didn't happen.
SMITH: Oh, man.
BROLIN: You know, that's okay. And then I realized that the time had been -- you know what I mean? So I've been up and down, you know, the Himalayas today for sure.
SMITH: A lot of people thought you deserved the nomination for 'No Country' last year. Very different role this time. Playing this San Francisco supervisor. This is the guy who ends up killing Harvey Milk. You were so -- you make such a commitment in this role. You made this guy real.
BROLIN: Thank you. You know, I don't know if that's a compliment or not, but I appreciate it.
RODRIGUEZ: Absolutely.
BROLIN: When I read it, I thought it was a really important film. And I told Gus, look, I'll do it, you know, whatever you want me to do. If you want me to play Harvey Milk, if you want me to play Dan White, whatever you want me to do. And then the timeliness of it because of Prop 8, I think it's an incredible movie, I'm glad that there's so much notice for it.
RODRIGUEZ: What goes into preparing for a role like that? How do you throw yourself in there like that?
BROLIN: Well, I -- you know, I didn't know a lot about him. I knew about Harvey Milk, but, you know, I just started watching videos and reading books. And I was -- it was -- I met a couple of guys that knew him. I got to hear his confessional, which I think was, you know, educational in what I was trying to do. And then we just -- opened it had up, you know. Once Sean and I got together, no rivalry there. A lot of friendship. But it's really easy to work off him. So it was a good contrast that was created, I think.
RODRIGUEZ: I want to ask you real quick, you played 'W.' You were here on the show talking about it. How did it feel to see him at the inauguration? Did you feel bad for him at all?
BROLIN: I -- do I feel bad for him?
RODRIGUEZ: Watching him, after having played him.
BROLIN: I don't know, personally? No, I think personally, I do. You know, watching him take off in the helicopter. But then I was also part of the, you know, the group that waved good-bye happily politically.
[LAUGHTER]
RODRIGUEZ: Alright. Josh Brolin.
BROLIN: But personally, I do. I mean, that was the whole point of the movie. When I did the movie, I think I really got in there personally, and I started to really appreciate some of the milestones that he had hit.
SMITH: Josh, thank you so much. Congratulations. We'll see you soon. Really, really appreciate it.
BROLIN: Thank you so much, guys. I appreciate it.
