He used to be a smart Alec, but Baldwin has wised up

New York Daily News | January 20, 2004 | Joe Neumaier

[lilylangtree]

Alec Baldwin says he's a new man. After an ugly split from actress Kim Basinger--and a decade of headlines about the couple's acrimonious public spats--he insists he's no longer a tabloid-hating, Republican-baiting angry tough guy.

"I am changed as a human being as a result of this," Baldwin says. "I don't want any unnecessary conflict. I don't want to take any risks. . . . You wind up living a very cautious lifestyle after something like this happens to you."

As for his professional life, he's taking on a fresh role: Hollywood's new comeback kid.

There's Oscar buzz around his performance as the thuggish casino owner in "The Cooler." He plays an oafish businessman in the Ben Stiller/Jennifer Aniston comedy "Along Came Polly."

"I feel like Cinderella," he says of all the sudden attention. "Like I'm Jimmy Hoffa, and I've just been dug up out of the end zone at Giants Stadium."

The 45-year-old Baldwin says he has finally settled the financial issues with Basinger, with whom he split three years ago. The only remaining issue is his visitation rights to their 8-year-old daughter, Ireland.

What about his famous temper--which reportedly landed him in anger management--and the claims of verbal and emotional abuse during the eight-year marriage?

Baldwin smiles behind a cloud of cigar smoke. "I consider myself a big softie," he says. "To the people who know me personally and privately, it's absolutely understood that 99 percent of what's said about me is a lie."

As his relationship with Basinger deteriorated, Baldwin says, he discovered two things about himself: First, that he wasn't a divorcing man, and second, that acting was his salvation.

"It's been an agonizing experience," he says. "But work has saved me. It's stopped me from jumping out the window."

Baldwin returns to Broadway next month opposite Anne Heche in the screwball classic "Twentieth Century." He plays airline pioneer Juan Trippe in "The Aviator," Martin Scorsese's upcoming movie about Howard Hughes.

He says he'd like to stop acting when reaches his 50s--though not to get into politics, despite his strong liberal views.

"I can honestly say that if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would never make another movie again as long as I live," he says. "It just isn't worth it."

So what would he do?

Baldwin's eyes become dead-serious slits: "I'd write enormously best-selling books about divorce."

[lilylangtree]

Hahahaha! I'm still waiting for this jerkoff to leave the country. Since he's put so much emphasis on his work, then people boycotting his movies have hit him right where it hurts--his wallet. Plus, the support that Kim Basinger receives from him must make his wallet somewhat empty. That would explain his sudden focus on work and less on Bush-bashing.

[N. Theknow]

There's Oscar buzz around his performance as the thuggish casino owner in "The Cooler."

Oscar buzz? Translation: Green fly/dog crap.

[Snake65]

A career-is-on-its-deathbed conversion if I ever heard one.

Maybe he read "Shut Up and Sing" and wised up.

[beaversmom]

I watched him the other night on Charile Rose's show. His ego is as big as ever. He also said that he would like to quit acting and become a politician which contradicts what he is saying in this article. The guy creeps me out--something very strange about him.

[.45MAN]

B*** SH**!

[misterrob]

Actually, he can carry a scene like few actors I have ever watched. His role in Glen Gary Glen Ross as the butt-hole sales manager was outstanding and the arrogant doctor role he played in Malice was amazing as well.....

then again, those roles didn't require much in the way of real acting on his part. Playing the loathsome character comes rather naturally.

[dansangel]

B*** SH**!

Personally, my reaction was ****Yawwwwwnnnnnn****

[EggsAckley]

Sort of like a Hollyweird "Opus."

[KellyAdmirer]

I understand that he is being cast to play loathesome characters - hey, the article didn't mention his gold-digging boyfriend role in Cat in the Hat for some strange reason! - because people hate him and see him as that kind of person now.

[Snowy]

Reminder: His guestbook is operational again. www.alecbaldwin.com

[Dialup Llama]

>What about his famous temper--which reportedly landed him in anger management-

I'd like to see him play the role of Hitler in a movie. He wouldn't have to 'act' much to bring the rage out. You've seen those photoshopped pics of Alec in a nazi uniform. He looks very authentic.

[In_25_words_or_less]

"I can honestly say that if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would never make another movie again as long as I live," he says. "It just isn't worth it."

He's probably as serious about that as he was about leaving the country.

[New Horizon]

...Those roles didn't require much in the way of real acting on his part. Playing the loathsome character comes rather naturally.

Another very good Alec Baldwin performance was in "The Edge". And yes...he plays a real scumbag.

[shattered]

I don't like him that much but he has made some great movies. Specifically, Malice and my favorite The Edge.

[#3Fan]

There's Oscar buzz around his performance as the thuggish casino owner in "The Cooler." He plays an oafish businessman in the Ben Stiller/Jennifer Aniston comedy "Along Came Polly."

I was disappointed to see he's in this movie, because otherwise, it looked good. Baldwin is on my "don't watch" list. I may be skipping this movie.

[skeeter]

More proof Baldwin thinks Americans are idiots.

Sorry pal, its nearly impossible to put the genie back in the bottle.

[ErnBatavia]

"But work has saved me. It's stopped me from jumping out the window."

We can always be hopeful that he goes thru a long enough hiring dry spell to accomplish just this...

[NRA2BFree]

"It's been an agonizing experience," he says. "But work has saved me. It's stopped me from jumping out the window."

Awww, that's too bad. Looks like we'll have to throw him out the window now.

[BluSky]

"Baldwin is on my "don't watch" list."

hmmmm . . . looks like the free-market works afterall . . .

Serve them up . . . next up! Gwenth Paltrow (just proclaimed she's leaving the States for overseas). Bye, bye . . . . good riddence to 'ol liberal rubbish.