Alec Baldwin’s Best Performances
In honor of Alec Baldwin’s upcoming film “Boss Baby”, some of the writers at CineNation discuss their favorite Baldwin performances.
Over the years, Alec Baldwin has played both a number of funny comedic characters and dark and slimy villains. Over his career he has been nominated countless times for Emmys, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. He currently holds the record for most SAG Awards won by a male performer, all of which came from his portrayal of Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock. Baldwin also has an Academy Award nomination for his performance in The Closer. His most recent film, the animated family comedy Boss Baby, is being released this weekend, so we picked our favorite Alec Baldwin performances in honor of his new release.
“Beetlejuice” — Adam Maitland
Before Glengarry Glen Ross solidified Alec Baldwin as a stone-cold business-type, even before Hunt for Red October established him as a leading man, Baldwin delivered an absolutely wonderful performance as Adam in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice. What’s so endearing now, looking back on Adam, is to see just how different he is from the roles Baldwin is now known for. Adam is the antithesis of the Alec Baldwin character, and that’s what makes him such a pleasure to watch.
As I’m sure many of the other entries will show, Baldwin has flexed his dramatic and comedic chops for decades, but often as a similar character: suave, ruthless, sardonic. In Beetlejuice, however, Baldwin and Geena Davis as Adam’s wife, Barbara, are completely and totally sincere. There isn’t a sarcastic bone in either of their bodies. As a young couple in a small-town — the very ideal of Americana — Adam and Barbara are perfectly happy in their simple lives, but they’re resurrected as unlikely ghosts after dying in a car crash. Much of the comedy in Beetlejuice comes from the clashing of three worlds: Adam and Barbara’s timeless small-town sensibilities, the bizarre, nouveau-riche style of the Deetz family, who move into Adam and Barbara’s now vacated house, and the twisted world of the undead, embodied to the extreme by Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton).
Baldwin and Davis are in the ultimate straight-man roles in this clash of cultures: they must be totally relatable and completely likable. The two pull it off wonderfully here, bringing Adam and Barbara to life (or death) as kind, caring people who are simply forced into a very drastic situation. The audience are anchored by them as we explore these strange new worlds with them, and they help keep the whole experience fun. Foils like these are noticeably absent in Burton’s later works, a large reason why many of his more recent films suffer from a distinct lack of humanity, but thanks in part to Baldwin’s charming performance as Adam, Beetlejuice strikes a thoroughly enjoyable balance.
“Ghosts of Mississippi” — Bobby DeLaughter
By Alex Bauer
Alec Baldwin’s filmography is eclectic. This is a good thing, seeing as there is a performance for all tastes. Some Baldwin roles are iconic (“The leads are weak? You’re weak!”); some are easily forgotten (Anyone like or know Outside Providence?). Picking a favorite takes some thought, but an answer soon pushed its way forward.
I wrote about Ghosts of Mississippi awhile back, noting the spectacular way the film fights racial injustice. In the film, Bobby DeLaughter, played by Alec Baldwin, is an assistant District Attorney in Mississippi who believes he can re-open and solve the Medgar Evers murder. Though Byron de la Beckwith was tried for the murders, he was never found guilty. The film follows DeLaughter as he conjures up the ghosts of Mississippi’s dark past.
Baldwin shines. He’s compassionate, yet realistic. In the beginning of the film, he thinks little of the Evers case. He does not believe he can solve the case. But, DeLaughter is consistent. The more he interviews and digs, the more he connects with Evers, as a man, and his family. He becomes disgusted by the racism still prevalent in late 20th-century Mississippi. Baldwin beautifully captures the ever-changing DeLaughter. He’s a figure the audience trusts and are interested in his crusade.
The film is a must-see, for the brilliant story-telling, impactful message and tremendous performances — highlighted by Alec Baldwin’s Bobby DeLaughter.
“30 Rock” — Jack Donaghy
By Sean Randall
You know how Alec Baldwin has been a hugely relevant celebrity for the past, say, half a year or so? Well, you can thank 30 Rock for your new favorite duck-faced orange presidential SNL parody.
Not only did Baldwin get the gig basically because Tina Fey, creator and star of 30 Rock, told Lorne Michaels he was worth a look, he also got it because for 7 seasons Baldwin basically WAS Donald Trump. The show, if you haven’t seen it, is a parody based loosely on the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of Saturday Night Live. Tina Fey plays Liz Lemon, the head writer of TGS (The Girly Show), basically reprising her role on SNL. The first episode shows Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, network executive and corporate superstar of General Electric, (now former) parent company of NBC, coming in and throwing a wrench in the typical machinations of the show.
Confident, suave, politically conservative, but completely inexperienced and bumbling at times, Baldwin was auditioning for his current SNL role basically the entire time. But what he brings to the show is a charisma and chemistry with Tina Fey, and with all the other actors, that allows him to play both the straight man and the funny man when required. Possibly his most delightful interactions are with the late Elaine Stritch, portraying Jack Donaghy’s mother. I don’t want to try and explain the show any more, as I’ll just be trying to explain the amazing gags and inventive comedy, but I will implore you to watch it… then dare you not to think “Good GOD, Lemon!” when remembering Baldwin’s performance.
Glengarry Glen Ross — Blake
I’ve never really seen Alec Baldwin as a major leading man. He has had a couple of good leading man roles, but Baldwin’s bread and butter are the supporting character roles he plays. From films like The Departed, The Aviator, and The Cooler, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, he has shown how great he is in supporting roles. But, his role in Glengarry Glen Ross might be his most memorable.
Alec Baldwin is only in one scene in this film, but it is a damn good one. The movie is chock full of great actors and great performances, especially Al Pacino. But, Baldwin’s “Always Be Closing” speech might be the best moment in the entire film. It’s at least the most quotable one. Monologues are always difficult, especially when the scene goes for seven minutes, but Baldwin pulls it off with ease. He plays the role with smugness, and he is full of vulgarity. With Mamet’s language, Baldwin is able to stand out amongst all of the great titans in the film.
Also, without Glengarry Glen Ross, you might not have this weekend’s Boss Baby (we will find out if that is a good thing or a bad thing). From the trailers I’ve seen, it seems like Baldwin is taking a little bit of the character from his performance in Glengarry Glen Ross. I mean, the billboards even read “Cookies Are For Closers”, which is a play on his famous line in the film, “Coffee Is For Closers”. The film popularized the term “Always Be Closing” and since then it has become a part of both the popular culture vernacular and the sales community. A big reason is because A.I.D.A (Attention, Interest, Desire, and Action) isn’t as catchy.
