Alec Baldwin Becomes Latest to Threaten Retirement

this is a perfect example of the typical hollywood elitism at its best. these actors make millions of dollars living everyone elses fantasy life and it still isnt good enough. i do not like alec as a person but as an actor ive semi enjoyed the stuff hes done: most recently 30 rock (which is aiite) and a few years back with the departed. what a whiny brat to say his movie career is a failure because he hasnt "driven" a movie by himself. what about the fact that this jerk off has been lucky enough to work with amazing actors, crew, production and travel all over the world being admired by millions. why do so many who ponder retirement always comeback or at least try to. its because they realize that when they leave their stardom these realize how crappy life is for everyone else comparatively. dont kid yourself alec (for that matter any athlete, politician, celebrity etc) there are many people on this planet who could do the job you do and maybe better. success in these industries has a great deal of luck invovlved and these poor poor actors should be thankful everyday they are where they are.

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Good, hopefully this means he'll drop off the face of the earth and I'll never have to read about him again. I hope Sean Penn, George Clooney and Matt Damon follow him.

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Well, I do think he has a point. His career isn't necessarily a huge success. I don't watch 30 Rock, so I can't comment on his performance in that show. But from what I've seen in his movies, I'm not that impressed. Dramatic acting, sure. Overacting, sometimes. Great acting, no.

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I thought he totally rocked the house in Team America: World Police. Brave, honest performance...

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screw critical and commercial success. he's got outside providence. coming of age dramedy-wise, that movie is a masterpiece.

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Alec's performance in Glengarry Glen Ross was brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3C2l7o-6qg

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I too could care less about his career since I can't really stand him as a person. As an actor, he's best when he plays villians, sleazebags or arrogant tryants. That being said, I am curious about "It's Complicated". I have more respect for actors who can't see doing anything else but act until the drop dead. Here's to you, Ernie Borgnine!

He needs to do a "hairy men" movie with Bob Hoskins, Robin Williams, and Dan Hedaya! Comedy, Drama...who cares! It would be awesome!

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Sorry Erik, but success isn't some objective standard that is the same for everyone. When one is talking about themselves it is a subjective criteria that they define individually. By your definition Michael Jordan would have been a success if he had been drafted last in the draft and played in the NBA for a few years. Would he have been wrong for disagreeing with you? Just because someone is successful doesn't mean they must consider themselves a success, and just because you think he is a success doesn't mean that he must conform to your vision of it. I agree with you that I, subjectively, would consider him a success, but if he is disappointed by what he has achieved than he has every right to think so. Its kind of funny that you call him pompous and then go on to tell him how he should feel about his own life and career. Talk about arrogance...

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Ummm, The Shadow anyone??? But seriously, Baldwin is a marginally good actor...he's certainly got some serious comedic shops on 30 Rock, at least. And he was absolutely hilarious in The Departed. Granted, his role was minimal, but he made it memorable.

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What Alec really meant - http://bit.ly/8KPMeC

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So what if he wants to retire? I think its something he'll bring up in Feb. when he speaks at Fordham Law School though so it should make it interesting.

http://www.fordhamlawandculture.org/conversations/with-alec-baldwin

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Kevin, well said. I am a fan of Alec's, and I hope that he doesn't actually retire. I personally believe that just about every film he's been in has been all the better for his presence. That said, we are not in a position to attempt to understand his point of view. Mostly because, as you point out, we have no frame of reference. Anyone could have any job and enjoy varying degrees of success at it. But unless you know the framework around which someone compares him or her self to their own expectations, there is no way to intelligently draw these conclusions.

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