Since Ethan Hawke’s appearance in the 1989 Best Picture-nominated film Dead Poets Society, through his Oscar-nominated performance in the 2001 film Training Day and his Academy Award-nominated screenplay in the 2004 film Before Sunset, Hawke has remained a significant presence in American cinema both in front of and behind the camera.
With James Brown gone, Hawke has the chance to not only be named 2025 Variety Master of the Year at the Miami Film Festival GEMS today, November 2nd, but also earn the nickname “The Hardest Working Man in Show Business.”
He stars in Hulu’s “The Low Down.” He just directed Highway 99: The Double Album, an epic documentary examining country music legend Merle Haggard. He has a horror series “Black Phone 2” in theaters now. Hawke received some of the best recognition of his illustrious career for his role as legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart in Richard Linklater’s new film Blue Moon.
“Moon” is a perfect example of the adage “Good things come to those who wait,” as Hawke explains the long journey the film’s script took from conception to release.
“Rick sent me the script 10 years ago, and he said, ‘It’s not ready,’ and I mean, it’s not ready,” Hawke says.
Hawke’s beautiful, melancholy, and layered performance is convincing evidence that the actor was indeed “ready.”
Hawke will play the role of legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon.”
Presented by Sony Pictures Classics
Hawke said Moon is the ninth film he has made with Linklater, and the actor’s explanation of their process helps illuminate the why and how of creating an emotionally moving film portrait.
“What Rick really wanted me to do was disappear. After the take, which is my way of critiquing, Rick said, ‘I saw you.’ And every time he saw “me” he kicked me for whatever I was doing. It was frustrating and difficult. And it’s rewarding. It’s like asking, ‘Can you build this cabinet using those five tools?’ ”
The success of director Linklater’s methodology lies in the moments when Hawke immerses himself in a character who, on the surface, could not be more different from Hawke. He is a character player in life, in contrast to Hawke’s protagonist, who is small and has an amazing ability to get lost in his characters.
Hawke wanted the role to reflect his younger self, who was about to break onto the New York theater scene. “I got my acting education from older gay men. They were intelligent men like Larry[Hart]who was a writer, the love of his life, had his demons, and was in society at a time when being gay was more of an issue.
“I knew people like Larry Hart, who had such deep feelings and awareness and insight. They knew everything about theater the way a monk knows the Bible. And you know that if you have gay leaders, at least back then, they’ve spent most of their lives in the closet. I recognized them in Larry, and it’s heartbreaking.”
“But I also have this guy in me, and Rick knew that. And I knew he was excited for this at-bat. This is a role that’s outside of my comfort zone, but I know this guy. I’ve played a lot of different characters, but in some ways, Larry is the one closest to my heart.”
Hawke has written novels, written screenplays, produced, directed, acted in both film and television, and continues to work in theater, but has he ever been labeled a “workaholic” despite his easy-going, relaxed, and seemingly completely unnerving demeanor?
“I have a lot of fun collaborating, creating things, and writing articles. In my opinion, being a workaholic is hurting yourself. My wife understands that I love working and that it’s healthy for me.
“I had a vivid dream recently. I only had 10 days to live. But I was okay because I was doing exactly what I was doing.”
