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In Defense Of Ethan Hawke, The Original "Gen X Romeo"
By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 11, 2013
Modified Feb 11, 2013
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Feb 11, 2013
Modified Feb 11, 2013
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Ah, Ethan Hawke, you either love him or you hate him—there is no in between, according to scientists. Today Ethan Hawke attended a Before Midnight press conference during the 63rd Berlinale International Film Festival. As you'll see in the below photo taken during this press conference, he looks like Sugar Ray frontman and cruise ship captain Mark McGrath now (though... he has for a while):
Yes, this look is for Clive. (Getty Images)
The photo (prominently displaying Hawke's McGrath-esque look for Clive) circulated quickly throughout the Gothamist offices, but even looking like the loathed Sugar Ray frontman, my adoration was unwavered! And to combat any viral negativity that this latest photo may bring to The Internet, I figured I'd present my "I Love Ethan Hawke Despite All Of These Things He Has Done" list (a work in progress). To that end, I'm on Team Hawke despite...
...that terrible song he wrote for Reality Bites. It's called "I'm Nuthin," and the fact that he really spelled it that way is not even the worst part. (Point Hawke: he delivered the song in such a passionate and smoldering way that the lyrics actually didn't even really matter in the end.)
...that time he tried to be a novelist. His 1996 novel, The Hottest State, didn't get great reviews, but I never personally read it. At some point someone told me it was actually pretty good... but I mostly cringed at Hawke's attempt to be this "Gen X Romeo" (a term actually used on the back jacket cover) and Renaissance man type ("Why do I hate the things that I obviously love," is a personal essay for another time).
...his goatee. My "love him" leaning is probably firmly based in his Reality Bites character—I even crushed hard on this guy in high school who had successfully harnessed the Troy Dyer style and mentality. So the oft-weak facial hair he sometimes sports is fine by me, it was practically its own style movement in the '90s, after all.
...there being reasons to dislike Ethan Hawke. He may have cheated on Uma Thurman! He might sometimes smell bad (sources say)! Whatever, no matter how many reasons you have for disliking Hawke, there are probably twice as many reasons to LOVE him. Lest you think this is all about a teenage crush, surprisingly John Del Signore came to the defense of Hawke during an office discussion regarding this post, saying, "In his favor, he's not afraid to tackle unflattering roles portraying loathsome weasels (Tape, Hurlyburly), often in a way that seems to hit a little too close to home. And I respect him for his devotion to theater and indifference to allegations of literary pretension."
I would also add that Hawke is a Stanley Bard-era supporter of the Hotel Chelsea. In 2007 Bard told us, "Ethan's a dear friend of mine, he lived here, he couldn't believe what was happening here... he says he can't believe these people."
And you can't hate on that type of loyalty.
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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