Josh Brolin is quite the mouthy fellow. The “Milk” star won best supporting actor at the New York Film Critics Awards dinner last night. Instead of giving a simple, gracious acceptance speech, Brolin seized the opportunity to call out one of his former costars for being an asshole. And not just any costar – Russell Crowe. Apparently Brolin forgot Crowe’s reputation for throwing phones and beating the crap out of people.

Josh Brolin is one of my favorite actors because he speaks his mind. Last night at the New York Film Critics Awards dinner, at which Brolin won Best Supporting Actor for his work in the drama, “Milk,” Brolin stole the show with his candor.

For one thing, he called Russell Crowe, his co-star in last year’s “American Gangster,” an “a-hole.” Oh yes, he did. He said, after Sean Penn introduced him, “Quite an actor, Sean Penn. And not an a-hole like Russell Crowe.” He then repeated: “Like Russell Crowe.”

Brolin also gave some insight into how movie stars do interviews.

“I said I studied rats,” he told the rapt audience of actors and movie critics at Strata, formerly Metronome, on lower Broadway. “I said that on the Actors Studio about how I prepared for ‘W.’ It was a lie.”

Brolin told me later that he didn’t really mean Russell Crowe was an a-hole. “He’s a great guy,” he said. “It’s all good. He has his thing.”

[From Fox News]

Great cover. Sounds like quite the sincere apology. Is it possible that Josh Brolin is a giant douche bag? He’s got a ton of talent, and aside from getting into that big “W” cast fight last year, he struck me as a reasonably normal guy. Generally the kind of actor that isn’t D list, but not someone I’m constantly aware of either. There was an accusation in Star awhile ago that he got too touchy feely with Sean Penn’s wife Robin Wright-Penn, but nothing really came of it. And he appears to be on better terms with Penn than with Russell Crowe. I hate to say it but it seems likely that Crowe might come out of fighting retirement soon. Though at least we know Brolin can defend himself better than that telephone.

Update: The Huffington Post has video showing that Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Wright were abused by police in Shreveport, L.A. during the bar fight ordeal.

Here’s Josh Brolin at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in New York City last night. Images thanks to WENN and Fame.