Aaron Paul on his career: You do one film that’s not a success and you’re damned

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El Camino on Netflix is absolutely wonderful and perfect. I’m not going to give any spoilers except to say that it’s so much better than I expected, the plot is incredible and Aaron Paul gives a superb Oscar-caliber performance. He plays a character finding his own strength after suffering extreme PTSD. If you haven’t seen The Path on Hulu, he’s excellent in that too, and it also stars Hugh Dancy and Michelle Monaghan. Aaron has an interview with Vulture where he talks about his career post-Breaking Bad. He suffered some disappointments but realized that he just didn’t find his stride yet. He’s now completely ok with doing television and streaming series and he has a great life with his wife of six years, Lauren Parsekian, and their daughter Story, who turns in February.

On his character, Jesse Pinkman
I couldn’t be more opposite of that guy, other than the fact that I wear my heart on my sleeve. I don’t bury anything. He was real to me. I loved Jesse. I cared for him. I wanted him to be okay. It sounds odd, but I lived and breathed every moment of his life. I know him so well it feels like these things happened to me, in a way.

On The Path, which was canceled last year
I love everyone on that show. But story-wise, I don’t know if we knew the direction it was going.

On how his career faltered after BB
I was so spoiled at the height of Breaking Bad. I was being offered everything. You do one commercial film that’s not the success they think it’s going to be, and you’re damned.

He fired his manager after he got convinced not to do a big hib movie
There were some big thorns in my side that I had to let go. My wife knew all of this was going on, so when I told her what Vince wanted to do, she threw her arms around me. She knew it was an opportunity for me to spread my wings again.

On doing TV and streaming instead of films
I can’t live with that pressure on me, nor will I. I’m happy.

[From Vulture]

Aaron’s big breakout after BB ended in 2013 (I can’t believe it’s been that long) was supposed to be 2014’s Need for Speed. That film didn’t do that well and neither did Exodus: Gods and Kings. It’s really his moment now though, because he lives and breathes this character and his performance is heartbreaking. El Camino had a brief theatrical release, but it’s not eligible for an Academy Awards nominations as it was only out for a weekend unfortunately. A film has to be out for a week to be Oscar-eligible. Aaron should at least get another Emmy for this. (He already has three for Breaking Bad.) I would love to see him have a career in prestige films because he is absolutely mesmerizing on screen. Jesse Plemons was really good in this too I should mention, as is the late great Robert Forster.

Oh and these two are still hilarious and awesome:
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Photos credit: WENN and Netflix press

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14 Responses to “Aaron Paul on his career: You do one film that’s not a success and you’re damned”

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  1. Erinn says:

    I mean, it’s true. But it’s less true for white dudes than it is women or people of color. It doesn’t mean that his feelings are invalid or anything, but I’m not sure he’s fully aware of how good he had it being able to work pretty steady since the flop. I’m not sure many other people would have had the same opportunity.

    • lucy2 says:

      Yeah I just looked up his imdb, he has worked pretty steadily throughout. I assume he means he wasn’t offered any more big leading roles, and that’s true. To be honest, I don’t know if he should have to begin with – he’s a great actor and well deserved his accolades for BB, but nothing about him really screams “feature film leading man” to me.

      Women and POC do have it much harder, for sure. Women directors too, if something isn’t a huge hit they get no more chances, where white guys continue to be given opportunity.

  2. Jadedone says:

    El Camimo was great, a perfect follow up to Breaking Bad

  3. Chelsey says:

    Just watched El Camino last night and it was really good. I think I was reading an article on Pajiba where they said it wasn’t really “necessary,” but what we didn’t know we needed. It was really nice to get to see what happened to Jesse and get some closure. Plus I loved all the cameos and Easter eggs. Jesse Plemons is a crazy talented actor. Good lord.

    • Becks1 says:

      That’s a good way to describe it. It wasn’t necessary, but the closure was nice. And my heart did break for him many times during it. It was superbly acted all around.

      • whatWHAT? says:

        my goodness, Paul’s acting in El Camino was absolutely Oscar/Emmy worthy. I was so impressed. and I also agree about Plemons, he’s fantastic, too.

  4. Mia4s says:

    He may not go the leading man route (honestly?…not surprised) but I really feel like he could have great luck in films as a character actor. Hopefully he gets the chance.

    “ He fired his manager after he got convinced not to do a big hit movie”

    I love industry gossip and I am CRAZY curious to know what film this was. He was with that manager forever. I know he was mentioned for Guardians of the Galaxy. Maybe?

  5. sassbr says:

    He has not made good choices outside of Breaking Bad and I guess that might have been his agent, or it might have been him. I actually think he’s not that good. I saw him in a dreadful movie called Fathers and Daughters with Russell Crowe, Decoding Annie Parker, then also Exodus and Need for Speed. And he’s not even the best thing in a bad movie, he’s just as bad as everyone else in those,

  6. Unoriginal Commenter says:

    I know Aaron from high school and I just have to share that he has always been a really kind, warm person. I’m so happy for his success.

    • whatWHAT? says:

      oh, that’s so nice to hear. so often you hear about how much of a d-bag someone was in HS.

  7. Dee Kay says:

    I think Lauren Paul looks much better with darker hair, is my shallow comment of the day. We watched some El Camino last night and it was good but I sort of zoned out (am also trying to meet a big deadline at work so maybe I need to revisit when I can concentrate on it).

  8. Asiyah says:

    I feel bad because I didn’t really like the movie but I admit that Aaron Paul’s acting was fantastic AS USUAL. Jesse Pinkman is such a great character.