Josh Brolin has been toiling as an actor for more than 20 years. But until this fall, you wouldn't know that he could actually act. This is what's included on his list of roles-—most of them are supporting—on the Internet Movie Database: "Hollow Man," the 2000 Kevin Bacon movie, "Into the Blue," the 2005 Paul Walker movie, and "The Mod Squad," the 1999 Claire Danes movie. All of them tanked. But then something changed. Brolin appeared this fall in "In the Valley of Elah." He carries "No Country for Old Men," in a show-stopping performance, and he also does nice work as an evil police officer in "American Gangster."

Brolin spoke to The GoldDigger. My most pressing question was about his moustache.

The GoldDigger: Was it your decision to do the moustache in "No Country"?

Josh Brolin: Initially, it was mine. Ironically, when we were doing it, it was the same day Javier was doing his hair. I was on the left side of the trailer, and he was on the right. I had a goatee because of "Grindhouse." They said, "Why don't we cut off the goatee"? I said, "Nah, I'm thinking about doing a moustache." I knew a lot of country guys that had moustaches. Their fear was that it was going to look something like the Village people. I was like, "Nah, let's try different lengths."

Have you shaved it off?

Now? Yeah. I'm done with the movie.

But you also had a moustache in "American Gangster."

It's a different moustache in "Gangster." It's darker, bigger.

Is that real, too?

They're all real. I don't do that—a fake. I'd do it for a comedy, maybe.

Do you have a favorite movie this year, because you've been in three.

"Margot at the Wedding" is pretty good.

But you're not in that one.

Yeah I was. I'm just kidding. I don't have a favorite. I like all the movies, because they're all very different. Which did I like doing best? The Coens's movie, just because of my relationship, and I was on set as much as I was.

How many times have you seen "No Country"?

Five. I can't see it anymore. It's too many times. Plus, I saw a version that no one will ever see. It's the most pristine version of any film I'd ever seen. We used Lucas's stuff. I didn't want to see it after that.

Where was this?

I can't really say.

You can't?

I honestly can't.

Is it a secret?

It was until I mentioned it now. It was a one-time thing.

You're going to get nominated for an Oscar, don't you think?

I don't know. Can you imagine if I said, yes? You would tear me a new a--hole. I think the big surprise is that people are saying that about "American Gangster." "No Country" is such a unique movie, I understand the trajectory a little more. The "American Gangster" thing throws me. I go, wow! Look, man. If I ever had a dream, one of the reasons why I stuck with acting, is when Daniel Day-Lewis came out with "My Beautiful Laundrette" and "A Room With a View" the same week. I couldn't believe it was the same guy. The characterization is so different. I thought, God man, If I could do something like that in my lifetime, that would be a pinnacle for me.

What do you do when you're not acting?

Everything. I'm one of those guys out there constantly doing sh--. I trade, I surf, I race cars, I jump out of airplanes. Hang out with my kids. Take RV trips with my girl.

SPOILER WARNING: What follows is a discussion on the end of "No Country For Old Men." Don't continue reading if you haven't seen the movie yet.

What do you think of the end of "No Country?"

I appreciate the people who don't like the end much more than the people who like the end.

Why?

You should feel horrible at the end. Not at the end end, but at the end we're talking about.

Your end?

Yes. The more rape somebody feels of the hope they've put in the character, the more effective we've done our job. You're not supposed to feel good about it. The fact that people react the way they do, to me, is completely appropriate. There's usually a typical way to kill a character. This doesn't pander to the grieving of an audience. It's a great homage to that kind of violence, which is not empowering, it's just sudden.

Was there ever talk about showing it?

Never.

Do you know how he dies in your head?

I think we all do. How do you think he dies? Who do you think he's killed by?

Isn't he killed by Javier Bardem's character?

No. [Laughs].

Then who?

The Mexicans. If you look at the last shot you see Llewelyn, the next shot is Sheriff Bell, he hears the guns. The next thing you see are the Mexicans pulling out of the hotel parking lot.  

I remember that scene, but I thought Bardem was with them.

I don't think so. That was a question we had in the book. Is it clear? To me, it doesn't matter. You get what you get out of it, then you read the book or watch the movie over again. One of the best compliments for this film is that it brings up a lot of questions. Not that it's so ambiguous you don't want to see the movie again. Or that you've been manipulated. It just brings up so many questions. You can make them literal or mythological. How did Llewelyn die? Was it from Javier? Where was Javier? Javier comes to the hotel afterward. I just think he knows that there's something that went down and he goes to the hotel. That's my take on it.