TORONTO — Josh Brolin, known for villainous roles, makes a great pie both on and off screen, Kate Winslet, co-star of his latest film, said Saturday, softening his tough guy image. The American actor -- who has played loathsome characters in such films as "Milk," "American Gangster," "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" and the Coen brothers' Academy Award-winning "No Country for Old Men" -- perfected his baking skills for a scene in director Jason Reitman's "Labor Day." The film, based on a Joyce Maynard novel, premiered this week at the Toronto film festival. In it, Brolin plays an escaped convict taken in by a reclusive single mother, portrayed by Winslet. "Josh got into his character and, I can say, is an excellent cook of pies," Winslet told a news conference. "I don't know about his ability to make chili or anything else, but he certainly is an excellent pie baker." Reitman concurred, and according to Brolin, the crew on the set were also very pleased with his flaky crusts. But the actor may have taken preparing for the scene a tad too far, according to Winslet. "He got a little bit obsessive with making pies," she said. "He would get up at four in the morning and he would come to work with a box and say, ‘I've baked you a pie.'" — AP
