During a recent appearance at the New York Film Critics Awards, Ethan Hawke brought up an old Goodreads review left by Rose Byrne, sparking renewed discussion around the Ethan Hawke Goodreads controversy. The incident, which occurred just before the Golden Globes, drew laughter and surprise from those present as Hawke publicly referenced a critical review Byrne posted about his novel, The Hottest State, nearly 16 years ago.
Hawke Addresses Past Goodreads Review at Major Awards Event
As the awards season led actors like Ethan Hawke to participate in multiple events and give various speeches, Hawke chose to make light of a particular moment in his literary past while at the New York Film Critics Awards. Rather than offering a routine speech, Hawke pointedly mentioned Rose Byrne, known for her role in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, bringing attention to a negative review she had posted years prior on Goodreads. The lighthearted callout left Byrne noticeably embarrassed, according to onlookers.
Ethan Hawke calls out Rose Byrne for panning his first novel on Goodreads, saying “It reads like a poor man’s attempt at a Ryan Adams song.” byu/namesnotmarina inFauxmoi
The review in question is reportedly one of the first to appear on The Hottest State’s Goodreads page, cementing its prominence in the book’s online reception. While it remains unclear how Hawke identified Byrne as the author of the review, sources relayed that the moment was met with amusement. The specific details of Byrne’s Goodreads activity are now inaccessible due to her private profile settings, leaving other potential comments or reviews hidden from public scrutiny.
Critical Response to Hawke’s Novel and Film Adaptation
The Ethan Hawke Goodreads controversy has brought renewed attention to critical perspectives on both the original novel and its film version. While Ethan Hawke reflected on Byrne’s review, another critic weighed in on The Hottest State’s artistic value, explicitly critiquing both the writing and Hawke’s directorial choices.
You haven’t seen “pseudo-pretentious” until you’ve witnessed The Hottest State, a film directed by a pseudo-pretentious Ethan Hawke based upon a pseudo-pretentious Ethan Hawke novel. It’s one thing to be obnoxiously pompous and showy, but it’s a whole different bag of ball peen cranial hammers to aspire to be pompous and showy and yet fail as miserably as Ethan Hawke does. Indeed, that whole “Ethan Hawke persona” that we’ve all gleaned over the years from countless different roles — in both good movies and bad — is seemingly 100 percent accurate: He’s a certifiable pseudo-pretentious windbag who wants so badly to be Gus Van Sant that it makes my spleen ache like a saxophone inside a sick tooth. And the biggest problem I have with it is not an outright dislike for his work, but a queasy brand of pity I feel for a writer/director who seems almost all too aware of just how third-rate he is comparatively. It’s like … like … Jewel showing up to a poetry reading at Maya Angelou’s house. She’s gotta know just how badly she’s going to embarrass herself, but you feel equal parts shame and reverence for the brazen audacity it takes to get up there and avail her grade-school level vulnerabilities in front of a poet laureate.
I mean, Jesus Ethan: Surely, even you realize that the statement, “I wondered if sex was easier in Texas than it was in New York,” is not nearly as deep and insightful as you’d like it to be. So, for God’s sake: If you’re going to make a film with all the profundity of two eighth grade school girls passing giggly notes back and forth, at least have the sense to cast Brittany Snow and Zac Efron and market the damn thing to Disney tweeners, instead of the independent filmgoers he’s got to know will tear him apart like Oprah at a James-Frey-and-beefsteak convention
Comments by the critic compared Hawke’s aspirations to those of filmmaker Gus Van Sant and referenced various pop culture figures, underscoring a perception of excessive ambition paired with a less-than-stellar outcome. The review reflects a conflicted but intense response, capturing the complexity of artistic ambition and the reality of critical scrutiny.
Pop Culture Context and Further Collaborations
The public’s renewed interest in the Ethan Hawke Goodreads controversy has also led to discussions about past and present pop culture trends, as well as Hawke’s body of work. Notably, Hawke continues to earn praise for performances in projects like The Lowdown, notwithstanding previous criticisms. Both Ethan Hawke and Rose Byrne worked together on the film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel Juliet, Naked, further intertwining their creative careers following their earlier Goodreads interaction.
Looking Ahead: Lasting Effects of the Public Exchange
The confrontation between Ethan Hawke and Rose Byrne at the awards ceremony illustrates how social media platforms like Goodreads can influence an artist’s reputation long after original comments are made. The Ethan Hawke Goodreads controversy highlights the sometimes blurred boundaries between personal opinion, public discourse, and professional relationships among artists. As Hawke and Byrne continue their work in film and literature, moments like this serve as reminders of the enduring impact of online commentary and the evolving nature of audience and peer critique.
Ethan Hawke calls out Rose Byrne for panning his first novel on Goodreads, saying “It reads like a poor man’s attempt at a Ryan Adams song.”
byu/namesnotmarina inFauxmoi
