See, I thought he would have gotten snippy with you when you asked him about his and Casey Affleck's sexual assaults, but it looks like you didn't even raise this with him.
56
He scares me sometimes, he's so good.
He thinks the work is the thing, the only thing.
I hope he makes movies forever.
70
It’s very peculiar to be surprised that Joaquin Phoenix would play the Joker, or wonder how he prepared for the role. Joaquin Phoenix playing an outcast whose rejection fuels his pain is not his road less traveled, it’s his super-highway. Who else could possibly inhabit the role as well? What would be surprising – and warrant a question about how he prepared for the role – is if he had been cast as Mr. Rogers in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood". Of course, it would be equally surprising if Tom Hanks had been cast as the Joker. If this reporter interviewed Tom Hanks, one can imagine he would also be surprised by the casting, and ask Hanks how he prepared for the role.
43
I feel a synergy here that may prove quite dangerous.
From the presidency on down, there's an ugly side
to feeling maligned, misunderstood, on-the-outs.
White men feeling pushed out, reaching for guns,
inciting hate.
Remember the kid who dressed up as the joker
and shot up the movie theater?
Movies can explore what they want.
That's art.
They also can be a catalyst for good, or for ill.
In our present day powder keg,
this portrayal may loom like a lighted match,
and great acting will only increase the impact
of what a film chooses to illuminate.
I have no interest in censorship,
and great interest in common sense.
24
@C. Whiting:
so, let me see if I follow you....you're somehow blaming "white men" for watching movies which cause them to dress up as comic book characters (only 1 has, so far) and killing people? Even though that guy was quite psychotic?
And this movie with Phoenix in it has not yet been released?
OK, at least that's all clear.
22
@RLiss
That guy killed 12 people and injured seventy, dressed up as the joker at a movie theater.
And yes, he was quite psychotic.
And yes, he quite apparently identified
with the character.
14
Let’s boycott DC till they have erased the Joker character off the face of this planet. That good enough for you?
16
Maybe this guys personality quirks are simply too much exposure to mind altering drugs!
It sounds like his brain cannot focus clearly in the moment so he has breaks with the present. That lack of clarity causes him to make himself absent until he can refocus!
As long as remains an actor, I'm not going to worry but if he decides to run for President, bar the doors and hide the ballot box!
6
We all know that these are the dudes, the guys that are going to open fire on our kids at school. The white middle-aged angry males, the walking time bombs, alienated and armed, smart and manipulative, we like to watch them in movies get pushed to the breaking point, watch their faces as they get news of the straw that breaks their camel's back. We like to watch their painful trajectory as the descend into joblessness, then homelessness, rejected by the multi-cultural society that trivializes, then fears their pain. We love to watch them as they reach for their weapons of revenge. And thus we deify them, sanctify their story as some sort of holy morality play about a sick world that drives single white men to violent excess. We give them the spotlight, admire the veracity of their pained drama.
And then we wonder why they open fire on our kids.
29
Will Marvel follow The Joker's lead and do solo villain origin films such as Doctor Doom, The Red Skull, Galactus ( a real challenge), Dormammu, Lizard, The Mad Thinker, Hela., Typhoid Mary, The Enchantress, Nebula, Selene and others?
2
Not at all insulting the actor by claiming he’ll be able to work for the rest of his life on ‘emotionally wrung-out roles’. What did you expect? And it didn’t seem like you apologized.
Acknowledge a mistake, even if unintentional, take it on the chin and move on. He didn’t move on because you didn’t acknowledge that you hurt him but he’s too proud to be upfront and he does not owe you his vulnerability to admit that.
Be humble. He acknowledged you by having the interview and not leaving after that remark. It doesn’t matter who you work for, you are not entitled to an interview, whoever you are or whomsoever you are working for. Remember that they are humans first.
25
This man has been acting since the age of 8.....he is allowed to give non answers or sarcastic answers to clueless interviewers!
Read the wiki entry about him:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joaquin_Phoenix
He was there, calling for help on 911, when his brilliant actor brother River Phoenix overdosed.
He's had an interesting and very busy life so far!
Personally, I think he's a wonderful actor and still love him in "Signs" as well as his portrayal of Johnny Cash in "Walk the Line" where btw, he did all his own singing.
40
This article is super snarky. I would have liked the reporter to convey the same information without such obvious ambivalence toward the subject. I found myself thinking way too much about the person writing.
102
@Chuck Agreed!
14
He and Sean Penn are two of a small few of film artists that work to stay true to who they say they are. Not that others do bad work, they don't, but even Robert De Niro understands that you have to get close to the fire when you can.
Phoenix's film work has amazing life and his tools are totally hidden. His Johnny Cash is still the best bio-pic film ever. The brother of River, his self awareness and core are his truths. Gotta love him for trying to stay sane in the tent-pole world.
33
One senses that 'Joker' may be the definitive zeitgeist movie of the Trump era.
21
Sure, some riveting performances here and there... but this broken-bird pretending to be a lion is off-putting to me. And does the world really need another character study of a psychopathic killer at this time?
13
My favorite quote--“I don’t even know what you just said." The quality of answer you get depends on the quality of the question you asked.
Phoenix is a fantastic actor...an artist through and through with an artist's temperament to go along with the package. Given his obvious distaste for the marketing and publicity portion of his job, I'm surprised he even gave up enough material in an interview for this article.
54
A great great actor.
Loved him in "Her," "The Master" and "Inherent Vice."
I'll see him in anything!
26
Dude is a genius. And we are lucky to have someone like him still exploring the art (even in such a commercial blockbuster) and not just for the money - although I'm sure that helps.
22
This is one of the most unenlightening interviews ever. I blame the writer. After insulting his subject the interviewer realizes, lightening flash, that what Joaquin Phoenix wants is projects that excite him and make him want to work hard.
Doesn’t every last person on earth want work that they find engaging and worth putting some effort into?
Everyone is doing action movies with comic books characters, violence and explosions. Why ask one actor to justify the entire genre?
61
@Uptown Sunni
So true. An opportunity for an extended interview with one of the greatest actors around and all he can do is harp on the appropriateness of him doing this role. What a waste.
22
"... I asked if “Joker” might be a bad omen for filmmaking, if it means that character-driven movies can only get made at this scale if they’re based on established pop-culture characters."
The interviewer with a classic "this is more of a statement than a question but..."
15
Hoping he's able to distance, if not remove, himself from the evil aspect of the onscreen sinister persona he's chosen to portray for an audience which appears to be more fascinated and/or satiated with the macabre as time goes by. Perhaps if interested, those who have an affinity for the genre could read the book of Revelation, Chapter 13 so a comparison between art and life figures could be analyzed.
2
I prefer not to get my worldview from a psychedelic work full of coded warnings written by an anonymous ancient. As any reputable scholar will tell you, the book of Revelation was meant for the time in which it was written. The coded apocalyptic composition was a common literary form of time, and was used to pass along messages that might anger the powers that be. The work is often dated to just after the reign of Nero (likely the Beast) when there were rumors that he wasn't dead and might return to exact a bloody revenge. Whatever it's intended audience and message, it wasn't predicting the far-flung 21st century. It's also worth noting that a sizeable number of Christians were against it being included in the Christian canon.
15
@Topher
Thank You for the reply. However, if it was alluding to Emperor Nero, then why the statement about an opposition force coming from the East: Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. Revelation 9:16
In Nero's time, no such numbers existed. Also, it indicates at least two rulers (i.e., kings) crossing a vast amount of territory to engage an enemy or enemies.
1
It's so tiring to read these interviews of actors who feel nothing but scorn for everyone, including themselves. He's a prima donna. Who cares?
10
@John
I am puzzled how you got that impression. He doesn't like doing interviews, that much is obvious. He makes clear that he's sensitive to the fact that the viewing public will tire of his presence. In fact, he seems to me like a genuine artist who understands that fame is a distraction at best if not an outright poison.
My impression is that he's the opposite of a prima donna.
82
@john If anything it was the author who came in with a pretentious and overwrought attitude and an idea clearly in his head of what answers he wanted out of Phoenix. It came off poorly and if anything Phoenix was patient with the author's agenda.
26
This guy should win an academy award just for the trailer for Joker.
26
"How did an unpredictable star known for loners and killers wind up in a studio blockbuster based on a comic book?"
Gee I don't know, may because The Joker is a loner and a killer?
65
I hope he is happy as a person.
It’s a rough business to live in.
How to be an artist when everything about the business could rip you apart?
Very tough life.
10
Based on personal experiences on several Phoenix sets, my observation is that he’s never easy going in person or on screen. He’s inherently restless, questioning, curious, and also self-deprecating and even naïve at times. I’ve worked with quite a few stars, and many of them are surprisingly uninteresting as people: a scratch the surface and there’s just more surface kind of thing. This is not true of Phoenix. He’s unusually complex as far as celebrities go -- which in itself makes him somewhat fascinating – and I think this complexity is visible in all of his roles.
106
Are you implying that celebrities are generally rather shallow, and one who isn't is exceptional, or are you affirming that most people are, regardless, and you are surprised when you run into one who isn't?
1
Heath Ledger broke my heart as the Joker. I'm looking forward to seeing what Joaquin makes of it.
I was always way more of a Batman universe fan than any other comic - Marvel or DC. I hope there are plenty more "small" character studies from that book.
5
Another reason to watch Parenthood again. The young ( then Leaf) is brooding and complex as the pining, stoic, hammer wielding preadolescent Garry who finds his groove when Keanu Reeves shacks up with his sister.
12
@C
OMG I'm a big fan of that movie and never knew it! Thanks.
3
I let my adult stepson chose a Batman movie for us to enjoy together. Big mistake. Gratuitous violence, cartoon plot, cardboard acting.
3
@Macbloom:
you and he couldn't have seen the "Batman" movie with Phoenix as the Joker since it hasn't been released yet.
3
@MJGnothing to do with Batman!!!
1
@Macbloom was it the 1966 version with Boom Splat Zap popping up during fight scenes?
4
The movie looks amazing and I can't wait to see it. I'd like to see the actors take on less done, more cartoonish villians. How about an adult Riddler movie?
6
Sounds like he was never really there during his interview.
6
I'm already bored.
9
DOH! The Joker is #1 loner and killer!
2
Great actor ... a tad full of himself but most (exception Brad Pitt and George Clooney) are.
2
Why do we even care what actors think? They are actors, not scientists, not poets, not great writers. They line they offer for their raison d'etre is always something like, "honesty, authentic, truthfulness." If you have to say this at all to describe your profession you are stretching for a reason to explain yourself.
5
@Andrew Macdonald Artists were some of the group of people that Socrates questioned looking for someone wiser than himself (Apology of Socrates). And here is what he had to say:
After the politicians I went to the poets, those of tragedies
and dithyrambs, and the others, in order that there I would catch b
myself in the act of being more ignorant than they. So I would take
up those poems of theirs which it seemed to me they had worked
on the most, and I would ask them thoroughly what they meant,
so that I might also learn something from them at the same time. I
am ashamed to tell you the truth, men; nevertheless, it must be 22b
said. Almost everyone present, so to speak, would have spoken
better than the poets did about the poetry that they themselves had
made. So again, also concerning the poets, I soon recognized that
they do not make what they make by wisdom, but by some sort of c
nature and while inspired, like the diviners and those who deliver
aracles.35 For they too say many noble things, but they know nothing
of what they speak. It was apparent to me that the poets are
also affected in the same sort of way. At the same time, I perceived
that they supposed, on account of their poetry, that they were the
wisest of human beings also in the other things, in which they
were not.
3
He does evil very convincingly. His role in the Gladiator was the stuff of which nightmares are made.
20
I thought his performance in the film HER was remarkable. He is consistently fascinating and the trailer for JOKER blew me away.
23
A film actor's craft lives in the true emotional moment. That's why they often seem like jerks: they are taking the work seriously.
We would not take issue with a brain surgeon who did what she needed to do emotionally in order to perform the job well.
An artist takes the work THAT seriously.
And thank god they do!
I don't usually watch comic book movies, but I will watch this for Joaquin's performance.
17
It is much easier to act violent than kind.
4
@RAZ:
are you an actor and thus speaking from experience?
2
You may call DC “staid”, but the DC characters, stories and films are more iconic, and will stand longer than Marvel’s thick baloney.
2
@Tom Baroli
This movie has nothing to do with DC comics, other than stealing the name of a DC character.
2
"How did an unpredictable star known for loners and killers wind up in a studio blockbuster based on a comic book?"
Seems you answered your own question.
Who else would you hire to play an unhinged villain?
9
Wow. What a quality article. Itzkoff is fantastic, and this makes me want to subscribe to the Times. Bravo. And can’t wait to see this movie. Joaquin is the man.
6
I'll never get tired of that face. And everything he is.
26
@Jen I'd have to agree. He has aged into a ridiculously good-looking man.
10
Unfortunately, the piece felt shoehorned by the expectations and intentions the writer brought with him. Good profiles adapt to the interview's content, not the other way around.
60
Don't get me wrong -- I like Phoenix in some roles and he can have a mesmerizing quality. But let's not throw around the phrase "great (film) actor" too glibly. He is not that. Cate Blanchett, Daniel Day Lewis, Juliette Binoche -- they are great film actors
9
@Midwest I think you are including a subjective approach to defining a "great actor"... Not that those actors you listed aren't great but objectively if you look at the range of range of roles, public opinion and industry awards, Phoenix surpasses Daniel Day Lewis. Not that DDL is not good, but he doesn't have nearly the range and not only the range but to be good at each character in the range equally. Johnny Cash? Her? I'm still Here? The Master? Inherent Vice? COMPLETELY different movies and characters, personas and performances. He's great - no question.
9
@Midwest If phoenix is not at the level of the actors you mentioned, he is only slightly below them. He is certainly an A lister...
3
@Aspen I agree except that I would suggest JP and DDL are BOTH the greatest of the great.
3
Perhaps any actor could play this role, but "anyone" is not Joaquin Phoenix.
6
‘How did an unpredictable star known for loners and killers wind up in a studio blockbuster based on a comic book?’
Because the Joker is a loner and a killer.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock since Tim Burton’s Batman in 1989, EVERYONE knows this. I don’t think that this casting was the least bit shocking or surprising to anyone.
90
@Joe Johnston I think, though, a lot of people see The Joker and Batman as glossy versions of themselves. They don't get the loner/killer thing at all, and are horrified if you suggest it.
1
Good directing and editing may have something to do with this, but - as a complete layman -I suspect that some actors can simply "hold" the screen a whole lot better than the rest of us poor slobs and once they have that hold are able to propel the story in immediately captivating ways. Phoenix does not seem to have characteristic and oft-repeated tweaks and facial ticks that can so often distract from the performances of other actors. Nor does he telegraph his reactions. All pretty impressive.
I will always remember his dialogue as the betrayed Commodus refers to all of "The busy little bees...". Truly ominous as the emperor shows the violent potential of a truly weak man.
18
He's a fantastic actor. Never, ever let's you down. I'm sure he's dynamite in this role.
51
Joaquin Phoenix is a phenomenal talent. Loved his brother River, too. May he continue to rest in peace. Look forward to seeing the Joker in October.
28
He is such a terrific actor. I thought it was outrageous when his co-star (Russel Crowe) in Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" (2000), beat him out for the Best Actor Oscar; and I take nothing away from the skill of Mr. Crowe. Regardless, I think he is an A-List actor; absolutely brilliant, and can play anyone, and anything. He reminds me in a away of a younger Guy Pearce (Russell Crowe's Australian countryman), only younger. Both can do play anything.
8
@Easy Goer: Crowe didn't beat him out for Best Actor. Phoenix was nominated as SUPPORTING Actor in "Gladiator."
16
@stu freeman: And he deserved the nomination for making a terrible line like "I am vexed!" play. :)
1
@Easy Goer
Give me a break. Phoenix cannot play anything. He is a fine actor within a certain type.
3
In Hollywood there are celebrities who act, (usually badly), which makes up about 2/3s of the town.
Then there are actors who might become celebrities, through no fault of their own, Joaquin Phoenix is in this latter category.
65
Joaquin Phoenix has a preternatural ability to pick interesting projects, and then deliver. For us in the audience it’s magic, joyous, all smoke and mirrors.
He always finds something new to convey in his work, but it will be familiar and tragic in the way human experience is familiar and tragic.
There’s acting, and then there’s art, and Phoenix is an accomplished artist.
59
Joaquin Phoenix is the best!
12
It's about time someone made a grown up, thoughtful
" blockbuster " from the comic stable. Nolan's batman films were an attempt but ending up being a tad pretentious and labored.
Like a great sandwich starts and ends with great bread,so any meaningful film starts and begins with a great actor ( as opposed to a film star) capable of demonstrating the depths and complexities required.
9
Are you forgetting about the fantastic "Logan" movie from a few years ago, which helped open the door to more of these types of movies? However, none of the actors in that movie are at the level of Phoenix. @Lord Snooty
3
Fabulous actor! His performance as Cash was top of the line! I still cannot believe he did not win in 2006!
He is prickly, unpredictable, difficult, does not like campaigning for awards, dedicated to his craft, choosy, hard-working, totally professional, outside the box and obviously not comfortable with the press or interviews. I cheer him on no matter what persona he chooses to present publicly.
The fact that this movie received a huge standing ovation in Venice is great news! Perhaps the Academy will do right by him.
105
@doe74 Agreed, 100%!!
4
@doe74 Well said Joaquin Phoenix.
3
@Emmanuel Barriteau
Thank you!
1
Phoenix’s performances are always mesmerizing. He has been overlooked for the brilliance of his work...will this will be the one he is rewarded for? I look forward to finding out.
26
I'm concerned about this film after reading many reviews. It sounds like a how-to guide for the next generation of mass shooters. I hope I'm wrong and discover Phoenix' talents weren't used for such evil ends.
5
Agreed. My issue is the film industry has been truly wrecked by comic books. It reminds me of the 1950's: Almost all producers were deathly afraid of television. A glaring exception came from a likely source: In one the handful of interviews he ever made, Stanley Kubrick (the master of all directors) did a 30 minute interview on CBS Radio. I it he welcomed television, as he thought(and the rightly) that it would cause competetion with theatrical films. He couldn't have been more correct.
5
Really!?! You think this movie will finally topple the dominoes? You seriously think so? Not white supremists, not he presidents rhetoric day in and day out but this movie?!!!
6
Great interview - on both sides. It's all about the life that lies beneath.
8
Anyone who saw Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus in the movie "Gladiator", knew he'd be on fire no matter what role he was in.
97
Outstanding actor. He was robbed of an Oscar for his performance as Johnny Cash. (Witherspoon's win was a disappointment). I am not a fan of Batman movies, but will see this one just to see Mr. Phoenix's performance.
76
@billy pullen
Actually, Terrence Howard was robbed that year for his performance in "Hustle and Flow".
Pheonix was great in Gladiator... but Terrence's role was a once-a-generation iconic performance and completely underrated.
5
“How did an unpredictable star known for loners and killers wind up in a studio blockbuster based on a comic book?”
I reject the assumption that comic books are incapable of being the source of serious character studies. Despite the unfortunate reputation comics have, stories told in comic book form can be serious art and serious literature: it’s insulting to think otherwise (yes, even in those instances where people in costumes deal with other people in costumes).
16
A blockbuster featuring the magnetic talents of Mr. Phoenix is a good thing for everybody.
29
Best actor working today.
Immerses into a role like few others.
(Christian Bale also comes to mind.)
Would love to see him on Broadway - the strength and spontaneity he could bring to a live performance.
This film with Phoenix was overlooked - "Don't Worry He Won't Get Far on Foot"
Based on true, fascinating story, the usual excellent direction of Gus Van Sant.
See it.
46
It seems to me that Mr. Phoenix is the actor that Mr. DiCaprio has been attempting to be. Most of the movies that DiCaprio has done for Martin Scorsese would have undoubtedly been stronger had he cast Phoenix instead.
90
@stu freeman I disagree. They're different kinds of actors and both are extraordinarily strong. I don't see Phoenix playing Jay Gatsby.
20
@Jeffrey Gillespie: He wasn't an especially strong Gatsby and that wasn't a Scorsese film. For me there's a difference between genuine intensity and the play-acting kind. I though DiCaprio did reasonably well in "The Revenant" but just imagine what Phoenix might have done with that role!
19
@stu freeman
no way.
phoenix is singularly brilliant in roles where he / his characters wear their hypo-bipolarity & befuddlement on their sleeves. think Two Lovers, The Master, Immigrant, Im Still Here, Inherent Vice.
Dicaprio has shined when his characters demonstrate competing urges, from the vividly ugly to aspirational -- think Wolf of Wall St, Aviator, Departed, Catch Me If you Can, Once upon a time.
theres some crossover in a couple of these roles (imagine a venn diagram with some of these roles in the center, and leo and joaquin on either side), but each actor truly shines when they can demonstrate what they demonstrate in the roles mentioned above. AND when those roles are helmed by GOOD filmmakers, with singular voices (Grey, Spielberg, Scorsese, PT Anderson, etc.).
They, and we, have been let down when t
12
He's a great actor because he chooses to perform in high quality roles, rather than a high quantity of roles. Can't wait to see this movie!
73