(Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
The Joker Sequel is about to drop, (10.03,) and weekend box office projections aren’t that great. Critics have already panned the film, but what I haven’t come across in any reviews is a mention of Joaquin Phoenix’s uncanny ability to completely morph into whatever role he’s playing. To me, his movies are always worth seeing, because of the performance he gives. And even with as good as I already know Phoenix is at his craft, he still tends to exceed my expectations. It’s hard for me to nail down my favorite Phoenix role, so instead I’ll put the spotlight on a couple of the movies that first made me take notice of him. When Joaquin was just 15-years old, (and still going by his given name, “Leaf,”) he worked alongside heavy hitters Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen as well as Keanu Reeves in the hit movie Parenthood (1989.) Phoenix play a troubled teen who was confused and angry, with such vulnerability and authenticity. Another one of my early favorites was Phoenix as the younger brother of Billy Crudup’s character in 1997’s Inventing the Abbotts. Phoenix managed to play timid in such a noticeable way. All that being said, it’s easy to understand why some found the original Joker disturbing and Joker: Folie à deux, (which is French for madness of two,) looks like anything but a light-hearted film, but I still have hopes for Phoenix as he takes us through the next deranged chapter of this story.
