The actor we are going to talk about today is unknown to the majority of us. However, few actors are as explosive and unpredictable as him! Joaquin Phoenix, whose real name is Joaquín Rafael Bottom, is a unique actor, excellent in the art of interpretation. His eccentric character makes him an authentic actor, and his prowess has earned him several nominations and awards. In order to discover his most fascinating and profound performances of his career, we invite you to delve into some of the best Joaquin Phoenix films in this top 10.
A former child star, he began his acting career in the 1980s, with his first major film Cap sur les étoiles released in 1986. He was then revealed to the general public, notably with dark and eccentric characters in films like Gladiator and The Master. Since 1980, Phoenix has earned several Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Walk the Line. His consecration is undoubtedly his role of Arthur Fleck in the film Joker by Todd Phillips. Thanks to this role and most recently won the best actor award for his performance in Joker.
Methodical and endowed with unparalleled versatility, he continues to embody difficult and unconventional characters. Among the actor’s impressive and extensive collection of characters, here are 10 of the most notable.
Gladiator (2000)
Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator is an epic historical drama that follows the story of General Maximus Decimus Meridius (played by Russell Crowe). By refusing the proposal of Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), who assassinates his own father to become emperor, he becomes a fugitive and a slave. But, not giving up on his desire to avenge his wife and son, he fights his way through the ranks of arena gladiators to seek justice.
As the antagonist Commodus, Phoenix does a stellar job of being incredibly undesirable. He’s a fantastic villain who’s managed to convey the selfishness and arrogance of the Emperor’s traitorous son, who will stop at nothing to seize power.
Here is the trailer:
SEE ALSO: Top 10 Movies and TV Shows Starring Reese Witherspoon
Two Lovers (2008)
A romantic comedy directed by James Gray, Two Lovers tells the story of a love triangle. Leonard Kraditor (Joaquin Phoenix) will find himself at the center of the story. Then there’s Sandra (Vinessa Shaw), the daughter of her father’s future business partner, and Michelle (Gwyneth Paltrow), his manipulative neighbor. The film is based on the novel Sleepless Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The work depicts the comic dilemma accompanying the predicaments between the three main characters.
Phoenix is charming as Leonard. He finds himself torn between tradition, family, reason (everything Sandra stands for) and a life of excitement, danger and passion (which Michelle offers). Although Two Lovers has been adapted to the cinema more than once, Joaquin Phoenix manages to breathe new life into the story of this protagonist tortured between love and blind passion.
Here the trailer:
The Master (2012)
The Master is a psychological thriller film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. It stars Freddie Quell, a World War II veteran. While struggling with the trauma of war, he strives to reintegrate into society. He will cross paths with Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the leader of a religious movement called “The Cause”. He then decides to join the organization, and tries to adhere to the rules and teachings. The actor also develops a bond with Lancaster Dodd, which will put him in the place of the companion of the “Master”. A relationship that is badly taken by the followers of the sect…
Joaquin Phoenix, Hoffman and Amy Adams were all nominated for Oscars for their performances in this complex drama.
Below is the trailer:
The Immigrant (2013)
This film directed by James Gray brings us back to the time after the First World War. Ewa (Marion Cotillard) and her sister Magda leave their post-war home in Poland to travel to Ellis Island, New York. Unfortunately, suffering from tuberculosis, Magda is quarantined. Separated from her sister, Ewa then wanders alone until she meets Bruno Weiss (Joaquin Phoenix), a pimp, who offers to help her find her way.
The Immigrant is inspired by the story of James Gray’s grandparents, who arrived in the United States in 1923. The duo Phoenix and Cotillard are breathtaking in it, and the director even declared that if the two actors had not signed , the film would not have had its current success.
A film to watch absolutely in this top 10 films with Joaquin Phoenix!
Enjoy the trailer:
The Sisters Brothers (2018)
The Sisters Brothers is a neo-western film co-written and directed by Jacques Audiard. It stars the brothers Charlie (Joaquin Phoenix) and Eli (John C. Reilly) Sisters, two contract killers without any qualms. Hired by the Commodore, they have the mission of recovering the formula of the chemist Hermann Kermit Warm. This secret makes it possible to detect gold in rivers. The two assassins must then eliminate the chemist. But as the brothers travel to California, they end up allying themselves with Warm, thus abandoning their original mission. Which strongly displeases the Commodore…
The release of the film was a box office bomb. Critics praised it for the actors’ performances and its original story. Joaquin Phoenix and John Reilly make an equally unlikely and phenomenal pair. They are both funny and endearing.
Anecdote: do you know that, to embody “real brothers”, the two actors spent all their time together before and during production?
Immediately the trailer:
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
This historical film directed by Terry George tells the true story of Paul and Tatiana Rusesabagina. The couple are known for hosting refugees during the 1994 genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Jack Daglish, an American journalist tasked with documenting the horrific events happening there. Unfortunately, he emerges deeply traumatized and ends up drowning in alcohol.
Below is the synopsis and trailer:
Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) and his wife own the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, Rwanda, where they live happily with their children. Unfortunately, their happiness is shattered when the Hutu forces begin a genocide as an ethnic cleansing against the Tutsis. Paul and his family take in thousands of refugees, but when the United Nations forces begin to leave, Paul must find a way to protect his family and the refugees from Hutu troops.
Spitting Image of a Model Family (1989)
From its original title Parenthood, The Spitting Image of a Model Family is a film directed by Ron Howard. He also recorded the first major role of Joaquin Phoenix, hence his presence in this top 10 of his films. At just 15, he played the role of Garry Buckman-Lampkin, a role that earned him a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture.
The Spitting Image of a Model Family features a perfectionist father who struggles to come to terms with his children’s flaws. In addition, he must manage his brothers and sisters who themselves have family problems. Divorce, surprise pregnancies, these are the daily problems of the young father. Through patience, each member of the family manages to unite and remember the importance of loving their peers, regardless of their faults.
Here is the trailer:
Walk the Line (2005)
Walk the Line is a phenomenal biopic about the trials and triumphs of country music icon, Johnny Cash. In embodying this role, Joaquin Phoenix has been praised for his disturbing interpretation of the singer. It also allows him to win the Golden Globe for best actor, as well as an Oscar nomination in the same category.
The film takes us back to 1968 and stars legendary country music star Johnny Cash. From farmer’s son to country music rebel, Cash recounts the pivotal moments that marked his journey, including the loss of his brother, his battle with drug addiction and meeting the love of his life, June Carter.
If you haven’t watched the movie yet, go for it. It’s a real nugget!
Below is the trailer:
Her (2013)
Directed by Spike Jonze, Her sees Joaquin Phoenix take on the role of Theodore Twombly, a public writer. He shares the poster with Scarlett Johansson, who plays Samantha, Chris Pratt and his future wife Rooney Mara. Other stars such as Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader and Brian Cox also lend their voices to characters in this modern romance.
Theodore Twombly is a sensitive romantic who makes a living by writing personal letters for other people. After being heartbroken, he installs on his personal computer Samantha, an artificial intelligence designed to adapt and evolve. Gradually, Theodore and Samantha fall in love…
Here the trailer:
SEE ALSO: Top 10 movies with Scarlett Johansson
Joker (2019)
This film, the most controversial of 2019, saves without a doubt the greatest role that Joaquin Phoenix could play during his career. Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker looks back at the origins of Batman’s famous nemesis, Arthur Fleck aka the Joker. Joaquin’s portrayal of the famous DC Comics villain has received near-unanimous praise as the greatest Joker in DCEU history. This feat also earned him a first Oscar victory for best actor.
His portrayal of Arthur Fleck, an aspiring comedian suffering from mental illness, made it possible to carefully follow the character’s descent into madness. It’s a bold, sometimes scary performance that might be one of Phoenix’s best. Apart from the Oscars, Joaquin Phoenix has received 4 other Best Actor trophies including the Golden Globes 2020, Critics’ Choice Movie Awards 2020, Screen Actors Guild Awards 2020 and British Academy Film Awards 2020.
It’s clear that Joaquin Phoenix wowed the world with his performance in The Joker, which ended up number one in our top 10 movies. Enjoy the trailer: