PremiumBefore Joaquin Phoenix takes the throne as Napoleon, let’s warm up by watching five of his most precious performances – from 'To Die For' to 'Her'
Joaquin Phoenix will be next seen in Napoleon on the big screen directed by Ridley Scott.
Last Updated: 09.18 PM, Nov 23, 2023
The magic of cinema is precious; the feeling of experiencing it is unparalleled, and there are some actors who make you believe in both things. Joaquin Phoenix is one such artist who moves on the screen like a ballad , haunting you, making you laugh, cry, and feel a list of emotions with his varied performances. From showing you what being obsessed with an AI looks like to descending the iconic stairs with one of the most haunting performances in history (Joker), he has done it all.
Now, as he is back to grace our screens with 'Napoleon,' a Ridley Scott directorial, we are already pumped up to see what he has in store for us. But in case you aren’t excited (which is rare), we list down five of his very fine movies (best is a word that is synonymous with the actor, so let’s talk about the fine ones) to prepare you. While 'Gladiator' seems like the lowest hanging fruit to be on the list, and 'Joker' has been watched regardless, let’s see five films other than the two and increase your options.
5. To Die For (1995)
Jimmy Emmett, a teenager who opts for a documentary project and joins Suzanne Stone, who is greedy to get famous. When her husband comes in the way of her road to success, she seduces Jimmy and makes him kill her husband. A story so dark but with its own underlined humor that you cannot deny the complexities. Joaquin Phoenix as Jimmy was such a good performer even back then. His almost dead face acting in contrast to Nicole Kidman’s evil gaze is so lucrative.
Also Read: Joker: Folie à Deux first look: Joaquin Phoenix is back in the titular role, but in Ar kham Asylum
4. You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Maybe subconsciously we set out to majorly list down roles where Joaquin is not playing an over-the-top character. He is indeed an ace star when eccentricity is to be achieved, but when he decides to go subtle, you know you will have a performance that will make you skip a beat. 'You Were Never Really Here' stars him as a hired gun. When he is hired to find the abducted daughter of a senator, his dark life takes a darker turn, and he is caught in a web of a big scam. How he finds his way out of the brutal world makes the movie, and Phoenix is a treat to watch as he taps into the darkness.
3. Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Based on a real-life tragedy, you can probably call 'Hotel Rwanda' the most alarming movie in Joaquin Phoenix’s filmography. He is a TV journalist with no hopes from his profession and only feels people glance at the pain and move on to other things on their TV sets. He is sent to cover Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) and his wife, Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo), a couple who saved around 1,200 people during the Rwanda genocide. A performance that travels from hopeless to a man who finds the ray of light is a must-watch.
2. Parenthood
There was Keanu Reeves, Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, opposite a teenage Joaquin Phoenix, and yet the world was in love with the latter. Playing Garry, a teenage boy who is having a rollercoaster ride as he navigates life through the most tricky years of growing up and that too without a father figure to guide him. A movie that is comedy with very relatable humor and a storyline that spoke to the audience because it was, in a way, a look back at their teen years. Phoenix was appreciated for his acting.
1. Her
A man falls in love with Artificial Intelligence. His days are now dedicated to a voice that understands him and takes his command after he has separated from his wife. 'Her' is the most remarkably brilliant performance in Joaquin Phoenix’s filmography. A man who, on the outside, is a quiet person just existing for the world as he walks around doing daily things. But little do they know what he is up to. He is the only person in frame for most of it, and our only visible gateway into this romance. A performance that will be spoken about for ages. But then, even romancing Scarlett Johansson’s voice creates magic, we guess.
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