Key Takeaways
- Phoenix delivers captivating performances across numerous roles, establishing himself as one of cinema’s best actors.
- His portrayal of Theodore Twombly in “Her” showcases his raw talent, connecting with audiences on a deep emotional level.
- From Emperor Commodus in “Gladiator” to his portrayal of the Joker, Phoenix showcases immense range and depth in every role he undertakes.
The upcoming release of Joker: Folie à Deux has focused popular culture’s spotlight back on one of cinema’s most gifted actors. Renowned as a dramatic chameleon of the highest order, Academy Award winner Joaquin Phoenix is regarded as one of the finest performers of his generation. His compelling, nuanced takes on the array of characters on the silver screen have brought him well-deserved recognition.
Though some of his roles have garnered better reception than others throughout his professional career, Phoenix has turned in some of the most memorable performances in recent cinematic history. Whether he’s playing a despotic Roman emperor, a conflicted titan of the music industry, or the maniacal Clown Prince of Crime, Phoeniz has carved out a reputation for himself as one of cinema’s most talented names. With his return to the role of the Joker coming soon, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of his best roles.
5 Her
Theodore Twombly
- Directed by: Spike Jonze
- Release Year: 2013
It takes a special kind of actor to get an audience invested in a relationship between a lonely introvert and a virtual assistant possessing artificial intelligence, let alone reducing them to emotional puddles by the time the credits roll. Taking on the role of Theodore Twombly, Phoenix’s turn in 2013’s Her is one of his most intimate, raw and heartwarming performances to date. He leverages his superb chemistry with co-star Scarlett Johansson to produce one of the most lauded offerings of the 2010s.
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Phoenix captures an incredible range of human emotions throughout a movie where he is often the sole visual focus. His powerful take on Twombly has left audiences smiling, laughing and crying in equal measure ever since Spike Jonze’s seminal film debuted. The Academy’s egregious oversight in failing to nominate Phoenix for his performance left many viewers stunned.
4 Gladiator
Emperor Commodus
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
- Release Year: 2000
The role that garnered Phoenix his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor, his performance in the historical epic Gladiator, is regarded as one of his finest performances to date. Phoenix plays the despotic Roman emperor Commodus, a power-hungry tyrant who seizes power after murdering his father, Marcus Aurelius, in a fit of jealousy. He serves as the living embodiment of petulant evil.
Phoenix’s portrayal of Commodus serves as the perfect foil to Russell Crowe’s stoic lead, Maximus. As insecure as he is tyrannical, Phoenix’s charge is arguably the most irredeemable character he has ever brought to life onscreen. Despite this, he lost out to Benicio Del Toro for the Oscar. Still, Commodus remains one of Phoenix’s most lauded roles to date, in one of the most acclaimed films of the 2000s.
3 Walk The Line
Johnny Cash
- Directed by: James Mangold
- Release Year: 2005
In 2005, Phoenix received his first Academy Award for Best Actor nomination for his rousing take on legendary singer-songwriter Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. The biopic chronicles Cash’s ascent through the music industry, his complex relationships, and the struggles brought about by his substance abuse.
For this role, Phoenix was tasked with portraying an endlessly layered musical titan. He nails every note as Cash, from his appearance down to his enigmatic personality. He even does an admirable job with his take on Cash’s iconic voice. Phoenix’s electric chemistry with his co-star Reese Witherspoon is a spectacle to behold. For his performance, he took home the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. However, Phoenix found himself pipped to the Oscar by the late Philip Seymour Hoffman for his role in Capote.
2 The Master
Freddie Quell
- Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
- Release Year: 2012
While it may not be his most famous role, Phoenix’s Oscar-nominated performance in The Master is one of his finest pieces of dramatic work. Paul Thomas Anderson’s revered psychological drama chronicles the tale of a war veteran who becomes ensnared by a mysterious cult and its charismatic leader. In the film, Phoenix takes on the lead role of Freddie Quell.
Baring his character’s deepest and darkest secrets in hauntingly authentic fashion, Phoenix’s performance is evocative and breathtaking from start to finish. He commands the audience’s attention throughout every second he appears on-screen. The cocktail of vulnerability, desperation, and loneliness with which Phoenix imbues his troubled charge is acting of the highest order. Despite losing on the Oscar to Daniel Day Lewis for his role in Lincoln, Phoenix’s work in The Master stands as one of the most impressive dramatic performances of the 21st century.
1 Joker
Arthur Fleck / The Joker
- Directed by: Todd Phillips
- Release Year: 2019
It seemed impossible that anybody would ever be able to rival the late Heath Ledger’s immortal take on legendary Batman villain, the Joker. And it may be reductive to compare the two performances given the differing nature of their parent films and the respective actors’ unique takes on the character. However, Joaquin Phoenix produced one of the most lauded turns in recent memory with as Arthur Fleck in 2019’s Joker.
