Actor The Master.
But whereas so many fellow method actors are known for being deeply serious on set, Phoenix is known for his quirky sense of humor, evidenced by the 2010 mockumentary Arthur Fleck discovers that his life isn’t a tragedy, but rather a comedy.
The polarizing critic reviews. But while speaking at a Q&A after an early screening of the movie attended by Screen Rant’s Rob Keyes, Phoenix revealed that he didn’t necessarily go to a dark place while finding the essence of Arthur. In fact, Joker’s star instead captured the essence of the film’s title during the process, thus negating traditional concepts of an intense Hollywood performer:
“Honestly, I love those stories of actors. I kind of do wish that I was that way, because it sounds so cool. But I didn't have that experience.”
Phillips also recalled Phoenix’s loose demeanor while filming Joker, but reminded his star that it wasn’t all fun and games by stating, “You also prepare a lot, more than you probably want to let on.” From Phoenix’s perspective, however, all of his prior research and planning for Joker was simply part of the job:
“Right, but it’s what you f-cking do! What you do mean? It's what you do; it’s a regular job. It's what you do for your work.”
Phoenix and Phillips also discussed the overall light-hearted vibe during the Joker production process, with the former itting, “Oh, we kind of are f-cked up. We literally were laughing every day.” On set, they were ed by iconic American actor "go mad" while losing weight for his Joker role.
Joker’s violence will undoubtedly challenge many viewers. But considering the subtext about mental illness and different interpretations of symptoms, perhaps the film will spark discussions beyond the obvious talking points. For Phoenix and Phillips, the process itself seems to have been a cathartic experience, with Joker’s lead stating, “Whatever you put into it, it kind of gave you so much back.”
