Editing Joaquin Phoenix (section)

==Reception and acting style==
{{Quote box
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| quote = "When I was 14 or 13 my brother River [Phoenix] came home from work and he had a VHS copy of a movie called ''[[Raging Bull]]'' and he sat me down and made me watch it. And the next day he woke me up, and he made me watch it again. And he said, "You're going to start acting again, this is what you're going to do." He didn't ask me, he just told me. And I am indebted to him for that because acting has given me such an incredible life".
| source = {{mdash}}Phoenix credits his brother [[River Phoenix]] for his acting career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-river-phoenix-toronto-international-film-festival-1203330067/|title=Joaquin Phoenix Credits River Phoenix For Acting Career in Emotional Speech (Watch)|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Nate|last=Nickolai|date=September 9, 2019|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419011045/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joaquin-phoenix-river-phoenix-toronto-international-film-festival-1203330067/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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At the beginning of his career, Phoenix was often referred to as "the second most famous Phoenix", his name associated most closely with the death of his brother [[River Phoenix]].<ref name="Hagan"/> The media would often compare the two, with ''[[The New York Times]]'' describing Joaquin as "sweetly unsettling and endlessly vulnerable" compared to his brother's "pure all-American blond boyishness".<ref name="Ellis">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/t-magazine/joaquin-phoenix.html|title=The Weird Brilliance of Joaquin Phoenix|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Bret Easton|last=Ellis|authorlink=Bret Easton Ellis|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=May 19, 2021|archive-date=August 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829075814/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/t-magazine/joaquin-phoenix.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After his brother died, Phoenix gained a reputation for his distrust of the media, with many speculating that it is derived from how River's death was covered by the press. He was often asked about the day River died, and still is to this date. Phoenix has described these interviews as "insincere" and has felt that they impeded on the mourning process.<ref name="Hagan"/><ref name="Cooper">{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joker-joaquin-phoenix-grants-anderson-cooper-rare-60-minutes-interview-2020-09-13/|title=Joaquin Phoenix: A three-decade career filled with dark, complicated characters|work=[[CBS News]]|first=Anderson|last=Cooper|date=September 13, 2020|access-date=May 21, 2021|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521223748/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joker-joaquin-phoenix-grants-anderson-cooper-rare-60-minutes-interview-2020-09-13/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Caroline Frost of ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' has said that Phoenix is "engaging, engaged, mischievous, honest" in person and [[Anderson Cooper]] of ''[[60 Minutes]]'' thought that he was "wry, shy and couldn't be any more friendlier" adding that Phoenix "just doesn't like to talk about himself".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/SIsPwqympyM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20210306052030/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIsPwqympyM Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIsPwqympyM|title=EL UNO JOAQUIN PHOENIX 60 MINUTES|work=YouTube|date=January 14, 2020|access-date=May 28, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Although known for his intensity and darkness on-screen, director [[James Gray (director)|James Gray]] who worked with Phoenix in four feature films, says that Phoenix is very different off-screen saying "He's actually very tender and sweet and sensitive. It's almost as if he channels his intensity into the characters. Like the work is an outlet for his darker side."<ref name="Esquire"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/10/joaquin-phoenix_n_4761327.html|title='Her' Star Joaquin Phoenix Interview: 'You Hit Your Forties, You Get Soft. I'm So Scared Of That'|work=[[The Huffington Post]]|first=Caroline|last=Frost|date=November 2, 2014|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144422/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/10/joaquin-phoenix_n_4761327.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Phoenix has been described as one of the finest actors of his generation.{{efn|1=Attributed to multiple sources.<ref name="Ellis2">{{cite web |last=Ellis |first=Bret Easton |authorlink=Bret Easton Ellis |date=September 6, 2017 |title=The Weird Brilliance of Joaquin Phoenix |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/t-magazine/joaquin-phoenix.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829075814/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/t-magazine/joaquin-phoenix.html |archive-date=August 29, 2021 |access-date=May 19, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref name="Lodge2">{{cite web |last=Lodge |first=Guy |date=July 11, 2018 |title=Is Joaquin Phoenix set to be the greatest actor of his generation? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/11/joaquin-phoenix-best-roles-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144422/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/11/joaquin-phoenix-best-roles-film |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref><ref name="Chang2">{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=February 9, 2020 |title=Yes, Joaquin Phoenix deserved his best actor Oscar{{mdash}} but not for 'Joker' alone |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-09/joaquin-phoenix-wins-oscar-best-actor-joker |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626095701/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-09/joaquin-phoenix-wins-oscar-best-actor-joker |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref name="NYT25GA22">{{cite news |date=November 25, 2020 |title=The 25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/movies/greatest-actors-actresses.html#joaquin-phoenix |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201234221/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/movies/greatest-actors-actresses.html#joaquin-phoenix |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |access-date=November 25, 2020 |newspaper=The New York Times |author1-first=Manhola |author1-last=Dargis |author2-first=A.O. |author2-last=Scott}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-20 |title=Empire's 50 Greatest Actors Of All Time List, Revealed |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/best-actors/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=Empire |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=No joke, Joaquin Phoenix might be our greatest living actor |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/joaquin-phoenix-napoleon-joker-b2444476.html |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240809215313/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/joaquin-phoenix-napoleon-joker-b2444476.html |archive-date=2024-08-09 |access-date=2025-05-19 |work=[[The Independent]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Campbell |first=Scott |date=2024-08-24 |title=Joaquin Phoenix's embarrassment at being a great actor |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/joaquin-phoenixs-embarrassment-at-being-compared-to-the-greats/ |access-date=2025-05-19 |website=faroutmagazine.co.uk |language=en-US}}</ref>}} As he achieved stardom after ''Gladiator'' (2000), he was conveniently ruled out of [[teen-idol]] roles because of his hard gaze and scarred lip.<ref name="Lodge">{{cite web |last=Lodge |first=Guy |date=July 11, 2018 |title=Is Joaquin Phoenix set to be the greatest actor of his generation? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/11/joaquin-phoenix-best-roles-film |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144422/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/jul/11/joaquin-phoenix-best-roles-film |archive-date=August 18, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> [[Justin Chang]], analyzing his career in ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' in 2020, remarked that filmmakers immediately seemed to recognize that Phoenix was more than a heartthrob, and that there was "something more tortured, more vulnerable and infinitely more interesting at play beneath the surface". He noted that through his work, Phoenix is challenging and redefining cinematic manhood and that this quality sets him apart from most of his contemporaries.<ref name="Chang">{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=February 9, 2020 |title=Yes, Joaquin Phoenix deserved his best actor Oscar{{mdash}} but not for 'Joker' alone |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-09/joaquin-phoenix-wins-oscar-best-actor-joker |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210626095701/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-02-09/joaquin-phoenix-wins-oscar-best-actor-joker |archive-date=June 26, 2021 |access-date=May 28, 2021 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> [[Film criticism|Film critic]] and [[History of film|film historian]] [[Leonard Maltin]] has called Phoenix "a true chameleon", writing 
"[Phoenix] commands the screen and breaks your heart; he makes us feel it all vicariously."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://leonardmaltin.com/dont-worry-he-wont-get-far-on-foot/|title=Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot|work=[[Leonard Maltin]]|first=Leonard|last=Matlin|date=July 12, 2018|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=April 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419090621/https://leonardmaltin.com/dont-worry-he-wont-get-far-on-foot/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Phoenix is particularly known for his ability to heavily commit to each role he plays and his intense preparations, deeply immersing himself in the characters, often blurring the lines between fiction and reality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/best-joaquin-phoenix-movies/|title=The 11 Best Joaquin Phoenix Performances, Ranked|work=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|first=Phil|last=Pirrello|date=September 24, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144424/https://collider.com/best-joaquin-phoenix-movies/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hagan"/> That immersion was particularly evident during the filming of the [[mockumentary]] ''I'm Still Here'' (2010), when Phoenix announced to the world that he was retiring from acting to become a rapper. Throughout the filming period, Phoenix remained in character for public appearances, giving many the impression that he was genuinely pursuing a new career. Media outlets worldwide believed that Phoenix was having a [[mental breakdown]] after his infamous appearance on ''[[The Late Show with David Letterman]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/joaquin-phoenix-great-practical-joke|title=Joaquin Phoenix Great Practical Joke|newspaper=[[The Daily Beast]]|first=Gina|last=Piccalo|date=August 22, 2010|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=June 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612143409/https://www.thedailybeast.com/joaquin-phoenix-great-practical-joke|url-status=live}}</ref> Confusion from the media turned to concern as the seemingly drug-addled Phoenix continued his attempts to convince crowds he was serious about a rap career. Many worried his erratic behavior was a sign he was stuck in a downward spiral, and headed down the same self-destructive path that took the life of his older brother. Although widely suspected to be a mockumentary, the fact that the events of the film had been deliberately staged was not disclosed until after the film had been released.<ref name="AffleckSpeaks"/> To this day, some people believe he went through a personal meltdown during the filming period.<ref name="Hagan"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/joaquin-phoenixs-huge-prank-on-the-world/news-story/2909626df4002687b950a58a7ee5cad2|title=Joaquin Phoenix's huge prank on the world|work=[[News.com.au]]|first=Bella|last=Fowler|date=September 8, 2019|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144423/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/joaquin-phoenixs-huge-prank-on-the-world/news-story/2909626df4002687b950a58a7ee5cad2|url-status=live}}</ref> Phoenix has credited the making of ''I'm Still Here'' for allowing him to make bolder choices in acting.<ref name="Ellis"/>

Phoenix contends there's no real methodology to the roles he chooses, but has said that he is drawn to complex characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/lifestyle/3811678-actor-joaquin-phoenix-drawn-complex-characters|title=Actor Joaquin Phoenix drawn to complex characters|work=[[Duluth News Tribune]]|first=Lorraine|last=Ali|date=August 6, 2015|access-date=May 28, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144433/https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/lifestyle/3811678-actor-joaquin-phoenix-drawn-complex-characters|url-status=dead}}</ref> He speculates that his affinity for dark roles derives from something more ineffable, possibly [[prenatal]] saying that "I think there is a combination of nature and nurture[...]—and some of it is my upbringing." Even so, Phoenix remains reluctant to draw a line between his unusual childhood, his private tragedy and his talent for "inhabiting the morose, damaged, violent, and otherwise anxiety-riddled characters".<ref name="Hagan"/> James Gray has described Phoenix as "one of the most incorruptible people I've ever known, and the least superficial", and has spoken of his acting, saying that he admires Phoenix's "limitless ability to surprise you in the best ways and inspire you to move in a direction that you haven't thought of originally, better than what you have in mind".<ref name="NYT25GA"/><ref name="Esquire"/>

[[Garth Davis]], who directed Phoenix in ''Mary Magdalene'' (2018), has remarked that he does not apply [[method acting]], but said that working with Phoenix is like "working with this beautiful wild animal, where you have to give him the space to be free, so his performance can roam freely: raw, uncontrived and truly natural. If he smells the design of the scene, you lose his free spirit; if the script is weak, he will expose its flaws. He is fiercely intelligent and almost completely instinctual. And he has this immense sensitivity that can be both his curse and his gift, but for me, that is what it means to be human".<ref name="Esquire"/> In an interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2015, Phoenix said that he prefers [[independent film]] over [[major film studio|major studio film]], citing that "the quality of acting suffers".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Carroll |first1=Rory |title=Joaquin Phoenix: 'In real life, evil seduces' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/22/joaquin-phoenix-real-life-evil-seduces-inherent-vice |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=January 22, 2015 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |archive-date=March 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320190600/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jan/22/joaquin-phoenix-real-life-evil-seduces-inherent-vice |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2019, Phoenix stated that in choosing films, he solely relies on the director, "I don't really care about genre or budget size, anything like that. It's just whether there is a filmmaker that has a unique vision, has a voice, and the ability to make the film."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/movies/joaquin-phoenix-joker.html|title=Joaquin Phoenix,the Wild Card of 'Joker'|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=Dave|last=Itzkoff|date=September 10, 2019|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=September 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190912102511/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/movies/joaquin-phoenix-joker.html|url-status=live}}</ref> For Phoenix, a great performance is in the director's hands — it's ultimately the director's world he's entering. He maintains that the director creates the character's arc and that the best directors adjust to what is happening with the actor in the moment.<ref name="Ellis"/>

Phoenix has cited [[Robert De Niro]] as one of his favorite actors and strongest acting influences. Phoenix recalled watching ''[[Raging Bull]]'' for the first time in an interview, "I think it just… awakened something in me. And I could suddenly see it through his eyes. There's a part in ''Raging Bull'' where De Niro meets a girl in between a chain-link fence. And he, you know, shakes her pinky and it's like this just beautiful little detail, it's this wonderful moment. And I think that in some ways is what I'm always looking for."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joaquin-phoenix-and-family-on-river-phoenixs-legacy-and-influence-60-minutes-2020-01-12/|title=Joaquin Phoenix and family on River Phoenix's legacy and influence|work=[[CBS News]]|first=Will|last=Croxton|date=January 12, 2020|access-date=May 29, 2021|archive-date=August 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818144422/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joaquin-phoenix-and-family-on-river-phoenixs-legacy-and-influence-60-minutes-2020-01-12/|url-status=live}}</ref>