Oscar Profile #233: Joaquin Phoenix

Born Joaquin Rafeal Bottom in Puerto Rico on October 28, 1974, the middle child of five of a New York Jewish mother and California father of mostly English heritage, his parents who were then members of the Children of God missionaries changed the family name to Phoenix. With older siblings named River and Rain and younger ones named Liberty and Summer, Joaquin felt out of place and chose Leaf as his new name. It was as Leaf Phoenix that he made his acting debut at the age of eight in an appearance on the Seven Brides for Seven Brothers TV show in which his 12-year-old brother River played the youngest of the brothers.

He appeared mostly in guest appearances on TV throughout his childhood, with occasional forays into big screen roles, but it wasn’t until 1989’s Parenthood that he made an enduring impression. Aside from a 1991 short film, however, he did not appear before the cameras again until after the tragic death of his brother. It was he who made the 911 call when River Phoenix died of a drug overdose at an L.A. nightclub on October 31, 1993. He returned to acting two years later to great acclaim as Joaquin Phoenix in 1995’s To Die For directed by Gus Van Sant who had directed his brother in what would be his last great role in 1993’s My Own Private Idaho.

Well received performances in 1997’s Inventing the Abbots and U Turn kept him in demand through the remainder of the decade. Awards recognition came his way for his superlative supporting work in three films in 2000, The Yards, Gladiator and Quills. The National Board of Review, followed by several critics’ groups, honored him for all three performances and the Academy nominated him for Gladiator.

Phoenix, now a leading man, continued to win acclaim for his work, earning his first Best Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line. After winning further acclaim for 2007’s We Own the Night and Reservation Road and 2008’s Two Lovers, he dropped off the radar for a while, emerging once again in 2011’s poorly received I’m Still Here, a fake documentary of his turning from acting to rapping, directed by his brother-in-law, Casey Affleck. After admitting it was a hoax, he returned to yet greater acclaim as the star of 2012’s The Master for which he received his third Oscar nomination, his second in lead.

Although he received awards recognition from various critics groups, the Academy passed on his performances in 2013’s Her and 2014’s Inherent Vice.

Joaquin Phoenix continues to be one of the most interesting actors working today. He will next be seen in Woody Allen’s Irrational Man opposite Emma Stone. At just 40 years of age, his more than three decades of acting so far appear to be just a prelude of many more to come.

ESSENTIAL FILMS

GLADIATOR (2000), directed by Ridley Scott

Scott’s throwback to the sword and sandal epics of the 1950s earned an impressive five Oscars including Best Picture and Actor Russell Crowe as a warrior general turned slave under the thumb of his nemesis, Roman Emperor Commodus. Phoenix earned his first Oscar nomination as the menacing Commodus. It was one of three acclaimed performances he received recognition for that year. He was equally impressive as the tormented young hoodlum in The Yards and as the young priest in charge of the Napoleonic era insane asylum housing the Marquis de Sade (Geoffrey Rush) in Quills.

WALK THE LINE (2005), directed by James Mangold

Phoenix did his own impressive singing as Johnny Cash as did Reese Witherspoon as June Carter in this biographical drama of the rise of the great country singer and his romance with the woman who would become his wife. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards including one for Phoenix as Best Actor, but its only win was for Witherspoon as Best Actress. Phoenix did win the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy Award as did Witherspoon for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy.

It would be his last awards recognition for seven years.

THE MASTER (2012), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Anderson’s highly anticipated film bearing a close relationship to the founding of Scientology was a critical sensation.

Phoenix’s personal critical cache reached a new high with his portrayal of the sex-obsessed alcoholic World War II veteran who falls under the spell of the charismatic leader of his own self-styled cult religion. The film was a tour-de-force for both Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman as the cult leader, superbly supported by Amy Adams as Hoffman’s wife.

The film won a myriad of awards and awards nominations including Oscar nominations for all three stars.

HER (2013), directed by Spike Jonze

Jonze’s off-beat science fiction comedy-drama was a box-office failure but a critical success earning five Oscar nominations including Best Picture. Its only win was for Jonze’s screenplay. Phoenix, though nominated for numerous awards, failed to receive a fourth Oscar nomination for his deft portrayal of a man in love with the operating system of his smart phone. Scarlet Johannson was also acclaimed for her voiceover work as the voice of the operating system and Amy Adams was also acknowledged for her portrayal of Phoenix’s neighbor, one of his few human contacts.

A one-of-a- kind gem, the film has found a wider audience on home video..

INHERENT VICE (2014), directed by Paul Thomas Anderson

Phoenix was once again in the conversation for year-end awards recognition for his portrayal of a private detective in the drug-fueled Southern California of 1970. The film, however, proved a disappointment for many who found it an incoherent mess.

The actor did receive a Golden Globe nomination for his performance, but most of the critics’ limited recognition was for Josh Brolin’s portrayal of his friend, a police detective. Despite the film’s mixed reviews it did receive Oscar nominations for Anderson’s screenplay and its period costume design.