Joaquin Phoenix wants to be "uncomfortable" at work

For five years ago, "Joker" conquered the world - the film won the top prize at the Venice Film Festival, gave Joaquin Phoenix his second Oscar and grossed over a billion dollars. In the sequel, Phoenix and co-star Lady Gaga sing and dance to classic songs.

» Updated:

» Published:

Joaquin Phoenix wants to be "uncomfortable" at work
Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth

Share this article

It's probably not escaped anyone's notice that "Joker: Folie à deux" is a musical. For Joaquin Phoenix, it was a challenge to sing and dance, but he understood the point of distinguishing the sequel from the original film.

The important thing was to honor the first film, while being irreverent enough to go in a new direction, says Phoenix when TT meets him.

He is dressed in a t-shirt and hoodie, talkative and in good spirits. Joaquin Phoenix admits that it felt a bit nervous before the world premiere at the Venice Festival a few weeks ago, but now he seems to be looking forward to the film meeting the world.

In the first film, the cinema audience met him as the failed clown Arthur, who responded to society's scorn with murder and other crimes. Now he's in prison, where he meets Harley Quinn, played by Lady Gaga. What follows are song numbers, romance, trial, and a spectacular escape.

"Don't actually sing"

Phoenix says that he didn't really have a relationship with the classic song numbers, but that he, Lady Gaga, and director Todd Phillips bounced ideas around.

Mixing genres felt right, like a development of Arthur. I don't actually sing and at first, it felt uncomfortable doing it in front of someone who is as good a singer as Gaga. She saw how nervous I was.

Phoenix and Lady Gaga had not met before working on the film.

I went home to her, she had a lot of good ideas, she was warm and lovely and she knows an incredible amount about music.

Likes to take risks

He is an actor who likes to take risks, it "sparks" and inspires him.

A film costs a lot, it takes time and work, and if everything is too comfortable, it takes away the joy of making it. I look for jobs that make me feel uncomfortable. And the older you get, the more important it is to do what's not comfortable. Otherwise, the brain starts to slow down.

An example is learning to dance at the age of 48, he says.

When I was nine, I trained a little in tap dance and thought now that I'll remember this. I didn't. I trained for a year. And when it comes to the music numbers, it was important that they said something. It wasn't about finding the right tone, the songs had to express something.

Age: 49 years.

Family: Girlfriend Rooney Mara.

Lives: In Los Angeles.

Occupation: Actor.

Previous films in selection: "To the extreme", "The yards", "Gladiator", "Signs", "It's all about love", "The village", "Walk the line", "We own the night", "I'm still here", "The master", "You were never really here", "The Sisters brothers", "Joker", "Beau is afraid", "Napoleon".

Currently with: The cinema premiere of "Joker: Folie à deux" on 2/10.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Big Little Lies Season 3 Confirmed with New Writer

Big Little Lies Season 3 Confirmed with New Writer

SD Politician Seeks to Cancel Play About Palestinian Activist in Malmö

SD Politician Seeks to Cancel Play About Palestinian Activist in Malmö

Ireland Threatens Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Participation

Ireland Threatens Eurovision Boycott Over Israel's Participation

Radio Listening Hits Record Low as Podcasts and Streaming Rise

Radio Listening Hits Record Low as Podcasts and Streaming Rise

Bad Bunny Skips USA Tour Over Immigration Raid Concerns

Bad Bunny Skips USA Tour Over Immigration Raid Concerns

Sverker Olofsson Criticizes Celebrity Focus in SVT's "Det sitter i väggarna"

Sverker Olofsson Criticizes Celebrity Focus in SVT's "Det sitter i väggarna"

Stockholm Nightclub Trädgården Secures Two-Year Operation Extension

Stockholm Nightclub Trädgården Secures Two-Year Operation Extension

Football Manager Returns with FM 26 Launching November 4

Football Manager Returns with FM 26 Launching November 4

Ken Ring and Simon Superti Debut in SVT Drama The Defenders

Ken Ring and Simon Superti Debut in SVT Drama The Defenders

Banksy Mural Removed from Historic London Wall

Banksy Mural Removed from Historic London Wall

Jerry Seinfeld Compares Palestinian Movement to Ku Klux Klan

Jerry Seinfeld Compares Palestinian Movement to Ku Klux Klan

Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville on Ending the Series Now

Downton Abbey's Hugh Bonneville on Ending the Series Now

Holocaust Museum Finds Permanent Home in Stockholm's Customs House

Holocaust Museum Finds Permanent Home in Stockholm's Customs House

Uncle Fester Spinoff Series in Development at Netflix and Amazon Studios

Uncle Fester Spinoff Series in Development at Netflix and Amazon Studios

The Weeknd Adds Third Stockholm Concert to 2024 Tour

The Weeknd Adds Third Stockholm Concert to 2024 Tour

Albin Lee Meldau Releases Song on Gaza Conflict and Genocide

Albin Lee Meldau Releases Song on Gaza Conflict and Genocide

System of a Down Announces 2024 Sweden Concert with Queens of the Stone Age

System of a Down Announces 2024 Sweden Concert with Queens of the Stone Age

Håkan Nesser Appeals Prison Sentence to Supreme Court Again

Håkan Nesser Appeals Prison Sentence to Supreme Court Again

Viking Ship Oseberg to Move to New Oslo Museum for Half a Billion Kronor

Viking Ship Oseberg to Move to New Oslo Museum for Half a Billion Kronor

Kathrine Nedrejord Wins Per Olov Enquist Prize for "Sameproblemet"

Kathrine Nedrejord Wins Per Olov Enquist Prize for "Sameproblemet"