Joaquin Phoenix honors the late Heath Ledger while accepting SAG Award

[queenursula]

"I'm standing here on the shoulders of my favorite actor Heath Ledger." Joaquin Phoenix thanks the late #DarkKnight star while accepting the #SAGAwards statue for #Joker https://t.co/tD2ozkArqi pic.twitter.com/k9q8hwFFrM
- The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 20, 2020
In his award speech for winning best actor at the SAG Awards Joaquin Phoenix paid

Comments

[shangman]

I don't think he deserves to win all these awards, but each time he wins one I think about how it fills Jared Leto with rage, and smile.

[champagnexdream]

Good point lol

[queenursula]

IDK why Jared did what he did. This was a one-off film not part of the DCEU, the two Jokers could have co-existed.

[subomie]

no thank you

[champagnexdream]

Thanking Heath should've been 99% of his speech tbh, without his Joker portrayal this movie never would've happened.

And now instead of being known as the best Joker, Heath's legacy is, "MAYBE the best Joker IDK, this dude did a pretty good impression 12 years later with the platform of an entire solo film"

[queenursula]

"without his Joker portrayal this movie never would've happened."

Heath was great but Joker's an incredibly iconic character so I doubt that this film would have never happened without him. If Nolan's trilogy never existed someone else would have come along at some point and we would be talking about another Joker the same way people were talking about Jack Nicholson before Ledger. IMO this owes more to The Killing Joke.

[champagnexdream]

Did you see it? Joaquin was great in it, truly, but his portrayal was basically what I believe Heath would've been able to do with more screentime. It didn't offer a lot of new characterization - just backstory that wasn't possible in the Dark Knight, that allowed the character to have a bigger story.

It seems unfair, considering how Heath sort of redefined the Joker after Jack Nicholson. He paved the way for a full movie to be made about that specific kind of Joker, and his accolades will be forgotten more so now because of Joaquin's protagonist opportunity. It was a huge risk that took a big emotional toll on Heath, and it seems like a lot of that is going to be washed away. Much different from just "someone else played this character," as Leto did after Heath. The backlash over Leto's Joker made it clear that someone had to mimic Heath to get attention, and it sucks. I am glad Joaquin acknowledged Heath in his speech, but it sucks.

[queenursula]

I did see it and I didn't see Heath Ledger's Joker in Joaquin at all. If anything my problem was that Joaquin didn't come off like the Joker that much period.

Also Heath's Joker will always be a watershed moment. I don't see anyone forgetting or thinking less of his performance. It would be like people forgetting about Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal because of Mads Mikkelsen.

[fernandocolunga]

Wow he really wants that Oscar huh
Still hope Antonio takes it

[pinkkchocolate]

Yes thank you!! Joaquin Phoenix was undeniably good as the Joker but Antoni Banderas' performance (and Almodovar as a director) was a masterclass in restraint. Definitely the most compelling performance out of everyone nominated.

[bananasnrum]

God yes. Antonio is magnificent

[platinumpinup]

And no mention of his brother, River. Interesting.

[queenursula]

He just credited River for his career less than a week ago.

[alienjive]

Come on, dawg

[saemcrh]

He doesn't owe you a mention of his brother.

[corgismiles]

I didn't really like the overall movie but Joaquin was really good, I don't think that's even a little bit controversial. I still think Heath was better though.