Why Joaquin Phoenix won an Oscar for Best Actor

On the one hand, Phoenix's triumph is entirely anticipated. He was a clear favorite, and has already received a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for the role. On the other hand, there was incredibly strong competition at the Oscars this year: the actor competed with Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Driver, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Price.

But still, it is Joaquin Phoenix's victory for the image of the reserved Arthur Fleck, who is gradually becoming the Joker, that seems the most fair and logical. And that's why.

Complete reincarnation

The actor approaches each of his roles with maximum dedication. He literally transforms into a hero, often radically changing his appearance if the image requires it. He does not confine himself to one type, and it is not immediately possible to realize that the main roles in the films "She", "The Master" and "The Sisters Brothers" were performed by the same person.

In preparation for the role of Arthur Fleck, Phoenix lost about 50 pounds (more than 20 kilograms), literally bringing himself to exhaustion. And this was necessary not only for the appropriate appearance. This approach helped him completely reincarnate into a squeezed and restless person suffering from numerous problems.

But it's not just about weight. The actor has changed facial expressions, behavior, body language. He really became the Joker. Phoenix lives in the frame, without leaving the image in any episode.

Transformation of the hero

More importantly, his character does not remain static throughout the story. In the course of the action, Arthur Fleck turns from a timid man downtrodden with life into a real symbol of protest and anarchy. And not only his clothes and makeup are changing.

At the beginning of the film, the behavior and speech of the protagonist are very constrained. He is squeezed all the time, moves heavily, hunches over and hides his gaze. But it gradually changes, and the viewer literally feels how the hero is revealed.

You can see how he transforms in dancing, allowing himself ever wider gestures. His movements become easier and his speech more confident. Even if you just compare Arthur's heavy gait at the beginning of the film and the Joker's light step in the ending, you can understand how much the character has changed in an hour and a half of screen time.

Joaquin Phoenix seemed to have lived his life with the hero and changed himself to convey the feelings of the Joker to the viewer more vividly.

There is no doubt that the actor deserved this award, like all the previous ones this season. He presented the audience with one of the deepest and most elaborate images, forcing everyone to believe in the reality of the protagonist's experiences. And this, of course, is the triumph of Joaquin Phoenix's skill.