"Gladiator" is on. Joaquin PHOENIX is great. Sure hope his mind NOW is not really

[UTUSN]

screwed up. But if he has been putting on an act, I don't know how much I would like that.

[Aristus]

1. I hated him in that movie.

That nasal whine of his just about drove ME crazy...

[UTUSN]

2. Ah, well, as a true Democrat of the democratic variety, I seldom quote royals, but as Prince Phillip

said, "There's no accounting for taste." Talking *generally* now, not personally, MY taste, too!1

But then, his voice wasn't whiney as Johnny CASH, was it?!1

[Tuesday Afternoon]

10. I think that was the point...

If you didn't hate that character, I would be worried.

[TorchTheWitch]

3. Odd, I just bought and watched this movie a couple days ago

Found it in the sale bin for a couple of bucks along with a few other goodies. Phoenix was fabulous in Gladiator... scared the crap out of me. Very realistic.

Also bought "The Other Boleyn Girl". Fantastic... watched it twice in a row. I've always been fascinated by ancient Roman and medieval history.

[UTUSN]

4. With ya on all points, the history, etc. I just can't reconcile Joaquin's

"real" life behavior after his so lucid acting. I mean those high profile people certainly live a different life from plebes like me, the death of his brother, the drugs, the intensity of their careers, etc. So they are certainly in a different place in their minds. And even just the acting thing is its own kind of weirdness: Too many years ago the "grandpa" from The Munsters did a workshop at my campus. He would intersperse talking/explaining "normally" with segments of illustrative "acting," like flipping a switch, and the girl sitting next to me said that actors "have to be a little weird..." That would be, JUST FOR STARTERS. Throw in there the cut throat competition, the rejection, the death and mayhem AND YOU'RE PUTTING ON A SHOW!1

[pinboy3niner]

6. OK, I'm posting only because it's YOUR OP

I agree--he was masterful in "Gladiator."

But actors can be weird. How many times have we seen an actor we admired disappoint us terribly in their talk show appearances?

When I was volunteering in the Kerry campaign in Ohio in '04, the "parents" from the TV show, "Family Ties" dropped by the field office to talk to us. These were two actors I admired. She didn't speak much, but he went on and on and on at length--and was absolutely terrible! It was obvious that he had absolutely no acquaintance with dem talking points, and his discussion of campaign issues was ridiculous. On the show he was wise, compassionate, etc. In real life he was an uninformed jerk.

For me it was a reminder that on-screen, actors are ACTING. It has no reflection their actual personalities. They read scripted lines written by others.

Like you, I hope Joaquin rises above his recent, disappointing appearances. I may be concerned for him, personally, but I guess i'm also kind of selfish in wanting him to give me good acting.

[old mark]

5. Great movie - Phoenix plays a superb psycho/EVIL character, and

really does make you hate him...then watch him as Johnny Cash, and be amazed how good he is.


mark

[Lasher]

7. We watched it last night.

Again. Great flick. Maximus reminds me of me.

[GCP]

8. He was amazing in "To Die For"

He just vibrated teen lust.

[applegrove]

9. He was great in "Walk The Line".

[jobycom]

11. He's fine. The Letterman thing was a character he was playing.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/08/preview-review-trailer-im-still-here-joaquin-phoenix-casey-affleck.html

The same day he did the Letterman interview he did another much more in-depth interview and was perfectly normal. Well, for him. It was all part of a persona he was playing for a mockumentary.

[Odin2005]

12. They really butchered the history, though

Marcus Arulieus died of natural causes and Commodus was assassinated only after several years. They did get his debauchery down well, though.

Talking about Rome, I'm surprised they haven't made a movie based around Justinian and Theodora.