Joaquin Phoenix was terrified on the set of 'Gladiator'...
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- Joaquin Phoenix recalls how young and inexperienced he was on the set of Ridley Scott's Gladiator and how the director helped him get comfortable.
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![[TF2] The Russian Bear Trap](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/YFNSwz2_rOA/mqdefault.jpg)
He was so nervous...and ended up giving one of the all-time greatest villain performances in cinema history.
I think it made the role more believable. His character was always nervous and worried about losing his power so it actually fits perfectly
@@theItalianshamrockthe paranoid tyrant trope is very well portrayed.
The nervousness clearly added to the sickliness of the Villainy portrayed..
Yeah, he was shaking uncontrollably like a leaf blowing around in the wind? , I guess we’re supposed to believe that somehow 😅
He made me hate that dude with a fukin passion !!
That nervousness was perfect for the role. His character seemed as if he was terrified the whole time but trying to cover it up with a smile
That was my first thought.
Exactly.
Pretty accurate. I mean, as a character, he didn't possess the traits of a true man, a true leader, which is why Marcus didn't let him lead the Rome. He knew that, so he resorted to dirty playing. Whoever plays like that, it's completely natural to be scared 24 hours a day. That's why his acting was much better than that of Crow. Comodo is the best acted role in the Gladiator.
Funny how that comes over, and is a good thing…
He’s so method
this is actually very refreshing to know. so many actors these days say like yeah, sure they were nervous but excited. they make it sound like after a few bad takes, you got it. he's letting you know you can still be in way over your head and still make it out okay. i love that
ok
Nope. Its scott's credit.
@xenia I totally agree. I was thinking, “Wow, I’ve been that nervous- he actually knows what it’s like- and he pushed beyond it.”
boom, yes!!!!!!
He doesn't get enough recognition for how great he was in this! And him talking about how Green he was and nervous makes me respect him more somehow and his mastery of his craft!!
His nervousness served him. It made his villain character appear more unhinged and unpredictable.
I remember it making me nervous when I first watched this I was really young his whole demeanor made me nervous
Yeah, that exact same insecurity can fuel the raging tantrums of a narcissistic tyrant. It worked beautifully to add depth to the character
You did such a good job acting, while I was watching I felt fear every time you were in the scene❤❤
True🎯
So well said
He absolutely killed that role too. Every actor in the movie did but Joaquin and Russel were fantastic
I need to watch this again
Do it, you won’t regret it. It’s amazing how young Russel was in this also (35), and probably one of my favorite performances of his.
@@LP3me i watched it not long after this comment 👊
Me too but dir cut this time
I'm about to put it on now. I hadn't planned to watch it today, but after that interview - I think I need to.
I second that. Probably my favourite movie. The acting, the story, the theme, costumes, dialogue, the who hero trope... not to mention Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. Totally rewatching soon.
Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus was just beautiful. He has this perfect mix of hateful jealousy but is also so stunningly handsome. Gladiator was such an amazing film
River Phoenix must be looking down at his little brother, absolutely bursting with pride!
It’s amazing he went from this performance early in his career to Joker 20 years later, really showed the transformation of his confidence as an actor on screen. Amazing.
he improvised by hitting the time clock with his fist..(joker)- he's dedicated.. im glad i dont here his Op/politics which makes him a saint..
he smashed Napoleon in my opinion
Comic book movies are gay
@@J.G.Wentworth69420the point is the confidence in himself as an actor. this story vs behind the scenes of joker highlight how far he’s come
@@J.G.Wentworth69420 the majority of movie goers disagree with you. Comic book movies are some of the highest grossing movies of all time.
AND, he got nominated for an Oscar.
Gladiator is one of my all time favorite movies.
Same!❤
ditto
My dad, who mostly watched Tamil (Indian) movies, said it was a good movie and he enjoyed it. That was a super rare comment from him.
@@dragonslayer616Commodus did fight in the Coliseum. His opponent would have an unsharpened sword so when they struck him it wouldn’t do damage and he won many fights. Then his trainer found out and was shocked. The trainer actually killed him for his cowardice and lack of integrity.
24 years later, I just added it to my watch list for later this week...lol
He should have won the academy award. His performance was beyond amazing!❤
this is totally one of those situations where the feelings of the actor reflect the feelings of the character and it actually feels like it makes them more in-depth and complex. Commodus is terrified at his core and the way it plays thru is one of the best villain performances in cinema
Joaquin nailed this role. He made the movie great and I say the Oscars ripped him off in a big way.
literal God tier villain performance
Ditto
Benicio del Toro was good, but Joaquin portrayed the villain so well. I fucking hated his guts in this movie.
The Oscar’s are such a fake load of trash, 🤡…..we the people know who should be holding Oscar’s and Joaquin is definitely one of the greats with Russel Crowe…awesome movie!
I agree. He deserved an oscar for this
he was absolutely phenomenal in this part, made my skin crawl
I agree
...we all hated his ass 😭
@@mariemarie3614True..😂😂😂❤❤
I didn't remember both the movie and him. such a poptrash garbage.
Dude became a screen legend on this performance.
He gave us a truly pathetic, yet terrifying psychopath. Amazing actor.
It worked perfectly on many levels. His character was basically a kid trying to figure out being a ruler, and you can see the fear in his eyes even when he's trying to not show it. Another reason this is one of the greatest films ever made.
He is such a legend though. Gladiator is one of the best films ever made. I've legit watched it like 20 times
Me too. But I still wait for my favorite scene when he finds out Maximus is still alive. The look of shock & fear on his face is priceless.
Only 20 times?
Those are rookie numbers =P
I fell in love with him after this.
Me too 😅 And I want to watch it again…always with closed captioning
Whoever cast Joaquin as a Roman Emperor deserves an award. He looks just like some of the historical depictions. He gave a moving performance and his acting was believable. Really well done.
right? He could have been related to Constantine.
@@LQOTW he plays Emperor Commodus in the movie, Emperor Constantine is almost 200 years later lol
@@e-1074 Thanks, I am well aware of the timeline, which is not at all germane to the op's remark and my response.
he dont look jack like Commodus, who was tall and just doesnt look like him
@@LQOTW you said he looks like he could have been related to Constantine, whom has 0 relevancy to the movie at all. i was pointing out your mistake and fixing it
When I was a kid I couldn’t understand why I loved that character, even though he was the villain. It’s because even as a kid I could appreciate that his acting is beautiful.
He is such a great actor. I enjoy watching his movies. He fully immerses himself in each role
Damn the way he talks about things is so human as opposed to how most people respond in interviews.
“So human “ I thought he was a human he is without an ego I think that’s what you mean.. a lot of actors get caught up in the hype & their egos give them a terrible look but some are kept grounded by family members & good friends & that’s what we’re looking at when we see Jaquan Phoenix - a true man.
Yes I’d say he’s more grounded than most & that’s why he’s undoubtedly the better actor than his peers
@@greeneyes325 All people have an ego. Without ego you are a husk.
@@greeneyes325 I mean I was on the shitter when typing, I think got my point across just fine.
What does this even mean😭 there are tons of actors that give well thought out and articulate answers to interviews
IMO this is still the strongest role and best acting I’ve seen. His portrayal was absolutely terrifying
Because he was terrified.
Go watch any movie with gary Oldman or Daniel Day Lewis and you'll see what the best acting actually is.
@@zyourzgrandzmazJoaquin in the master is the best
I guess the nerves really sold the notion of the man who was omnipotent yet still insecure. I need to watch this film again.
Joaquin's greatest performance was on Letterman. That was the funniest thing I have ever seen. lol
He couldn’t have played the part any better! Kudos to whoever chose this amazing actor!
Joaquin, you were amazing in this role and deserved the Oscar for your portrayal of Comitus
Ridley is a genius and knows how to get the best out of his actors. Bravo
Was*
@@LordVader1094іs look at black hawk down
If only ...
@@lifepolicy Ridley is a genius and knows how to get the best out of his actors. Bravo
That was genius!
One of the sickest burns in all cinema:
- Have I missed it? Have I missed the battle?
- You have missed the war!
Save the bulls, honor Maximus!
Right that line kinda shook me just watchin it lmfao
Just proved to me that the son was a scrub
Bro the way he kept roasting his son. When he was like “your failure as a man are my fault as a father, gimme a hug buddy” I cringe so hard at that scene, it’s brutal. No wonder he ended the old man that night 💀
am i not merciful!!!!!!!!!???!!!!!!!?
Wow that’s awesome! His portrayal of a villain was so believable that we the audience hated him. Well done!
it’s honestly really refreshing to hear an actor talk about feeling anxiety while performing. I think I assume the majority of actors become actors because it’s easy for them. It’s cool to hear someone say they had to overcome fear in order to perform.
He was terrified but he was truly terrifying
good point.
He elevated that movie from excellent to legendary
He made the movie for me. So creepy.
Busy little bee
Any other good actor could have played the emperor. Russel Crowe sold that movie, not Jaquin
Not really. But tastes are tastes. Some people would say quite the opposite @@parabalani
@parabalani I agree that Russel sold the movie, but I think Phoenix was perfectly-casted. He played the role of a villain so damn well.
Honestly, one of the best performances on film, the emotion in that role, feel so genuine. It's still my favorite role he's played, 2nd being Joker.
The man is a legend. He gave one helluva performance for that movie, and it still holds up today.
His last scene with Richard Harris telling his father what good qualities he had broke my heart.
OMG same. “You will not be Emperor.” Oof.
Awww yes me too and then he showed you why his father didn’t trust him 😂 but yesss what a great part
He said " I'd butcher the whole world if you would only love me".. with such hurt and anguish.. that's one of my favorite scenes.. he really did well in that movie.
I have courage. Perhaps not on the battlefield, but there are many forms of courage.
I loved watching Joaquin Phoenix in gladiator. His nervousness worked to perfection in this role.
He absolutely stole the show. I can't imagine anyone else playing that role.
One of my favorite movies bc of him. I love how he immerses himself into every character he plays. Some actors seem to be playing the same person in every role. Joaquin, truly becomes his character and it’s like he has so many different faces. I love this movie, I almost rewatched it the other day but I’m saving it for my lady, going to make her watch it with me lol.
His role in Gladiator was absolutely ICONIC
And Russel was at that point already a pretty established actor who played his role with a lot of confidence and strength.
It really is a great contrast, that totally works between those two roles.
Both really elevated the movie to a whole different level of enjoyment.
And this led to probably one of the best performances in cinema history. He was the perfect villain
He played the role perfectly. He made me believe I was in the actual moment in time while watching the movie. He is an incredible actor. ❤
This explains that rawness of his character. His character was so damaged, and that nervousness, really gave the character it's edge. great movie.
lol who are you
What damage? He's the most privileged child in the world being born to the emperor of Rome.
Like every character he plays lmao, it's just him shining through.
@@krazykkarl not everything always has to do with class.
You can be rich or poor and still be "damaged"
@@krazykkarl Maybe one day you'll grow up and learn "empathy"
It is actually really important.
You've got to be like 12 to have not learned wealthy people can *also* have fucked up lives lol
The fact that this was his first big-screen film is absolutely insane. Talk about foreshadowing the ensuing legacy of a true Hollywood legend!
EDIT: kinda regretful that I didn’t word this comment better, since it has caused a contentious debate centered around semantics. I should have said first major scale blockbuster, instead of first big-screen film. Admittedly, I was pretty young when Gladiator came out, but obviously nobody just gets a role like the role of Commodus without proving themselves to a certain extent. I don’t remember why I worded things the way that I did, but yeah….whoops. My bad y’all.
Parenthood, dude, he was forgetting his own past. He was called Leaf then.
No it's not 😂 ..started as a child actor
He had been in at least 5 major productions till then. Not as big as The Gladiator but for someone who had been acting for 10 years then, this is a bit odd
He's one of the worst actors of all times.
@@Crossword131 SPACE CAMP
He was terrified, but to this day it's still his best performance ever
I first saw Joaquin in Gladiator. He MADE that movie. I had a feeling then that he'd become the legendary actor he is today. One of the greatest, if not THE greatest actor of all time. Huge fan here. I love you Joaquin and wish you all the best.❤
Its stories like these that make you realise how great a director Ridley Scott actually is.
was
“AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!?!” One of the greatest villainous performances of all time.
Commodus: "Do you think I'm afraid?"
Maximus: "I think you've been afraid all your life"
To think that was his first major performance in a feature film... I mean, Joaquin deserved an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor!
Leads extremely well into his voice constantly being on the edge of tears. My favorite performance of his...by a mile. ❤
Movie characters in this were COMPLEX and good back stories to show their insides. Makes such a difference in movies. WOW
I loved him in Gladiator, but he also gave incredible depth to the Joker and his performance in Her was outstanding. He's just so good in so many films.
@@benson8686 nah, Commodus was better than either of those
The character is himself terrified deep down - so it worked for the part so well.
Note to self, watch Gladiator again for the millionth time. A cinematic gem.
He deserved an academy award for his performance, not Russell Crowe.
He was sooo good in this movie that, my husband literally has dislike for him because he was soooo believable. He is one the most talented actors in history, clearly.
Same 😂 I couldn't stand his character, even though I like him as a person. That's the sign of a great actor.
My husband hated him for the longest, cuz he was so hateable in that movie!!! Until I convinced him that it was just how good of an actor he was 😅
Mine as well to the point he didn’t want to see Napoleon with me till I made him. He ended up liking the movie. I had to explain to him that the fact you hated his character in Gladiator so much means Joaquin did his job correctly. He earned his flowers.
"Do you think I am afraid?"
- "I think you've been afraid all your life."
People talk about how great this movie is and it’s no doubt one of my all time favourite movies but a large reason for that is Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as the antagonist Commodus.
He should have won best supporting actor with this one. Such an amazing performance.
"AM I NOT MERCIFUL!!!....." Seeing that in the trailer and how Roman he looks, was just wow. He was perfect
That moment is probably the most powerful one in the movie for me. The music and the acting (by both actors) was so intense and perfect.
@@MdnightWndI would say the scene where he kills his father.
I am not sure why so many kids are unable to comprehend this, but "Am I not merciful?!" is a question.
Questions ends with a question mark.
It's sad to see so many young people fail at basic English.
@OriginalPuro "Questions end* with a question mark".
You shouldn't insult someone else's English unless yours is perfect.
''how Roman he looks'' that is ridiculous comment... there was red haired, blond haired and dark haired roman emperors and romans during the roman empire. Also the real commodus had neck beard, very curly hair and looked nothing like joaquin :D
This movie made me realize just how good of an actor he was, and still is. His character turned my stomach, and the hatred just was unbelievable. It takes a great actor to make you feel like that.
Right i agree couldn't stand him
Hated him on first sight
Exactly! Russell was also superb as the protagonist. Takes a legendary actor to make us sympathetic the way he did
@@GORILLA_PIMP Yup. The role he played in The Joker was incredible. World class.
You can kind of feel the “sickness” in him, but sometimes almost in a way that makes you want to feel empathy towards him, like that evilness came from something beyond him, beyond his control.
[spoiler below]
Like when he kills his own father but you can feel the struggle between the love and need he had for his father and at the same time the anger and consequent powertrip overtaking him.
Amazing acting indeed.
What was so bad about him? I dont remember hating him.
That was one of the best acting performances I've ever seen in my life and I've seen a million.
His role as Commodus was absolutely masterful. If I can genuinely HATE a character with a burning passion, the actor earned his keep!
What makes it how some who are born into wealth, affluence and royalty can use their advantages to be good and wise, while many more become afflicted with depravity?
@@Eveseptir You speak of those who indulge themselves with debaucherous decomposition, by living within the confines of The 7 Deadly Sins.
Those of us who walk the path of Christ are the Sword & Shield of Light, who shall soon defeat the evil ones. For the Bible tells us so!
#TeamCommodus
You are merciful
@@whitleypedia Ooohhh, you've been a busy little bee, haven't you?!?
It's nice to hear a celebrity be humble and honest like that, he gets nervous like everyone else. You could never tell from watching
Thisis exactly what I was gonna post. So, Diddo!
ok
Watching interviews and listening to podcasts, you will hear a lot of celebrities talking about experiences just like this. Everyone gets nervous like everyone else
The guy was just only 16 years old when he was in Gladiator. For being so young doing such a difficult character, he did a bang up job.
Ridley Scott filming the last 5 takes to ensure he was comfortable in the role is the reason why he is the GOAT of filmmaking
That is what made that character because you could see an underlying fear beneath the false confidence.
Yeah. It made him far more nuanced, unsettling and memorable than if he was just a straightforward douche.
When someone in this profession is able to make you despise them at the level we all despised this role..
They have mastered their craft.
Yeah, his nervousness helped him play that character to perfection. It’s amazing how the exact perfect person was chosen to do that character
And yet to this day his acting in that movie was spectacular. Miracles do come true.
Oscar worthy. Visceral reaction to his character. So well acted. Amazing!!
He did get nominated for best supporting actor
His natural human emotion at that moment made the acting as emperor perfect.
That nervousness served him well in this role. His character was the classic bully who tries to hide his weakness with cruelty and bravado. Ironically, that discomfort that he endured during filming made his performance even MORE epic. His performance was OUTSTANDING!! ♥️✊🏾
This humility is probably why he’s turned into an elite actor. See The Joker. Immense.
He may have been green… but he was so perfect in that role👍🏻
To this day I say he was robbed of the Oscar for best supporting actor for that role. He beyond killed it.
Phoenix’s nervousness integrated seamlessly with his character, whose insecurities, hedonism and cowardice rule his mind.
You sure overcame it, because your performance was OUTSTANDING!
You should of won an oscar for that role ,that movie worked cause of your acting as comodus ,one of the all time best villans on film
Yes, he should have.
Agreed!! "Am I Not Merciful!?" So good❤❤
I think the way he played the role of Commodus was fantastic.
This was an amazing everything. The cast, the cinematography, costumes, score, and probably the first time I starting watching the things a director did next. Ridley Scott is brilliant.
His fear actually amplified his performance, ironically enough. Perfect for the role he was playing.
He deserved an Oscar for his role
Joaquin is the coolest actor in hollywood now with amazing range, it is reassuring to know that even he gets nervous sometimes
He performed this perfectly. His inner terror added to the character and made him all the more chilling
It’s actually really wonderful hearing about this. I always assumed actors just…do it so easily, but after learning about how awkward filming actually is, the silence, the expectation to get it right fast so you’re not wasting funds. It’s super overwhelming, but hearing him talk about his anxiety and the effort makes the performance sooooo much more enthralling.
That was his first major role? Wow there are levels to this lol it literally makes my skin crawl just seeing the character. What a performance
He'd been in a ton of movies by this point in his career, but this was his first role in a movie big enough and high profile enough where anyone involved could be nominated for an academy award
Agree, but he wasn't caring about Oscar part. He's happy, but not the point, I think The "big" part for him was the Director, actors, script, production, etc. and how he could really get into a movie like that. He was appreciative. @@popeye697
Being so nervous actually enhanced the performance because the character he played was supposed to be deeply insecure, and his performance was dripping in it
Joaquin Phoenix did amazing in Gladiator! So hard to imagine him THAT nervous, but I guess it’s true you have to start somewhere. I loved him also in Signs
Gladiator is where I discovered Joaquin Phoenix. I still remember how impressed I got at his disgusting yet complex villain. To think he felt like this...
Oh, and props to Scott for the exposure therapy. That's how the pros do it. There's no way around the anxiety, you have to feel it and stay in it for it to get better.
My Classics teacher in high school took us to see this on a field trip when it first came out. Fucking amazing.
One of my absolute favorite villains in any movie. Such a complex character portrayed perfectly
To have that kind of faith in him and know to just push through. Never gave up on him even as a new actor. That's a solid director.
I would have never guessed. Joaquin NAILED it. One of the best villain performances of all time
That director is talented. He knew he could get the right amount of that nervous energy and let it translate to the film. It was palpable in your voice for much of the film corresponding to the character's fallen nature. That was a really great aspect of that film. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Yeah, the director is Ridley Scott...
He's the man we're talking about.@@MavDillain
Ridley Scott by then already had a lot of experience and such a crazy curriculum, so he probably knew how to work with actors in different ways.
hard to believe its the same guy who made the recent napoleon movie
This is what is notably important.@@Daniel__Nobre
I was just discussing his role with my family a few weeks ago when the discussion topic was best motion picture performances. I stand by my opinion that JP's interpretation is some of the best acting I have witnessed in modern cinema. Phenomenal.
I went to this movie alone and was enthralled from the first moment through the final credits. His performance was incredible. Russell's performance was incredible. The story was incredible. Characters, sets, costumes, everything was incredible and perfect.
Absolutely stunning performance. The nuances in this character, and the ability to almosttttt emphasize with him is pure genius. This movie never gets old, I probably know every line and I watch it at least once a year hahah.
And then there’s people like me who, after all of these years knowing about it and loving Phoenix, still has yet to see it. 😅🤦♂️💀
@@slakeNsurge why?
Life is short. You owe it to yourself to not miss your chance to see this while you still can.@@slakeNsurge
@@slakeNsurge Oh please do.
You will NOT regret it, I promise you.
It really is great. You can believe the hype on this one ! 😊
Empathize
His role in this movie made me fall in love with him. He's been my favorite actor ever since. ❤️❤❤❤
Phoenix as Commodus is one of the biggest Oscar robberies of all time
One of my favorites and he did amazing in it. Can’t believe he was nervous. He played it like a boss
This is a genius-level director move. Great directors have psychological tricks like this up their sleeve to get their teams to do exactly what they want. First time a director confided one of his tricks to me as an actor my mind was blown.
What was the trick the director told you about?🤓
"did I miss it? did I miss the battle?"
just infuriates me every time