To Die For
In 1995, Phoenix landed his breakthrough role in the crime film To Die For, where he played opposite actress Nicole Kidman. The film achieved critical success partly thanks to Phoenix’s thrilling performance. The New York Times praised the young actor’s performance, saying his role was portrayed with “a raw, anguished expressiveness that makes him an actor to watch for.”
This description of the actor’s performance is still relevant for his more recent roles, including, of course, the character of the troubled Arthur Fleck in the blockbuster Joker. Despite the great success of the film, Phoenix’s acting was considered controversial – not many people fancied Phoenix’s unique take on acting, and so it took some time before he accumulated a fan base.