“I remember realizing that I had to do something very stupid, and I didn’t want to do it, but I knew I had to”
Joaquin Phoenix is known for digging deep into his work and not settling for a shallow, empty vision of what his character requires.. And, since he was not going to be different, in the new film by Ari Aster, ‘Beau is afraid’, the actor lived one of those “curious” moments that his profession offers him from time to time. He does not count it to wear medals, but as one more element of his work.
It all happened when it was time to shoot a scene from the film, which Aster wanted to do in one take. As we have known so far, the psychological journey that the character of Phoenix goes through is intense to say the least. And at this particular moment, the situation was putting Beau on a tightrope. The actor himself recognized that it was essential to feel free to shoot the scene and that this “reveal itself, as it was and when it was.“
“It’s a little hard for me to say this, because it sounds like typical stupid actor nonsense, but I remember what I did before the scene, because I wasn’t really volatile,” explained the actor, speaking with A24 on his podcast.
“I was still nervous. Somehow, he was still in control a little. He controlled me what people thought about me. She didn’t want to let them down. I remember realizing that I had to do something really stupid, and I didn’t want to do it, but I knew I had to,” Phoenix continued.
Thus, with the idea in his head, the time came to take action. And, just before, the scene began: “I started to scream. I uttered the most guttural and intense cry of pain I could, just before rolling. Sitting there. I had to humble myself completely,” the actor commented.
“Then it was like, okay, this having happened you cannot seem more ridiculous. And that let everything flow. I don’t know why, but the need to do it seized me. maybe it bothered you [a Ari Aster]. We weren’t in the same room, you were on the monitor, but I’m sorry it made you uncomfortable.”
The director denied this assumption, explaining: “I remember knowing what you were doing. I thought you were getting out of the state you were in. I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. It sounded like you were wanting to break up with something.“
“It was shocking and exciting, I think, because it surprised everyone. I felt it was good because the energy of the set was transformed in an instant. There was alertness and bewilderment,” Aster concluded.
The film will hit theaters in Spain on April 28. Joaquin Phoenix, in addition to preparing for the premiere of this, is immersed in the filming of the sequel to another of his mythical characters, ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’, where we will see him accompanied by Lady Gaga, in the skin of Harley Quinn .
Source: Fotogramas
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
