Watch Joaquin Phoenix Do a Creepy Dance in ‘Joker’ | Anatomy of a Scene

A run-down bathroom with a flickering fluorescent light, a swooning piece of music and some slow, deliberate moves. Those spare ingredients go into crafting this downbeat but memorable moment from “Joker.”

When the scene begins, Arthur Fleck (a.k.a. the Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix) has just had an intense, life-defining moment and finds a bathroom to collect and calm himself. He does so with a dance that the director Todd Phillips said Phoenix came up with on the day of the shoot. In his narration, Phillips discusses the music (by Hildur Gudnadottir), and how he and Phoenix came to change the scene from what was in the script.

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[zombiekiller]

When he faced the mirror with open arms, it just felt like he was embracing the Joker in him. Gave me chills.

[josem]

This scene was a huge part of the plot. I’m so happy Joaquin decided to scrap that idea of hiding the gun and washing his make up off.
This truly embodies the madness that Arthur has been brewing inside himself and he’s finally starting to accept it

[doubles]

"When you give me an Oscar, can you introduce me as Joker?"

[sushilangelo]

The moment when he draws smile on his face with his own blood with tears in his eyes....

[mmabuff]

I took it as for once in his life, he felt in control, he felt freedom, he felt liberated

[beautyceleste]

I’m literally obsessed with this movie

[jasnbc]

Hats off to Phoenix’s acting this man gave me chills in the theaters.

[voodooozo]

Everyone in the cinema fell silent at this scene. No eating popcorn, no drinking, no talking. It was like everyone hold breath. Incredible.

[gool]

"I dont know why everyone is so rude." -Joker 2019

[dub]

The fact that critics gave Batwoman a higher score than Joker tells me all I need to know about critics.

[CVerse]

Let's admit the real villain of this movie: that door chain

[quinnrafferty]

Creepy?

That was the most human, beautiful, painful thing I’ve ever seen.

[aaasubs]

When I was watching that scene, I was flabbergasted: how can you write a scene that is so inexplicable, yet so fitting in the moment?

Turns out you can't, it was literally done in the moment. Marvelous.

[dylansmith]

“Oh I forgot to punch out”


Punches the clock off the wall

[ailijase]

Who cares about the Oscar, everybody knows, this is outstanding acting performance

[James-Alai]

That’s my favorite scene in the movie. Like someone said... now he’s dancing to his own tune. Beautiful and so, so sad

[metalmayfantasy]

I took it as he's calming himself down.

[sabrinabanzon-salvador]

I can't imagine another actor playing Joker 2019 other than J.Phoenix!!! Oscar award worthy performance.He definitely nailed it to perfection! Huge credits to Todd Phillips for directing this movie!

[RyanDelahunt]

The way Todd talks about it you can tell just how much passion was poured into this film. Absolutely incredible

[LL-vnhl]

After watching the movie my brother and I talked about how scenes like this showed Arthur being calm and serene after doing something violent, like he's finally being himself and feels comfortable in his own skin. It's interesting to know it was improvised on the day