LOS ANGELES _ To the surprise of few, Joaquin Phoenix became the first lead actor from a comic-book movie to collect a major award when he won the Golden Globe for his work in "Joker."
In his acceptance speech, a halting Phoenix echoed the concerns voiced by many during the evening about the catastrophic fires ravaging Australia, but said well wishes weren't enough.
"First I'd like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press for recognizing and acknowledging the [link] between animal agriculture and climate change. It's a bold move, making tonight plant-based and it just really sends a powerful message," he said at the top of his speech about the evening's vegetarian menu.
Phoenix then professed his humility at being mentioned side-by-side with his fellow nominees (Christian Bale, Antonio Banderas, Adam Driver and Jonathan Pryce) and his love for actress Rooney Mara. He also thanked "Joker" director and co-writer Todd Phillips: "Todd, you were such an amazing friend and collaborator. You've encouraged me to give everything and to be sincere. I'm such a pain in the ass, I can't believe you put up with me. I'm so indebted to you."
After much of his presumably colorful language was muted on the television broadcast, he returned to what was clearly really on his mind: climate change.
"It's really nice that so many people have come up and sent their well wishes to Australia, but we have to do more than that. It's such a beautiful gesture and I have not always been a virtuous man ... I'm learning so much and so many of you in this room have given me multiple opportunities to try to get it right and I'm grateful, but I think together, hopefully, we can be unified and actually make some changes. It's great to vote, but sometimes we have to take that responsibility on ourselves and make changes and sacrifices in our own lives. I hope that we can do that. We don't have to take private jets to Palm Springs or... and I'll try to do better. I hope you do too. Thank you so much for putting up with me. I'm so grateful for this night."
The role of the Joker may be becoming something of the comic-book-movie version of Hamlet, to be taken on by heavy hitters. Oscar winners Jack Nicholson and Jared Leto played the Clown Prince of Crime in previous Batman movies, and Heath Ledger became the first and so far only actor to win an Oscar in the role for his turn in "The Dark Knight," for supporting actor. Phoenix has to be considered a favorite to follow in the lead actor Oscar category.
"Joker" has earned more than a billion dollars at the box office but has been rockily received by critics (only a 69%-positive score on Rotten Tomatoes, for instance). Phoenix's performance, however, has not. Even dubious reviews have cited it as one of the movie's strengths (along with its score, which also won a Golden Globe _ the first solo win for a female composer, Hildur Gu�nadottir).
In his Los Angeles Times review, for instance, Justin Chang said of Phoenix's leave-it-all-on-the-field performance, for which he shed more than 50 pounds: "There's real force and feeling in this Joker and, at crucial moments, a raw vulnerability that's genuinely upsetting to behold."
Times staffer Kailyn Brown contributed to this report.
