Todd Phillips

Studio bosses praise the controversial musical sequel for breaking formula, even as it bombed at the box office with just $207 million against a $200 million budget.

Joaquin Phoenix's turn as the Joker earned him an Oscar, but his method was anything but conventional. Instead of looking to past portrayals, he drew from a surprisingly obscure source to create his unique, unsettling character. Discover the unlikely performer who shaped his award-winning role.