Joaquin Phoenix might be the latest actor to play the Joker.
But is he the best?
The answer might be a Joker-worthy shock.
Believe it or not,the Jokerwasnt always an A-listcomic bookvillain.
And we have Barry Keoghan lurking in Arkham Asylum of Matt ReevesThe Batman.
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Even when playing a regular dude, Leto confuses more acting with good acting.
Sure enough, Leto throws everything at the wall in the hope that something would shock viewers.
Is a twisted tattoo on his forehead shocking?
How about laying around a bunch of knives while audibly attempting to turn your laugh down to half-speed?
What if the Joker coos about hurting Harley Quinn?
Ledgers Joker described himself as a dog just chasing cars, but that explanation better fits Letos unfocused take.
That fact makes Snyders decision to bring back Leto for his restored cut ofJustice Leagueall the more galling.
And yes, I do think that Phoenix is one of the best actors of his generation.
But heres the thing: hes terrible in bothJokermovies.
DirectorTodd Phillipsabandons his responsibility to actually give direction to Phoenix, letting the actor do whatever he wanted.
Contrast Phoenixs Joker to his better performances as a troubled man, namelyThe Master.
But Romeros reluctance illustrates the way most people thought of the Joker at the time.
He was just one of Batmans villains, no more remarkable than the Penguin or the Riddler.
So Romero is the ultimate middle-of-road pick.
He knows how to vamp and cackle, but no more so than any other bad guy actor.
Is that a bad thing?
No, not really.
Romero a serviceable bad guy, which is all Joker was in the 1960s.
InsteadGothamfelt more like the 1960s series recreated for a post-Dark Knightera.
At its best,Gothamuses its prequel standing to have fun with the Batman status quo.
Case in point:Cameron Monaghanas twin brothers Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska.
That teasing continues throughout the remaining four seasons.
But as the series progressed, Jerome became more and more established as the Joker of the show.
That is until his death at the end of season 4.
But because Jerome sprayed acid on his straight-laced brother Jeremiah before dying, the character and questions lingered.
To his great credit, Monaghan played both brothers fully aware of the viewers expectations.
I was a very dumb kid, is what Im saying.
Mark Hamill Batman: The Animated Series
How great isMark Hamills take on the Joker?
Its so great that Joker, not the main character in a genre-defining blockbuster, is Hamills signature role.
When he drops into a low growl, the Joker conveys genuine menace.
Whatever went into the decision, theres no question that it was the right one.
Theres the grotesque nuclear family he establishes inMask of the Phantasm(Meatloaf again?
Awww, I had it for lunch!
), the jolly holiday host in Christmas With the Joker, the suave businessman in The Laughing Fish.
Heath Ledger The Dark Knight
Heath Ledger performs a magic trick inThe Dark Knight.
And he does it as a proper Joker, completely with a showmans flourish at the end.
Part of that belief comes from the fact that its clear that Ledgers Joker is having so much fun.
Theres the delighted giggle he releases when his henchman gets zapped by Batmans mask.
Theres the shock Joker relates when the GC cop says that the he killed six of his pals.
