First female Globe-winning composer hails Phoenix’s ‘Joker’
LOS ANGELES: As the first woman to win a Golden Globe as a solo composer, “Joker” musician Hildur Gudnado ir had every reason to bask in the spotlight of this weekend’s star-studded Hollywood gala.
But the Icelandic maestro immediately singled out Joaquin Phoenix -- who won best drama actor as the film’s conflicted anti-hero – praising his unique collaboration with her haunting score.
“Thank you Joaquin for making my job really easy with a spectacular, unbelievable performance -- it’s mind blowing,” Gudnado ir said as she collected her prize Sunday.
While it may have been characteristic modesty, the relationship between the film’s eerie cello soundtrack and its star performance was unusually intense. Gudnado ir wrote the “Joker” theme before shooting even began – a rare order of events – allowing the director and cast to use the music “while they were shooting,” she explained.
“The music was able to influence his performances a lot,” said Gudnado ir, who opted for simple pulsing rhythms resembling heartbeats.
“A lot of his movements and a lot of the pacing comes directly from the music,” she added, speaking at a Beverly Hills event hosted by BAFTA, Britain’s version of the motion picture
Academy. One memorable scene in which Phoenix’s Joker flees from a bloody crime into a public bathroom, where he unexpectedly breaks out into an unse ling dance, was famously improvised by the actor.
The dance takes place to Gudnado ir’s theme, which was played on set.
“Our dialogue was not through words – we never had a conversation about any of this,” explained Gudnado ir. “But he was really able to interact with the music itself.”
“It’s just a wonderful way to collaborate. I think it’s a really beautiful and organic way for a film that has so many different elements – for all the elements to grow together.” The uncanny link between composer and star is sure to add to the mythos of the movie, which has stirred up controversy along with adulation and awards buzz.
Phoenix is frontrunner to win the best actor Oscar, while Gudnado ir is well-placed to add to an awards cabinet which includes an Emmy for scoring
HBO series “Chernobyl.”
— AFP