Vicki Rothbardt Oswald

The story absolutely underscores what lies, deception, abuse by family and society can do to the mind of an already disturbed human being. Phoenix is masterful. His facial expressions, quick laugh-to-cry tragedy and comedy, are so close together and are remarkable. Amazing acting by Joaquin. The makeup and clown masks are superior to Heath Ledger's Joker, which is really sloppy, but Ledger's portrayal of the Joker is nevertheless also outstanding.