Phoenix, Joaquin

• Gladiator (2000)

  [8/10]

  "Gladiator succeeds as a hero story, and Louis DiGiaimo should get some recognition for casting actors into perfect parts for their characters. I enjoyed the battles and the recreation of 2nd century Rome, but Gladiator doesn't carry the depth of feeling you get from other hero movies, such as Spartacus or Braveheart, and probably won't endure time as well as Alien, Blade Runner, or some other Ridley Scott films. "

• Quills (2000)

  [6/10]

  "So how do you make a movie that documents the life or works of the Marquis de Sade, the person from whom we get the word sadism? Quills answers this question with, 'You don't,' but you can piggy-back your movie on his reputation."

• Village, The (2004)

  [5/10]

  "Shyamalan has assembled a stellar cast, and the actors do their best with the script's questionable motivation and silly dialogue."

• Walk the Line (2005)

  [7/10]

  "Hats off to the casting director who discovered these hidden depths and talents in Joaquin Phoenix, who so completely takes on the persona of Johnny Cash that you might think Cash's spirit had returned and possessed Phoenix's body."

  Average score: 6.50