10 Subtle Details That Make Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Incredible

8. The Affected Limp & Bowed Head

Not long after we first meet Arthur, he's beaten in the streets by kids who steal his sign and jump him. They have no motivation other than malice and are a reflection of Gotham's poisoned heart and bleak future. Naturally, the savage beating leaves him battered and bruised and he walks with a noticeable limp.

It turns out that the limp came before the beating, as he continues to walk like that even after his wounds heal. His natural walk sees him tuck his head into his chest slightly like a bow while he drags his leg a little. And we know that it's put on because he casts it off both when he's dressed as a clown (he calls himself Carousel at first) and when he begins to feel a little more alive and less disassociated.

It seems that Arthur's walk and stance are performances too: his past abuses taught him to bow his head meekly and he limps because he carries old wounds. It's telling that his way out of that affected behaviour is clowning, during which time he riffs on Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton performances to find more of a natural way of moving.

It's notable that Arthur's demeanour changes when he feels he doesn't need to perform - he's more direct with his mother for instance and feels able to hold his gaze. The same goes for when he interacts with Sophie. And it's also the case when he's angry - he stares almost manically, rather than letting his eyes drop as he does more naturally throughout the film. The fact that all three are inherently linked to his transition to Joker says a lot.