Good luck finding a movie in 2019 that's sparked more public discussion than Todd Phillips' Joker.

Set in 1981, Joker stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, a mentally-ill, failed stand-up comedian who turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City. Despite the film spawning debates on mental health, mass shootings, and the value of comic book movies, Joker is a box office smash, becoming the highest earning R-rated movie ever.

One thing isn't up for debate, and that's the dancing ability of Joker. Honestly, Phoenix's dancing is downright impressive. While The Joker displays dark, sadistic, and creepy intentions, Phoenix's moves are dazzling, sophisticated, and majestic. NY Times dance critic Gia Kourlas said Phoenix is a "great dancer" and "moves with uncultivated finesse — dreamily, animalistic, like a rock star."

In Joker, Phoenix has two memorable dance numbers: One takes place in the bathroom and the other on a set of now iconic stairs. The bathroom scene takes place after Arthur kills three men on the subway. While in his faded clown makeup, Arthur runs into a disgusting public bathroom, embraces his inner demons, and celebrates his new love for chaos with a spell-binding dance routine.

If you've been on the Internet in the past month, you've probably already seen the second dance number, which takes place on a set of now infamous Bronx stairs. Fresh off another kill, Arthur celebrates his new love of violence by chaotically dancing down the stairs on his way to guest star on his favorite late-night talk show.


Both dances are expertly crafted, but where do they stand among cinema's most memorable dance scenes?

Dirty Dancing, Final Dance

1/5

Nobody puts Baby in a corner, and nobody out dances Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Joker's dance scenes might be memorable, but Dirty Dancing has an enrapturing dance number that culminates with the iconic lift during "(I've Had) The Time of My Life." In regards to the lift, New York City-based choreographer Sydnie Mosley said to not try it at home because of the difficulty in "finding that point of balance in the air." Good luck trying to mimic Swayze and Grey. Edge: Dirty Dancing

MUSIC

PREMIERE | John DeNicola Revamps "Hungry Eyes"

After 30 years of hit songs, a songwriter finds his voice.

John DeNicola

Casey Steffans

You may or may not have heard of Academy Award-winning songwriter John DeNicola, but you have heard his songs.

He wrote hits like "I've Had The Time of My Life" and "Hungry Eyes," from the Dirty Dancing movie. DeNicola will release his first album, The Why Because, featuring John Waite, Micky Madden, Peter Lewis, Glen Burtnik, Zonder Kennedy, and Brian Delaney, October 25, via Omad Records. One of the tracks on the album is his rendition of "Hungry Eyes," premiering on Popdust.

Explaining his version, DeNicola says, "I thought it would be fun to record 'Hungry Eyes' in a way that would set it apart from the Dirty Dancing version and decided to try to make it sound like a modern indie-rock band imitating an 80's synth-pop song."

DeNicola's "Hungry Eyes" features a muscular bassline, as DeNicola's high, sweet falsetto infuses the lyrics with a haunting, yearning tone. Preorder The Why Because.

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