Joaquin Phoenix's transformation from brooding adolescent to
beefcake in Gladiator is even more astonishing than the plaudits
heaped on Russell Crowe. Phoenix Jr. started acting in 1986, appearing
in Kids-in-Space romp Space Camp. It was his performance as Dianne
Wiess' moody son in Parenthood that brought him to notice – but he gave up
acting until 1995's To Die For, where he became the third Phoenix to work
with director Van Sant. After appearing in the slated Inventing The
Abbotts and 8MM, he looks like being the success story of the family.
