When the final trailer for Joker dropped last week, we were blown away with how amazing director Todd Phillips’ revisionist take on the iconic DC Comics villain was looking, with Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of failed comedian Arthur Fleck looking especially incredible. Apparently though, we didn’t know the half of it.
The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival this weekend past, and that should already tell you that this was not your average comic book film. And according to the response from critics in attendance, there’s absolutely nothing average about this film. The R-rated Joker is being hailed as a cinematic “masterpiece” with Phoenix’s performance apparently making him a surefire contender for Oscar gold. At the time of writing, the film is sitting on a 88% Fresh rating on RottenTomatoes with an average score of 9.05/10. Damn!
Besides for an absolutely transformative performance for the ages from Phoenix, praise has also been heaped on Phillips’ Martin Scorsese-like tendencies with many a comparison to Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Special mention has been made of how brutal and gritty it is. A handful of critics have had some issues with the film – particularly how the film’s incel-like lead character’s actions could be grossly misunderstood thanks to Phillips not making some necessary narrative choices – but overall, Joker sounds like a true classic in the making.
Here are some Twitter reactions from those who got to see it after they left the screening. That is, after the eight-minute-long standing ovation that they gave the film.
Joker’s full review embargo has since lifted, so full reviews have also hit the web. Here are a few excerpts.
Featuring a riveting, fully realized, and Oscar-worthy performance by Joaquin Phoenix, Joker would work just as well as an engrossing character study without any of its DC Comics trappings; that it just so happens to be a brilliant Batman-universe movie is icing on the Batfan cake. You will likely leave Joker feeling like I did: unsettled and ready to debate the film for years to come.
There was a danger in Phillips’ decision to take inspiration from Martin Scorsese, and in particular to aspire to a marriage between Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy, and Mean Streets — some of Scorsese’s greatest and most dissected works. The result is frankly somewhat of a miracle, because succeeding at aspiration toward Scorsese’s 1970s and early-1980s output is almost certainly doomed to disappoint… except Phillips succeeds.
Rather, Phillips doesn’t just “succeed” — I will speak blasphemy and say he quite possibly succeeds in certain ways Scorsese probably wouldn’t have.
Phoenix is all in and then some, a performance so dazzling risky and original you might as well start engraving his name on the Oscar right now. No joke, this is a movie — premiering today at the Venice Film Festival — unlike any other from the DC universe, and you will find it impossible to shake off. At least I did.
The supporting cast couldn’t be better, and that includes De Niro and Frances Conroy as Arthur’s mother, along with many others along the way. This movie will have you reeling – and thinking. In a country of seemingly weekly mass murders at the hands of someone with a gun, this comic book origin tale of Joker is a must-see.
You may squirm in your seat as Fleck crosses line after line. He commits unspeakable crimes–the kinds we see in real-life headlines seemingly every other day. And the scariest thing is that, throughout the movie, many of these acts seem justified. Fleck never becomes totally unsympathetic–as viewers, we can always understand where he’s coming from. Joker humanizes a murderer in a way that may make the kinds of disenfranchised real-world mass killers we now see regularly salivate–or, in the worst possible scenario, provide them inspiration. It’s powerful and potentially controversial, which is part of what makes this movie absolutely essential viewing right now.
What a gloriously daring and explosive film Joker is. It’s a tale that’s almost as twisted as the man at its centre, bulging with ideas and pitching towards anarchy.
Having brazenly plundered the films of Scorsese, Phillips fashions stolen ingredients into something new, so that what began as a gleeful cosplay session turns progressively more dangerous – and somehow more relevant, too.
Meanwhile, the movie lionizes and glamorizes Arthur even as it shakes its head, faux-sorrowfully, over his violent behavior. There’s an aimless subplot involving a neighbor in Arthur’s apartment building, played by Zazie Beetz, in an underdeveloped role. (Beetz also appears in another movie here at the festival, Benedict Andrews’s Seberg, where she’s given much more to do.) Arthur has a crush on her, and though he does her no harm, there’s still something creepily entitled about his attentiveness to her. He could easily be adopted as the patron saint of incels.”
It’s a sad, chaotic, slow-burn study of someone who isn’t visible; who doesn’t even exist to the world around them. But your empathy, sympathy even, isn’t guaranteed, and it begins to dissolve as Arthur somehow moves even further to the edges. This is, we mustn’t forget, the story of how a villain was made. But what writer/director Todd Phillips and co-writer Scott Silver (8 Mile, The Fighter) have written into life is the Joker as a character. What they and the film is interested in is the mental, moral, emotional, physical make-up of the man who became the Joker.
Joker is a comic book origin story with very little comic book in it. The whole thing very purposefully feels like a love letter to cinema of the late ‘70s, early ‘80s rather than other dark DC superhero movies like Tim Burton’s Batman or Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Using that gritty aesthetic, Phillips is much more interested in dissecting what makes a comic book character real than making a real comic book character and, in that aim, he’s successful. Arthur is a fascinating and endlessly compelling person. He’s also terrifying and, for most of the film, sympathetic.
The storyline in and of itself is not a total miss. But once the movie starts lifting shots from “A Clockwork Orange” (and yes, Phillips and company got Warners to let them use the Saul Bass studio logo for the opening credits, in white on red, yet) you know its priorities are less in entertainment than in generating self-importance. As social commentary, “Joker” is pernicious garbage.
Irresponsible propaganda for the very men it pathologizes…is Joker celebratory or horrified? Or is there simply no difference, the way there wasn’t in Natural Born Killers or a myriad of other “America, man” movies about the freeing allure of depravity?
Todd Phillips’ “Joker” is unquestionably the boldest reinvention of “superhero” cinema since “The Dark Knight”; a true original that’s sure to be remembered as one of the most transgressive studio blockbusters of the 21st Century. It’s also a toxic rallying cry for self-pitying incels, and a hyper-familiar origin story so indebted to “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy” that Martin Scorsese probably deserves an executive producer credit. It’s possessed by the kind of provocative spirit that’s seldom found in any sort of mainstream entertainment, but also directed by a glorified edgelord who lacks the discipline or nuance to responsibly handle such hazardous material, and who reliably takes the coward’s way out of the narrative’s most critical moments.
Joker will be releasing in cinemas on 4 October 2019.
Last Updated: September 2, 2019
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 08:53
This pleases me
Original Heretic
September 2, 2019 at 09:08
I have a feeling this movie may be quite divisive.
Some of the reviews I saw were not as complementary, especially with Phoenix’s performance.
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 09:44
SJW’s gon hav sum butthurt errday
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2019 at 09:08
Is it just me or do most of the complaints seem to revolve around the movie humanising the character rather than dehumanising him? That’s an interesting take.
Guz
September 2, 2019 at 10:09
Doesn’t fit in with/suit their agenda so…….
Kervyn Cloete
September 2, 2019 at 10:24
So there’s a legit concern here that the movie’s portrayal of Arthur Fleck as some kind of incel-like hero will function as a rallying cry to those who can’t parse the nuance of the character and only see a mentally troubled person winning over the people in his life. And the violence Arthur inflicts on his victims in the movie reportedly bares some stark similarities to the types of attacks we see making headlines in the US these days.
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 2, 2019 at 12:09
I see there’s a concern, whether it’s legit or not is a different story. The argument being put forth is that a mentally troubled person will watch this and be inspired to murder people. It that possible, yes. Is it likely, I don’t know.
I think it’s disingenuous to say that we need to be concerned about this movie because of what someone might do because they might identify with the villain and not understand he’s a villain and that killing people isn’t right. That seems like a big burden to put on the movie. Someone who’d commit violent acts after seeing this movie is someone who was going to commit violent acts regardless, the only difference is that last trigger.
I get that because it seems so plausible and understandable that it’s scary, but that’s the thing to actually be scared about, not the movie itself.
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:43
“So there’s a legit concern here that the movie’s portrayal of Jim Carrol as some kind of drug addicted hero will function as a rallying cry to those who can’t parse the nuance of the character and only see a mentally troubled person winning over the people in his life. And the violence Jim inflicts on his victims in the movie reportedly bares some stark similarities to the types of attacks we see making headlines in the US these days.”
Now it applies to the Basketball Diaries from 1995 too, and it could have been written by a republican senator after Columbine. What about John Wick?
“So there’s a legit concern here that the movie’s portrayal of John Wick as some kind of animal rights hero will function as a rallying cry to those who can’t parse the nuance of the character and only see a mentally troubled person winning over the people in his life. And the violence John inflicts on his victims in the movie reportedly bares some stark similarities to the types of attacks we see making headlines in the US these days.”
And it works too… 😛
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 11:52
Wow, that’s amazing, hehehe
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:52
“So there’s a legit concern here that the movie’s portrayal of Bryan Mills as some kind of CIA/fatherly hero will function as a rallying cry to those who can’t parse the nuance of the character and only see a mentally troubled person winning over the people in his life. And the violence Bryan inflicts on his victims in the movie reportedly bares some stark similarities to the types of attacks we see making headlines in the US these days.”
And Taken too 😛
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 12:00
Equalizer, Book of Eli, the list goes on
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 12:09
That’s why the argument that a movie or a book or a game can turn kids into psychopaths or individuals into killers is so… baseless.
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 12:09
Brb I just watched Postman Pat and I’m going to go postal
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:52
That’s the problem with reductive arguments. Once you distill it to its bare elements it becomes useless.
Kervyn Cloete
September 2, 2019 at 12:20
Well, this is why I said further down that the majority of us will view the movie just as it is: a movie. I’ve never been a proponent of games/movie/[INSERT POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT FORMAT HERE] makes people do bad things, but the timing though regarding the movie’s subject matter and the actual stuff grabbing headlines around the world couldn’t be worse.
The John Wick analogy, as funny as it is, also fails because in real life we don’t have scenarios of people going on killing sprees to avenge their pets. We do have mass shootings in the US though perpetrated by people who consider themselves disenfranchised.
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 12:29
Listen, I get where you’re coming from, however even if this movie never existed, there would still be mass-shootings in the US. That particularly pathology is a complicated mess of politics, law and American culture. (AND, It’s not just about the guns, because just north of them in the great land of Canada, you can also have a wall-covered in hunting rifles, and yet, their history of mass shootings isn’t nearly at the same level as their southern neighbours. Switzerland is another example of a country where access to guns are easier than most).
Let’s assume you and (republican and democrat senators in the 90s) are correct: a small minority of extremely broken individuals take inspiration from movies, music and games for their crimes. What exactly is the solution? Do we change how movies are made to appease a small slither of the population? The US had about 260 mass shootings this year (from a population of over 320 million – and most of those mass shootings are gang-related, and not the “incel” kind) I think it’s dangerous to make the argument that our popular culture needs to be curtailed because John in Utah who has been mentally-ill for years and suffers from poor impulse control decides to take an AR-15 to a shopping centre or because Jamal in Chicago made poor life choices and joined a gang. The culprit in both scenarios isn’t movies, music or games, but poor mental health treatment, poor education, poor life choices and access to guns.
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 12:01
I think it’s more a function of the times. If Arthur Fleck was a black male who decides to wear whiteface, and then goes on a shooting spree because of BlackLivesMatter and perceived and actual racism, I’m pretty sure it would win an Oscar and the praise of Vanity Fair. Although, it feels like Jordan Peele has already made that movie (lulz).
No one would even bring up fears of copycat shootings or sympathetic antifa attacks (which incidentally are more likely than a right wing attack).
The fact that Arthur Fleck is white and therefore could “inspire” white “incels” to shoot up schools, parking lots, shopping centres and churches becomes the topic du jour for American rags. Outside of their media bubble, I haven’t seen this argument at all. It’s very interesting. I’m pretty sure this could be someone’s sociology PhD project.
In a way, it’s kind of funny to see that the WASP male is the new boogeyman – and while I am sympathetic with my pale brethren, you’ll have to excuse me when I chuggle a bit, after years of being searched at airports and having my shoes inspected 😛
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 12:09
Don’t lie, we all know you pack extra bananas in your shoes!
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 12:09
I need the extra potassium for the flight 😛 https://media2.giphy.com/media/Ph05xuYgrX5te/giphy.gif
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 10:01
Joaquin Phoenix better not die after this role. I don’t think I can take another Heath Ledger shock in my life.
Pariah
September 2, 2019 at 10:09
And imho Joaquin is a better actor.
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 10:38
It’s ok Jim, we can go to the mountains to, talk, about it
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:03
But will you hold my hand…? 🙁 Please hold my hand.
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 11:20
Only if you are broke
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:35
Do you mean economically-challenged? 😛
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 11:52
Scroll back
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:52
Oh snap… there goes my back!
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 12:00
Now, put the 3 together
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 12:00
Now, put the 3 together
Guz
September 2, 2019 at 10:09
Really looking forward to this
RinceThis
September 2, 2019 at 12:20
So games don’t kill people, movies do?
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 12:36
Gangsta Rap made me do it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzeZhCt5PVA (Ice Cube nailed it back in the day)
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 09:44
The SJWs can go GITS
Kervyn Cloete
September 2, 2019 at 10:31
Just fobbing this off as SJWs is a bit of a disservice. Even the people who love the movie point out how potentially dangerous it is if the wrong people take the wrong message from this movie. The character of Arthur Fleck appears to be a personification of all the issues plaguing so many young men (particularly in America). The majority of us will be able to process this without any issue, seeing it as a piece of art focused on a broken man, but there are going to be those who feel inspired by his violent actions. It’s kinda sad, but I would not be surprised to see somebody dressed up as Phoenix’s Joker shooting up a public space after this.
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 10:38
I see your point, and I hope you are not right (about the people being “inspired”)
Kervyn Cloete
September 2, 2019 at 10:45
Unfortunately, I’ve seen a couple of film press already seeing stuff like this on their timelines https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EDVGmLAUcAAefx2.jpg
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 10:45
WTF is wrong with people
BradeLunner
September 2, 2019 at 11:20
This guy thought bvs was challenging?
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:28
lol, that’s a troll post.
“This film is my Black Panther” and “who’d rather date a Chad” are instant clues. It’s 4chan culture spilling over into the real world.
Why? Because it gets a reaction. You’re reacting to it exactly as the author of that post intended to. They’re probably hoping someone will use it as the basis for an article or a long fruitless discussion on twitter.
Kervyn Cloete
September 2, 2019 at 10:45
And there’s stuff like this going on. https://twitter.com/audreyalison/status/1168198216552087552
Admiral Chief Emissary
September 2, 2019 at 10:45
WTAF
Son of Banana Jim
September 2, 2019 at 11:20
Reminds me of when everyone on the Christian Right was blaming Marilyn Manson and DiCarpio’s character in “The Basketball Diaries” for the school shootings at Columbine. There’s no real difference in the messaging that apparently alt-right weirdos might get “inspired” by Arthur Fleck (or due to the clownworld or honk-honk meme), but both arguments are based on nothing more than gross assumptions.
What is certain is that we will have more shootings and killings in the US, but it’s not going to be because a movie “inspired” someone. This sort of argument is dangerous and counter-productive because it doesn’t tackle the real reason why the US has an epidemic of mass-shootings.