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'Joker': Film Review | Venice 2019
Hollywood Reporter ^ | Aug 2019 | David Rooney

Posted on 08/31/2019 11:18:30 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

The clown prince of crime is alive and mentally unwell in Gotham City in Todd Phillips' grippingly atmospheric supervillain origin story, Joker. While a never-better Joaquin Phoenix paints on the famed maniacal smile with his own blood at one memorable climactic moment of messianic rebirth, what's most noteworthy about this gritty entry in the DC canon and the lead actor's sensational performance is the pathos he brings to a pathetically disenfranchised character — just like countless others in a metropolis in which the social chasm separating the haves from the have-nots has become a pit of incendiary rage.

The smart screenplay by Phillips and Scott Silver anchors the story in a fiercely divided city with echoes of a contemporary, morally bankrupt America, albeit in the dire economic straits of a decade ago, or the next crisis that's just around the corner, depending on which financial forecasts you believe.

(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: antihero; comics; criminalinsanity; deniro; film; joaquinephoenix; joker; mentalillness; villainworship
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Catharsis? Given the current 'demented' state of much of the population (or enough of it among young people in particular - to wreak havoc and bloodshed via mass shootings and the like) - I don't see how driving the public to indulge in more demented-ness and apocalyptic thinking is a good thing. But...okay.
1 posted on 08/31/2019 11:18:30 AM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I’ll watch it. So far, online comments about it are very positive. I may even go to the theater to see it.

Hard to believe Phoenix can do better than Heath Ledger’s portrayal in “The Dark Knight,” the only watchable move in the Chris Nolan Batman trilogy, imo.

At some point, Joker will be in another Batman movie. Will he be played by Joaquin Phoenix, Jared Leo, or ? Apparently, Warner has decided to make DC movies that are standalone. I prefer the interconnectedness of the MCU movies, even though I may have seen my last one because of their reported new PC direction.


2 posted on 08/31/2019 11:28:50 AM PDT by be-baw
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I guess I’m one of the few who thinks comic character movies are played out. How many different interpretations do we have now of Batman, Superman, Spiderman, etc. Plus now with the SJW angle infecting every movie.

I’m just tired of the genre already.


3 posted on 08/31/2019 11:41:34 AM PDT by chrisser
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To: chrisser

I think there’s still a treasure trove of writing that hasn’t been tapped....especially given the state of Hollywood writing these days.


4 posted on 08/31/2019 12:12:55 PM PDT by reed13k (For evil to triumph it is only necessary that good men do nothing)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
After having seen The Dark Knight I simply can't imagine anyone but Heath Leger playing The Joker. I know Jack Nicholson played him but I didn't see it.

Given my position I have no interest whatsoever in this upcoming film. But then I can say that about 99.999% of what Hollywood's put out in the last 30 years.

5 posted on 08/31/2019 12:15:02 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (A joke: Brennan,Comey and Lynch walk into a Barr...)
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To: reed13k

“I think there’s still a treasure trove of writing that hasn’t been tapped.”

I agree. Hopefully Joker is as good as its early buzz and inspire talented people to tap that vault.


6 posted on 08/31/2019 12:16:19 PM PDT by be-baw
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To: chrisser

I tend to agree and generally have avoided the comic book flicks for the last 10 years, BUT I have to admit that I might make an exception here. This looks like it could be interesting. The referenced Scorsese film “The King of Comedy” is a great, under-appreciated movie, IMO.


7 posted on 08/31/2019 12:35:37 PM PDT by irishjuggler
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I’m reading on some of my non-political forums that the film is an absolute masterpiece.


8 posted on 08/31/2019 12:37:40 PM PDT by Drew68
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To: Gay State Conservative

I’ve seen the movie trailer. Joaquin Phoenix is FANTASTIC. He is a great actor.


9 posted on 08/31/2019 12:39:06 PM PDT by RooRoobird20 ( "Democrats haven't been this angry since Republicans freed the slaves”)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

Heath Ledger is the greatest Joker of all time.


10 posted on 08/31/2019 12:44:30 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
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To: chrisser
I’m just tired of the genre already.

As far as this movie is concerned, people can view it not knowing it is based upon a comic book character.

11 posted on 08/31/2019 12:45:35 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I was thinking of seeing this until I learned scumrat Robert DeNiro was in it.


12 posted on 08/31/2019 12:45:35 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary walks free, equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I prefer the Caesar Romero incarnation, myself.


13 posted on 08/31/2019 12:45:53 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana ("...a choice between Woke-fevered Democrats and Koch-funded Republicans is insufficient."-Mark Steyn)
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To: be-baw

Having seen many of the movies Joquim Phoenix has been in including Gladiator and the Johnny Cash movie, he may be the most underated actor in Hollywood. Truly an incredible actor who can change himself according to the role. I have no doubt he will be incredible in the movie, but I just can’t watch this one...I think he is going to make it the most creepy cringe worthy, most uncomfortable Joker movie to date.


14 posted on 08/31/2019 12:48:04 PM PDT by terart
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Yes he is, despite Phoenix being one of my favorite actors.

Ledger ruined that role for anyone else.


15 posted on 08/31/2019 12:51:09 PM PDT by Salamander (Death makes angels of us all, and give us wings where we once had shoulders, smooth as ravens' claws)
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To: GrandJediMasterYoda
I was thinking of seeing this until I learned scumrat Robert DeNiro was in it.

If I read the trailer correctly, his character will die horribly, so there's that.

16 posted on 08/31/2019 12:52:40 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

I agree. Less psychotropic drugs, less indulgence in violent fantasies = reduced violence


17 posted on 08/31/2019 1:03:35 PM PDT by montag813
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To: RooRoobird20

Best thing about Phoenix is that he has always stayed far away from POLITICS. So rare in today’s Hollyweird.


18 posted on 08/31/2019 1:04:58 PM PDT by montag813
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

The smart screenplay by Phillips and Scott Silver anchors the story in a fiercely divided city with echoes of a contemporary, morally bankrupt America, albeit in the dire economic straits of a decade ago, or the next crisis that’s just around the corner, depending on which financial forecasts you believe.

This is considered smart? Same crap you can find whiners on CNNMSNBC spew as credible reporting.


19 posted on 08/31/2019 1:06:08 PM PDT by Bommer (2020 - Vote all incumbent congressmen and senators out! VOTE THE BUMS OUT!!!)
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To: Gay State Conservative
After having seen The Dark Knight I simply can't imagine anyone but Heath Leger playing The Joker.

Ditto.
Watching his Joker never gets old.
20 posted on 08/31/2019 1:11:59 PM PDT by RandallFlagg (Fact: Gun control laws kill innocents.)
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