Joaquin Phoenix to play the Joker in standalone movie

[tardigrade81]

I saw it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it.


I wouldn't call it a complete masterpiece or anything like that. But it was quite good, and did a really good job at delving into the psychological breakdown of Arthur Fleck IMO.


At least for me, the entire time watching it and even after I was kind of uncomfortable. Mostly because it felt like in a way, a lot of the things Arthur experiences and goes through are too some extent relatable to what many people experience every day. The struggles to fit in, the struggles to get by in life, and society basically doing nothing to help or care about whatever struggles you are going through.

Well said!
I think that is the feeling they were going for. A lot of people in today’s world experience exactly what he was experiencing. It was a very well done movie because they took Alan Moore’s. Story of the Killing Joke (down on his luck comedian, wife leaves him and he hits all time low and goes mad) but put their own twist on it as if it was today’s world. They didn’t take the exact storyline of the Red Hood and robbing the playing card company through the chemical waste plant. But the spin they put on it was fantastic. They really did a good job. I’m not saying it’s the best movie of all time but it’s very good entertainment.
8/10

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

I don't get the loose Taxi Driver comparisons, they are really 2 different people with subtle ties:

Arthur Fleck in The Joker=
-Non-Violent
-Apologetic
-Good Natured
-Scrawny and "weak"/meek
-Ran from danger and confrontation until he broke
-"Comedic" career/"Clowny"-"Stand-Up"
-Fleck's "violents acts" are 100% selfish

"Taxi Driver"/Travis Bickle=
-Military Background
-Porn Addicted
-Guns obsessed
-Obsessed with physical fitness and strong/masculine
-Dreamed of confrontation/welcomed it /"You talking to me"
-Bickle's "violent acts" are of salvation for others/compassionate in nature (for 2+ notable characters in the movie)

So what if they are both suicidal loners that dislike society and go nuts, saying the 2 are one offs is like saying Taxi Driver and Fight Club are doppelgangers because the protagonists share the same amount of similarities as do the characters listed above.

After finally getting to watch Taxi Driver last night, I 100% agree with this. Sure, they may have had the same "feel" to them, but some people are acting like Joker is a scene-by-scene remake, which just isn't true. I was watching Taxi Driver last night, and I kept thinking to myself... "okay, so where are all the similarities at?" Just don't see it beyond a few very vague similarities. ​

 

[GhostfaceWu]

All these publications bashing it just see themselves being represented as catalysts and would rather push all blame on the individual instead of seeing it as a reflection of modern times and how a lot of people treat one another.

Anyways movie was great and Joaquin said he'd be up for reprising the role so I hope Reeves somehow creates a Batman world where this Joker can exist.

 

[bleedblue1223]

All these publications bashing it just see themselves being represented as catalysts and would rather push all blame on the individual instead of seeing it as a reflection of modern times and how a lot of people treat one another.

Anyways movie was great and Joaquin said he'd be up for reprising the role so I hope Reeves somehow creates a Batman world where this Joker can exist.

I'm not sure how the timeline would work, just simply based on ages.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

Spoiler: Age Difference

There's a theory going around that the movie was told as a memory from Joker's perspective, and that he just placed his current self in his previous memories. Not saying I believe that, just an interesting thought.

 

[Huggy43]

Of course the media is pushing back! Did anyone else notice how Todd Philippe uses the media in the movie? They’re having a mirror held up to their face & they don’t like it. Their Sensationalism is being point out big time.

 

[Sombastate]

The movie made 96 million dollars.

Just enough to pay off the budget they had for cigarettes.

 

[Pilky01]

It is great.

I mean...we all know movies about comic book characters arent appealing to people at all. Clearly they needed a hidden political agenda to sell a movie about the most well known comic book villain of all time

Yes. Making successful comic book movies is very easy. Just ask Zach Snyder. Or whoever made Justice League. Or everybody pre MCU save for 2/3 Sam Raimi movies.

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

9.5/10 as a movie. 8.0/10 as a Joker movie.

+Phoenix was amazing
+Love the toying with delusion vs reality
+Last 20 minutes were amazing

2 big points that held it back from being a great Joker movie
-Felt the movie tried to sympathize with Arthur/Joker - I really wish they made it harder to do so
-This version of the Joker I struggle with seeing a criminal mastermind - I doubt it'll happen, but I would like to see this version of the Joker+20 years in the future going head to head with Batman. A Killing Joke style movie would be great.

I agree with this, although my ratings might be slightly lower. Great movie as a movie, but since it's supposed to be about the Joker it loses a few points cause it just didn't feel all that much like a movie about the Joker.

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Wasn’t all that impressed

 

[Satans Hockey]

Got my answer about the hey song royalties, this is one of the reasons the Devils got rid of it as a goal song...

Convicted pedophile Gary Glitter set to earn big royalties from 'Joker' movie

 

[Jussi]

Got my answer about the hey song royalties, this is one of the reasons the Devils got rid of it as a goal song...

Convicted pedophile Gary Glitter set to earn big royalties from 'Joker' movie

I think most teams have gotten rid of it as their goal song. But the Leafs played it during a break in one of their home games last week and I felt like saying something about it but didn't eventually.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I think most teams have gotten rid of it as their goal song. But the Leafs played it during a break in one of their home games last week and I felt like saying something about it but didn't eventually.

Are we not able to separate the art from the artist anymore? And yes, he's a POS.

 

[End on a Hinote]

Saw it on the weekend and thought it was great. Felt terrible for Arthur, especially at the start when those kids stole his sign, and looked at him as a victim who finally snapped after trying so hard to do well.

 

[Jussi]

Are we not able to separate the art from the artist anymore? And yes, he's a POS.

Not in his case.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Not in his case.

Fair, I'm just always curious where people draw the line.

 

[End on a Hinote]

A dumb question as it seems everyone except me got this while watching the movie but

Spoiler

when did Arthur realise that he was never actually dating the girl he met in the elevator? I knew she was startled when he appeared in her apartment but I thought that was because of news reports. Was that when he/the audience was supposed to realise this?

Also, I'm not the brightest when it comes to searching for the deeper meaning in film and TV, but despite all the liberals thinking this movie is anti-right wing, could it potentially be anti-far left considering its full if "clowns" complaining and protesting against the rich and elite?

 

[Satans Hockey]

Are we not able to separate the art from the artist anymore? And yes, he's a POS.

I think that's easier to do once the artist has died. It's different to me when they are still actually alive, convicted and collecting royalties off it even though he's sitting in a jail cell right now and probably will die there.

 

[OhCaptainMyCaptain]

A dumb question as it seems everyone except me got this while watching the movie but

Spoiler

when did Arthur realise that he was never actually dating the girl he met in the elevator? I knew she was startled when he appeared in her apartment but I thought that was because of news reports. Was that when he/the audience was supposed to realise this?

Also, I'm not the brightest when it comes to searching for the deeper meaning in film and TV, but despite all the liberals thinking this movie is anti-right wing, could it potentially be anti-far left considering its full if "clowns" complaining and protesting against the rich and elite?

Spoiler: Answer

When he goes into her apartment, she asks him, "are you the guy from the elevator?" That signaled she had never seen him besides then, so everything was made up. She didn't recognize him, because they were never dating. Also, right after that, they show the clips of them "together" again, but then fade her out, because she wasn't actually there.

Also, I don't really think there is any anti-left/right message either way. That just seems like people looking way too far into things.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I think that's easier to do once the artist has died. It's different to me when they are still actually alive, convicted and collecting royalties off it even though he's sitting in a jail cell right now and probably will die there.

Yeah, there are just so many it seems like. It's never a hill I'll make a stand on, so I completely understand people wanting to avoid the work of people they find reprehensible.

 

[End on a Hinote]

Spoiler: Answer

When he goes into her apartment, she asks him, "are you the guy from the elevator?" That signaled she had never seen him besides then, so everything was made up. She didn't recognize him, because they were never dating. Also, right after that, they show the clips of them "together" again, but then fade her out, because she wasn't actually there.

Also, I don't really think there is any anti-left/right message either way. That just seems like people looking way too far into things.

Thanks, that makes sense. I must have misheard the elevator comment for something else

 

[Pilky01]

I think most teams have gotten rid of it as their goal song. But the Leafs played it during a break in one of their home games last week and I felt like saying something about it but didn't eventually.

Did they?

I very much remember when that story initially broke and the Leafs made a pretty big point of making it known they would never play that song again.

I would be shocked to find out they have started playing it again.

 

[Jussi]

Did they?

I very much remember when that story initially broke and the Leafs made a pretty big point of making it known they would never play that song again.

I would be shocked to find out they have started playing it again.

Oh I definitely heard it. It was probably the Saturday game.

 

[The Beyonder]

(Mod)

Hmmmm. And here I thought I was watching a movie about how society/government fails individuals in need, particularly mentally ill people, through neglect and mistreatment, and how those actions (or inactions) can have dangerous consequences.

Do those "journalists" even bother watching the movie? Arthur never defined himself with anything beyond his mental and emotional issues; he could have been any colour or sex.

He wanted to be accepted, respected and cared for. He only identified himself as The Joker because that's the only identity of his that ever received them. "The worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you DONT". And that's the Arthur's sad reality; he can't fit in because people won't accept or don't care about his condition; even to the point of asking him if it's all an act, having his benefits revoked, etc.

But yeah, lets boil the themes down to Trump allegory, because that's all some people want to boil things down to.

 

[Kiwi]

Just watched the movie

Joaquin Phoenix has to be in any conversation about the "best actor of his generation"

The movie was good, well written with a great score but the thing that elevates it is Phoenix himself, the guy is just riveting and turns a solid if unspectacular movie into something I really appreciated watching

The media hysteria surrounding this movie was an absolute **** show, how anybody could watch that thing and come away thinking that it's anything more than mildly edgy is beyond me, it wasn't that political imo and the guy wasn't what you'd normally define as an incel

I can only imagine how Natural Born Killers would go down today if the Joker gets this type of coverage