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Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, the worst part is the most “respectable” part. The early goings find Todd Phillips execute the somber prestige drama miserablism with such contrived, unsubtle convergence point on our lead and heavy-handed shallowness that it’s almost a small mercy when an incident of villain origin violence finally occurs and changes the film’s tenor out of it partly. There’s a spark of interesting concepts from here on out -- mainly, about what Arthur Fleck’s Joker persona inspires in people -- and a potential for them to be mined with fully charged provocation, such that one wishes Phillips or someone else is able write or direct them more deeply, or at least less wishy-washy that borderlines on centrist in term of Fleck.
But at least Phillips seems more in his element here after that point on, and unexpectedly good at world-building too (I can’t find the tweet that pointed this out first, but to me at least, this is the most unexpected blockbuster and director to have a town that feels so casually, realistically diverse and lived in), to the point where I almost want the focus less on Fleck and more on Gotham, its people, and the powder keg it’s becoming instead.
Speaking of Arthur Fleck, I was disappointed in Joaquin Phoenix at first, mostly because the early miserablism is so surface it allows him no deep insight to play other than mere tics and physical behaviors, as good as he's able to carry them off. But when his Joker persona and backstory start to emerge, he finally has some meaty, big-gesture material to dig in, and he accomplishes it with electrifying aplomb, full of terrifying, unpredictable energy. The last half hour especially, when Fleck spirals up while Gotham spirals down, achieves some real darkly purgative power in spite of the writing, because Phoenix’s performance and Phillips’ direction become fully in synch at last. 6.5/10
I’ll be seeing this on Thursday. :cool:
Next week
Probably never.
Thursday or Monday.
I figure Liv will be old enough in May, that I will feel comfortable letting a sitter watch her while I go see Black Widow.
I totally understand. The first terror of parenting is "holy shit I have to take care of this thing on my own??" The second terror of newborn parenting is that step of leaving them for any period of time. A big factor (for movie freaks) of the second terror is "for THAT fucking movie?"
The Kimmel interview of Phoenix is genius.
So yeah, fuck this movie. Good thing I didn't pay for it.
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I would like to know more.
Any reactions yet from the juggalos?
50% fresh from the "top" critics on RT, 73% fresh from the blogging rabble. Unusually big split there and a significant downturn since Venice.
I was gonna see this in the theater, now I'm not sure. Too many people are saying it's over-hyped and absolute crap.
I didn't mean to be flippant but I had to sleep on it. I mean, it looks great and it's well directed. The acting is mostly spot on. Phoenix is amazing. But it's a mess when it comes to everything non-technical. While I was watching it, I kept thinking: "I hope I don't see any Joker/clown cosplays from this, because I would punch the guy out".
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Joker is a cold blooded murderer without remorse. I sincerely hope no one says "this movie gets me".
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