I think I like it, but it was uncomfortable and I have a feeling that I would have to watch it several times before I was qualified to think I knew what was really going on.
Perhaps too obvious in a subtle way, but the line that stuck with me was “the worst part about having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don't.”
Pete
I have only seen the theatrical trailer, but while watching that I had a legitimate moment when I wondered why Johnny Cash was playing the Joker.
I want to see it.
Haven't seen it yet, but isn't the whole point of the Joker that he has no backstory?
I thought it was an excellent movie. In an age of superhero movies drowning in CGI anime-style fights and other garbage, it was nice to see something focusing on plot and character development. The movie was flat-out uncomfortable at times - which I think was obviously the point. Joaquin did an excellent job acting and his performance definitely is worthy of awards. I will say this though, if you have any mental illnesses be careful with the movie - my wife suffers from depression and the movie really bothered her. A lot of early reviews commented on the violence in this movie and I just don't see it. Other than a few scenes, it's really not violent at all. Mostly just closeups of him smoking, haha.
With the accurate depiction of mental illness and the few violent scenes and the overall tone of the movie, I definitely wouldn't recommend taking kids to it.
I think me 20 years ago would've been stoked to see it. Me today gets all the darkness I need from the news, and is looking forward to the pendulum swinging back to '80s-style escapism as a reaction to the world instead. However, I do recognize the insignificance/irrelevance of my preference; this isn't a condemnation of a movie I haven't seen...
Haven't seen it yet. But I will as soon as it's available to rent/stream at the house.
With the cost of movie tickets these days, it only reinforces why I have a large 4k TV and big surround system.
In reply to z31maniac :
We've got a big, fancy theater that opened recently near here. I really dig it, and it's a "treat" to go to the movies again. Maybe it has something to do with kind of being FORCED to watch the whole thing? No pausing. No distractions. No phones.
Nothing about the trailer made me feel the least bit interested, I don't care for the Joker as a character and its been done to death lately, and I'm burned out on how unrelentingly disappointing the DC films have been (even Wonder Woman, once you got past the fact that it was a female character and female-directed was meh at best). So I'll pass.
I usually never see movies in the theater but my friend and i went to see once apon a time in hollywood earlier this year. I loved it, and would have watched it again the next day if i could afford to waste money on such things.
The same friend and i saw joker on opening night, and i enjoyed it even more but didn't feel the desire to immediately re-watch the film.
The joker makes heath ledgers joker look corny, which i did not see coming, as that had been my favorite bat man film previously. It is a seriously good movie and i would recommend it to anyone expecting a darkly-fun shocking ride.
10/10
Everyone is forgetting the most important movie of the year- zombie land double tap
I saw it. Thought it was great. The tension was palpable.
It is a pretty strong political statement touching on America's (alleged) shortcomings in care for the mentally ill, and very sympathetic to the marginalized/ignored masses. It is kind of too real to be a superhero/supervillan movie. It is more Taxi Driver than anything, and Scorsese was even involved, but had his name removed to not muddy the waters surrounding "The Irishman"-which also sounds epic.
It is not a happy film, but I found it spellbinding.
In reply to mtn :
No not really, he's been give a bunch of different ones over the years, the common one is the whole chemical vat thing. DC wont settle on a single backstory, basically saying he makes them up as he wants.
I saw it opening night. I thought it was very good, with an exceptional performance by Jouaqin Phoenix. He will at least get nominated, and may very well win Best Actor. Having said that, I can't say I enjoyed it. As others have said, it's very dark. VERY reminiscent of early Scorcese, the story is basically "Taxi Driver" meets "The King of Comedy", but with Batman characters.
I guess, in summary, I admire the craftsmanship that went into it, but I'm not sure I liked it.
I thought it was berking terrible.
wheelsmithy said:It is kind of too real to be a superhero/supervillan movie.
I think this is what I liked most about it. I'm not generally a fan of superhero movies, but this one felt like a real story of a mentally ill man getting worse and worse until he ultimately becomes the Joker. I think what makes it so dark and unsettling is that it is grounded in reality, and almost sounds like something that could really happen. I don't know if I'll watch it again, but I loved it.
That being said, the scene where the woman on the bus tells him to stop bothering her kid and he breaks out into laughter was possibly the most awkwardly hilarious scene I've seen in a long time.
Awesome performance by Joaquin Phoenix.
The movie was more about mental illness than a comic villian.
I don't see how this joker could ever become a supervillan...he wasn't portrayed as especially smart.
He was sort of thrust into the role as the 'face' of a movement. There were several things in the movie that addressed this, but IMO there couldn't easily be a Joker II with this character and his path.
Mndsm said:Everyone is forgetting the most important movie of the year- zombie land double tap
Waaaaay more excited for that
poopshovel again said:In reply to z31maniac :
We've got a big, fancy theater that opened recently near here. I really dig it, and it's a "treat" to go to the movies again. Maybe it has something to do with kind of being FORCED to watch the whole thing? No pausing. No distractions. No phones.
It could be the last two movies I saw, the Rush documentary and the ZZ Top Documentary.
Not even at the fancy theaters with leather recliners and booze.
Two different theaters, Tix were $17 each. Add in a snack and drink.....nearly $50 to see a movie for two people. Ouch.
I'll pick up Thai food and some booze on the way home for that.
infinitenexus said:wheelsmithy said:It is kind of too real to be a superhero/supervillan movie.
I think this is what I liked most about it. I'm not generally a fan of superhero movies, but this one felt like a real story of a mentally ill man getting worse and worse until he ultimately becomes the Joker. I think what makes it so dark and unsettling is that it is grounded in reality, and almost sounds like something that could really happen. I don't know if I'll watch it again, but I loved it.
That being said, the scene where the woman on the bus tells him to stop bothering her kid and he breaks out into laughter was possibly the most awkwardly hilarious scene I've seen in a long time.
I got annoyed when I couldn't find the Nolan trilogy at the store I go to, and the clerk said that it was in the superhero movie section.
Nobody in the Batman universe are superheros/supervillains. They're just people. That is what makes them more interesting to me than handwavium super powers BS.
In reply to Knurled. :
Money is a hell of a superpower though.
In reply to Grizz :
"I am a man of simple tastes. I enjoy dynamite... gunpowder... and gasoline. And you know the thing that they have in common? They're cheap."
"Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets."
Grassroots Villainsports?
Great acting and camera work. The film is very impressive emotionally [if you're paddling your canoe]
Haven't seen it. I liked Batman when it was a campy TV show on re-runs. Never cared for any of the movies, but don't think I've seen any since maybe Michael Keaton or Val Kilmer played him.
That being said, this movie sounds interesting. I'll watch someday when it is on Netflix.
T.J. said:Haven't seen it. I liked Batman when it was a campy TV show on re-runs. Never cared for any of the movies, but don't think I've seen any since maybe Michael Keaton or Val Kilmer played him.
That being said, this movie sounds interesting. I'll watch someday when it is on Netflix.
As someone who dislikes the entire "superhero/comic book" movie/universe stuff, I have to say I really enjoyed the Christopher Nolan trilogy with Christian Bale as Batman.
I also really enjoyed "The Boys" on Amazon Prime. Even though it was superhero/comic stuff, the incredibly dark take and corruption side of the story made it enjoyable.
In reply to z31maniac :
Noted. Sounds interesting. Plus, I'll value your judgement given similar attitude to that type of movie.
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