Joker

[Shaun @ Tru6]

The two guys who wrote the script should get an Oscar or whatever movie awards are "in" these days. The story was brilliantly written and equally so laid out over 2 hours. Could have been another 30 minutes of transitioning Arthur into the Joker. Perhaps the best origin story I've seen.

The gritty, late 70s early 80s cinematography was perfect.

Joaquin Phoenix, Oscar worthy performance.

Looking forward to more.

Definitely not a movie for everyone.

[sc_rufctr]

Thanks... I'm planning to see this soon with my son.

[pavulon]

It's interesting that the Joker has been filmed into the realm of a possible reality...of all the Batman characters, he was a fascinating choice for that. I'm looking forward to seeing it too.

[sc_rufctr]

Just one thing... I've read that the movie is "borderline irresponsible" at times.

That description made me want to see the movie even more.

[Tobra]

Borderline irresponsible at times, I like the sound of that.

I look forward most expectatiously to this flick

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Borderline irresponsible at times, I like the sound of that.

Me too. I immediately thought of our 300 strong group of motorcyclists riding through town last weekend

[freeform911]

I wasn't overly impressed with the movie...found it to be pretty boring honestly...
Don't understand what all the hype was about..
Extra security...army issuing warnings n whatever...

I'm not a huge tv/movie person..

[slow&rusty]

Joaquin Phoenix is a brilliant actor

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by freeform911

I wasn't overly impressed with the movie...found it to be pretty boring honestly...
Don't understand what all the hype was about..
Extra security...army issuing warnings n whatever...

I'm not a huge tv/movie person..

I think you have to have a certain type of mind or experience to picture what this movie is about. It isn't as intellectual as A Clockwork Orange, or as revolutionary as V for Vendetta, but it is roughly in the same vein.

I didn't think I was going to like it, but I thought it was very well put together. It is cartoonish to a level where it avoids the terror of a true psychological thriller, but allegorical enough to dissect. That makes it very watchable, and probably attractive to a certain type of person.

If you can't relate to it, that is probably a good thing. Sadly, I think there are probably more than a few people out there that can. I think that makes it worth trying to understand.

[DWBOX2000]

Definitely shed some light on mental illness and what can happen when untreated.
I really felt for the guy. We all had those kids back in school that were weird and were ignored or bullied from other kids. I thought it was a look into that world, how tough it can be and what can happen. Amazed he didn't blow his brains out earlier.

Excellent movie. Phoenix deserves an Oscar.

[Steve Carlton]

I remember being dazzled by Jack Nicholson's Joker. Then Heath Ledger brought it to a different place and a level with his characterization. What a tragedy about Heath and that we'll never get a reprise or anything else from him again. For me, there was tremendous entertainment value in both of their portrayals. I like Joaquin Phoenix's acting (especially in Gladiatory) and thought he did a brilliant job in Joker. But OMG was a sad, negative, depressing movie. The problem for me is I found it non-entertaining. Watching a very sick guy mentally, let down by the system, circle the drain and lash out was not entertaining at all for me.

I had such high expectations of a Joker creation movie and went out on its first night in the theater. I don't regret seeing it, but I was profoundly disappointed. I had glanced to see some reviews were good without really reading them. After the movie, I looked more seriously at some reviews and my feelings were borne out. See this one from the NY Times. I don't think it's a spoiler:

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/03/movies/joker-review.html

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Steve, I agree with you for the most part. What I took from it was an ultimate origin story, how the character was created. For that alone, I thought the movie was great.

Ledger created a phenomenal Joker. I have seen reviewers try to compare Phoenix but I don't think you can. We only saw the creation of the Joker, not the Joker in action as a mature(ing) character.

[flatbutt]

I've been a fan of comics on the big screen forever, but I am really tired of the constant re-booting. I may give this one a view, but if I don't it's no biggie.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

Steve, I agree with you for the most part. What I took from it was an ultimate origin story, how the character was created. For that alone, I thought the movie was great.

We'll need to disagree on that. Phoenix did a great job portraying a guy with a severe mental illness who was abused by members of society and left unassisted by health care. I personally don't find the nuts and bolts of this character's dysfunction and sickness enjoyable or entertaining. I didn't find this character possessing any genius or personality worthy of making him a comic book super villain. Phoenix's character concentrated on portraying his mental illness. Nicholson and Ledger celebrated the outlandish behavior of a bizarre crime boss. I found enormous entertainment in what they did.

[DWBOX2000]

I think if anything it helps one to think about how we treat others and it’s impact. I do have a tough time though connecting this bumbling Joker to the mastermind that gave Gotham trouble. Maybe getting off the drugs made things clearer.

[javadog]

Call me an old fart but I've seen the trailers and I have less than zero interest in seeing this movie...

I go to movies to be entertained, to escape life... etc.

[DavidI]

I thought the movie was absolutely brilliant! The cinematography was fantastic and dark. It held my complete attention from the opening second to the very end. I will see it again as well.

My favorite portrayal of Joker was Heath, but Phoenix did an incredible job.

[varmint]

I forget who said it first. Maybe frank miller. But the idea was that the joker shouldn’t have an origin or a back story. He should be pure random nihilism.

Guess i’ll See the move eventually.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by javadog

I go to movies to be entertained, to escape life... etc.

I go to movies in the same way I read books. Tess of the d'Urbervilles, classic tragic hero. Arthur Fleck, classic tragic anti-hero. Similar stories of use and abuse from childhood into adulthood but with very different outcomes. That's interesting to me. Their stories and the way they are told are fascinating.

If this movie were a book, and you "backdated it" as a long lost now found work by Hardy (it was compressed and as dense as Hardy) or Hemingway or Dickens, it would be heralded as classic literature that senior HS English teachers would use it as part of a hero curriculum. The script was that good IMHO. And the acting.

Of course there's Stuart Little for entertainment too.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by DavidI

I thought the movie was absolutely brilliant! The cinematography was fantastic and dark. It held my complete attention from the opening second to the very end. I will see it again as well.

My favorite portrayal of Joker was Heath, but Phoenix did an incredible job.

I would be amazed if Phoenix could pull off a better Joker than Ledger. But if there's anyone that can do it...