When ‘Joker’ Surprised the Festival and Skeptics Alike

The Todd Phillips-directed film “Joker” has become a monumental success, grossing $1 billion at the box office and earning 11 Oscar nominations with two significant wins, including Best Actor for Joaquin Phoenix. However, it’s easy to forget the intense debate and concern that surrounded the movie before its release in October 2019.

“Joker” offers a dark origin story of a mentally ill man who becomes the infamous Batman villain. Leading up to its debut, there was a cultural clash with many worried that the movie would glorify violence and potentially encourage harmful behavior. Words like “dangerous,” “irresponsible,” and “incel-friendly” were frequently used to describe it, even before most had seen it.

The speculation intensified when “Joker” was included in the main competition at the Venice Film Festival. Some critics assumed that Phillips had pulled some strings to secure this spot. However, Phillips assured The Associated Press that this was not the case. The unusual release strategy for a comic book movie, treating it more like an Oscar contender, added fuel to the fire among movie enthusiasts.

The world was stunned when “Joker” won the festival’s top prize, the Golden Lion, awarded previously to films like “The Shape of Water” and “Roma.” Accepting the prize, Phillips thanked Warner Bros. and DC for their bold leap of faith and expressed his gratitude to Phoenix for trusting him with his remarkable talents. This win sent a strong message to skeptics: “Joker” and Phillips were not to be underestimated. Phillips, previously known for frat-bro comedies like “The Hangover” and “Old School,” showed his ability to tackle a more serious genre effectively.

Drawing inspiration from Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy,” Phillips aimed to bring a disturbing realism to the story. Unlike the traditional comic book origin, Phoenix’s Joker doesn’t fall into a vat of acid but is portrayed as a loner pushed to his limits. For his role, Phoenix underwent a drastic transformation, losing 52 pounds through a calorie-restricted diet supervised by a doctor. Phoenix revealed that the emaciation surprisingly led to a physical fluidity he hadn’t anticipated.

Reviews were mostly positive, with critics admiring the film’s boldness. AP Film Writer Jake Coyle noted that “Phillips and Phoenix have made something to reckon with, certainly, and that alone makes it a bold exception in a frustratingly safe genre.” Phillips openly discussed the film, its intentions, and the criticisms it faced. He emphasized that the movie was not made for everyone and acknowledged that viewers could choose not to watch it if they didn’t like its premise.

Concerns escalated when family members of victims from the 2012 movie theater shooting during “The Dark Knight Rises” urged the studio to advocate for gun safety. By the time “Joker” was ready for its U.S. premieres, the studio decided to limit interviews and made the red carpets at the Hollywood and New York Film Festival premieres photo-only events.

Despite the controversies, people flocked to see “Joker.” It opened to nearly $100 million in October 2019 and went on to gross over $1 billion, holding the record for highest-grossing R-rated film until recently, when “Deadpool & Wolverine” surpassed it. Phillips congratulated Shawn Levy, Marvel, and Disney for their achievement.

Phillips is now preparing to return to the Venice Film Festival along with Phoenix and Lady Gaga for the debut of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Expectations are higher for this sequel, which has a larger budget than its $60 million predecessor. Phillips, however, called reports of the film exceeding $200 million “absurd.”

The discourse around the sequel has already started, but this time the focus is not on violence but rather its musical elements.

Source: Associated Press