OT: Joker (2019) - Joaquin Phoenix

OT: Joker (2019) - Joaquin Phoenix Sept 3, 2019 17:08:25 GMT FrankSobotka1514 and Winston Wolfe like this

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Post by klawrencio79 on Sept 3, 2019 17:08:25 GMT

Sept 3, 2019 16:46:37 GMT FrankSobotka1514 said:

Part of the appeal and mystique about the Joker (the character, not the movie) is that he’s been given no official origin story. There’s been different versions given in different Batman comics and also in the Tim Burton film but nothing that anyone can say “this is his true origin.” He’s a cross between Keyser Soze and an actual demon or something in between.

For me, part of what made The Dark Knight's version of the Joker so compelling was the fact that he had no backstory, no name, no....anything really. He even tells two different versions of how he got his signature scars, both of which are equally disturbing but the second versions leaves you wondering which one, if either, are true. It's part of what makes him an absolute villain that presents such a difficult challenge to Batman. He's an idea, basically a completely bastardized version of what Batman represents.

I love Phoenix and if there's any actor out there who could ably pick up the mantle of the character (whereas Jared Leto couldn't have fallen flatter on his stupid face) it's him. But I fear that giving Joker this backstory will serve to undermine what makes him such a great character in the first place.

That said, give props to DC a bit here. They realize that everything they're doing has been unbridled dogshit the last few years, so I give them credit for a wise course correction. Even if the movie is passably entertaining, that's a great step for them.