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Post by darksidebeadle on Oct 3, 2019 3:27:55 GMT
Joker (2019, Todd Phillips)
After the DC comics connected universe films came in under expectations (although still profitable), DC started planning out some stand alone films and Todd Phillips (Old School, The Hangover) approached them about doing a Joker film in a gritty style akin to The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver. With the film requiring a much lower budget than the usual superhero blockbusters it was green-lit.
The talk for the subsequent years of production of it being something we have not seen in the realm of comic book movies before have proved correct, as we have a character study/ drama with this film. In that respect it is a refreshing change. The film is indeed a gritty feeling serious drama with a great central performance from Joaquin Phoenix (Her) that raises the film to another level.
As far as the direction goes, the film looks good but my main issue is just how much it apes the two Scorsese films it is inspired by. Taking that tone is one thing but not only does this have similar story moments (also forgivable) but has shots/ scenes that feel duplicated. It will take film buffs out of the movie as they spot these pretty regularly throughout. So depending on how much the shameless aping of King of Comedy and especially Taxi Driver will bother you may effect your score. It bothered me a fair amount at times but I am sure it will bother others more than me and many less.
That aside it is a good character study with a memorable lead performance and a welcome change to the mainstream box office. As far as the controversy over subject matter, the people who want to be outraged by things will find things in it to be outraged about but in the end it's just a movie and also it doesn't appear to endorse things has just present a fairly believable story.
7.5/10
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Post by mslo79 on Oct 3, 2019 6:04:31 GMT
I doubt it will bother me as I don't care for either The King of Comedy of Taxi Driver (both are pretty average/forgettable for me) but I think there is a decent chance ill like Joker (2019).
but that stuff aside... you basically said about what I expected in that it's more of a character study instead of the typical super hero movie which is more action oriented etc. hopefully I am underestimating it but personally my best guesstimate is ill give it a about a 6/10 (a mild Thumbs Up) when I get around to seeing it.
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Post by sdrew13163 on Oct 3, 2019 6:19:54 GMT
Kinda worried about all the people who’ve seen it saying it’s way too similar to Taxi Driver and King of Comedy.
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Post by Prime etc. on Oct 3, 2019 6:48:04 GMT
They should have done EMPEROR JOKER instead.
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Post by darksidebeadle on Oct 3, 2019 7:21:23 GMT
Kinda worried about all the people who’ve seen it saying it’s way too similar to Taxi Driver and King of Comedy. Well I’ve known for ages that it was going to have references to those films but it was more than even I expected |
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Post by Caesium137 on Oct 3, 2019 8:35:58 GMT
It will depend on how accurate the Joker is to his comic counterpart and not just a straight rip off of other Scorsese movies.
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Post by darksidebeadle on Oct 3, 2019 11:20:47 GMT
I doubt it will bother me as I don't care for either The King of Comedy of Taxi Driver (both are pretty average/forgettable for me) but I think there is a decent chance ill like Joker (2019). but that stuff aside... you basically said about what I expected in that it's more of a character study instead of the typical super hero movie which is more action oriented etc. hopefully I am underestimating it but personally my best guesstimate is ill give it a about a 6/10 (a mild Thumbs Up) when I get around to seeing it. I think you will find it boring |
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Post by miike80 on Oct 3, 2019 11:52:42 GMT
I don't even want to see a movie trying to be Taxi Driver or King of Comedy. I love those movies so much, that i don't care for other interpretations
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Post by darksidebeadle on Oct 3, 2019 11:54:44 GMT
I don't even want to see a movie trying to be Taxi Driver or King of Comedy. I love those movies so much, that i don't care for other interpretations Fair enough, you should avoid this film then |
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Post by miike80 on Oct 3, 2019 11:59:20 GMT
I don't even want to see a movie trying to be Taxi Driver or King of Comedy. I love those movies so much, that i don't care for other interpretations Fair enough, you should avoid this film then I'll give it a probably when it's on some streaming service. At least for Joaquin and DeNiro
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Post by OldAussie on Oct 3, 2019 12:12:02 GMT
Yeah, there's a lot of Taxi Driver and King of Comedy, but it's pretty well done and Phoenix is excellent.
Anyone expecting the usual predictable, generic, dumbed down superhero movie is gonna be disappointed. A solid 8/10.
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Post by jamesbamesy on Oct 3, 2019 12:41:28 GMT
I haven’t seen King of Comedy, so I might have it more of a problem with it copying Taxi Driver. That said glad you enjoyed it. I wanna see this movie so bad.
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Post by hi224 on Oct 3, 2019 12:59:22 GMT
Kinda worried about all the people who’ve seen it saying it’s way too similar to Taxi Driver and King of Comedy. Well I’ve known for ages that it was going to have references to those films but it was more than even I expected yeah some promo shots felt riffed from King of Comedy, but Todd Phillips loves aping Scorsese.
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Post by Toxicalicity on Oct 3, 2019 14:53:50 GMT
I disagree with you on Phoenix's performance. While I was initially VERY impressed with his intense presence, I soon realized he was essentially going for a kind of kitchen sink approach, a greatest hits of mental illness cliches, tropes and "fun factoids". More often than not, I found myself thinking "ah yes, I remember THAT one too!" or something similar. As the film went on, I became less and less enthralled by the character and performance, which is highly unfortunate, because there just isn't that much else to compensate for it. The film isn't super terrible or anything, but it's just so empty and showy, a problem only further highlighted by Phoenix's try-hard performance.
I really couldn't go any higher than a 5/10.
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Post by darksidebeadle on Oct 3, 2019 21:15:04 GMT
I haven’t seen King of Comedy, so I might have it more of a problem with it copying Taxi Driver. That said glad you enjoyed it. I wanna see this movie so bad. King of comedy in my top 20 |
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Post by jamesbamesy on Oct 3, 2019 21:15:51 GMT
I haven’t seen King of Comedy, so I might have it more of a problem with it copying Taxi Driver. That said glad you enjoyed it. I wanna see this movie so bad. King of comedy in my top 20 It’s on my watchlist, so eventually.. |
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Post by anthonyrocks on Oct 3, 2019 22:57:20 GMT
I heard that Robert De Niro really only has just 2 or 3 scenes in the Movie and that is it.
If that is true then I actually think that that is Pretty Disappointing.
I know that he is not the star of the Movie, that Joaquin Phoenix is as "The Joker" but still.....De Niro is such an Amazing Actor that he deserves to have more than just 2 or 3 scenes in a Movie.
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Post by darksidebeadle on Oct 3, 2019 23:30:31 GMT
I heard that Robert De Niro really only has just 2 or 3 scenes in the Movie and that is it.
If that is true then I actually think that that is Pretty Disappointing.
I know that he is not the star of the Movie, that Joaquin Phoenix is as "The Joker" but still.....De Niro is such an Amazing Actor that he deserves to have more than just 2 or 3 scenes in a Movie.
He has a few scenes, more than 3 I believe, he has a very key role to the story though |
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Post by Dirty Santa PaulsLaugh on Oct 4, 2019 2:26:14 GMT
Yeah, there's a lot of Taxi Driver and King of Comedy, but it's pretty well done and Phoenix is excellent. Anyone expecting the usual predictable, generic, dumbed down superhero movie is gonna be disappointed. A solid 8/10. The director is up front about doing this, so I will take that into consideration once I see it. I love Taxi Driver, but not so much King of Comedy...though De Nero is excellent as Rupert Pupkin.
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Post by anthonyrocks on Oct 4, 2019 2:49:48 GMT
I heard that Robert De Niro really only has just 2 or 3 scenes in the Movie and that is it.
If that is true then I actually think that that is Pretty Disappointing.
I know that he is not the star of the Movie, that Joaquin Phoenix is as "The Joker" but still.....De Niro is such an Amazing Actor that he deserves to have more than just 2 or 3 scenes in a Movie.
He has a few scenes, more than 3 I believe, he has a very key role to the story though Well that is good to hear.
Thank You for letting me know about that, I do appreciate it. 
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