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In "Joker", Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian, becoming a comic comic villain. Must Credit: Photo of handout from Niko Tavernise / Warner Bros.
In "Joker", Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian, becoming a comic comic villain. Must Credit: Photo of handout from Niko Tavernise / Warner Bros.
Photo: Niko Tavernise, Photographer / Handout
In "Joker", Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian, becoming a comic comic villain. Must Credit: Photo of handout from Niko Tavernise / Warner Bros.
In "Joker", Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian, becoming a comic comic villain. Must Credit: Photo of handout from Niko Tavernise / Warner Bros.
Photo: Niko Tavernise, Photographer / Handout
Los Angeles — There's no such thing as bad publicity, but the attention of the “joker” is testing its old clichés.
The original story of the classic Batman villain was inspired by works that defend and oppose the film. Finally, it was a great response to the decision to give Oscar to Joaquin Phoenix as being “dangerous”, “irresponsible” and even “unfriendly”. A letter has been sent to Warner Bros. CEO, seeking support for the cause of the anti-country. The studio issued a statement that the film was not "a guarantee of all kinds of real violence."
As part of the culture for 80 years, the Joker always had a way to capture the skin of people. It is because of the story of who the character appeals to, what he represents, or how the actors appeared.
The film was made for the intricate work of a famous film that won after the first award at the Venice Film Festival. Reviews are mostly positive, but filmmakers are focusing on defense. Director and co-author Todd Phillips does not care about the discussion.
"I will talk about it all day," he said. "Do not be shy."
He wants people to see the movie before they can conclude.
“If people write without thinking, it's a bit of a problem. Even in their opinion & # 39; I don't need to know what it is. I was surprised and honestly found that it could sound as easy as the rightmost when the leftmost fits their agenda. Phillips said. "Up to that point, I was disappointed."
Preemptive backlash is even more embarrassing because he wants to inspire the conversation with Phillips. A conversation about the treatment of guns, violence and psychosis.
"Some of the reasons we made the film are a reaction to the cartoon world of the film," Phillips said. “Why is this famous? Why is this funny? Why is this fun? What is the real meaning of violence? & # 39; ”
Villain you deserve
The film itself is a slow burn character study of how the mentally ill middle-aged man Arthur Fleck becomes a joker. As the audience falls into his life, he works as a clown, lives in Gotham apartment with his mother, and sometimes checks in with a social worker. He has a card that he gives people to explain that his spontaneous and painful laughter is due to his state of health. His only pleasure seems to be watching talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) in the evening.
“The truth is that you see it and your heart hurts. And he was not a heart, ”Phillips said. “Do you know what happens in the movie when there is a world with no empathy and no love? Get the villains you want. ”
Often the actor had to go to a difficult place, and even though the "joker" was in a virtual world, it added more realistic complexity than most other depictions. Phoenix has investigated many people who are reluctant to name themselves to play Arthur and the Joker.
"Some of the people I've studied feel that they are paying attention and notoriety," he said. "I don't think they deserve it anymore."
He also lost 52 pounds in an extremely calorie-restricted diet, under the supervision of a doctor, and suffered a rapid body transformation. He expected “feelings of dissatisfaction, hunger, some kind of vulnerability and weakness”. Instead, the expression led to physical “liquidity” that he did not anticipate.
Phoenix said he and Philips are constantly finding new elements for Joker and Arthur.
“The way to interpret how and how he behaves at any moment seems infinite. And there was nothing that didn't make sense. So we create scenes in various ways, some I cry, some jokes, others get angry, it's going to be the same scene, and all of them have a (complete) meaning, ”he said.
It was constantly "interesting" and amazing to experience, but portraying Arthur / Joker proved to be "messy and uncomfortable" for 44 year old actors.
Whether or not the audience acts by using characters as inspiration or excuses, Phoenix believes that the responsibility lies with the individual.
“I think the audience should be challenged and be able to know the difference between right and wrong. I don't think it's the filmmaker's responsibility to teach morality, ”Phoenix said. "If you don't know the difference between right and wrong, there are all sorts of things to interpret the way you want."
He and Philips both stress that the R-rated "Joker" is not a kid's movie. Also not for everyone.
"I want people to see it and look like a movie," Phillips said. “I hope everyone will like it. We did not make a movie for everyone. Whenever anyone wants to make a movie for someone, it usually doesn't apply to anyone… There is a choice. Do not look at other choices. OK."