WHEN THE Venice film festival announced that it would screen a movie about a grinning, green-haired Batman supervillain—from the director of “The Hangover”, no less—it sounded like a joke. Comic-book flicks are not usually granted competition slots at prestigious festivals, and yet that very film, “Joker”, went onto win the top prize, the Golden Lion. Judging by the last two recipients of the same award, “Roma” and “The Shape of Water”, “Joker” could well win an armful of Oscars as well.
The protagonist, Arthur Fleck, is a mentally ill aspiring stand-up comedian who lives in a rundown flat with his ailing mother, Penny . He pays the rent by working as a clown, but the only time he makes anyone laugh is when they are cornering him in a dark alley and beating him to a pulp. That would be enough of a creation myth for most self-respecting villains: in a typical Batman film, Arthur would be reborn as the Joker a scene or two after being beaten up.
The upside of this repetitive narrative is that there is plenty of time to admire Mr Phoenix’s creepy performance—particularly his dramatic, Oscar-friendly weight loss. The downside is that Arthur is obviously a hopeless case from the beginning, and just as obviously he is going to be a flamboyant killer by the end, so there is no tension. There is just a two-hour wait for him to put on his colourful suit, smear on his white make-up, and start shooting people.
Maybe “blossoming into a charismatic criminal mastermind” ain’t cute no more. Killing, bullying, dying at mass shootings and all the snappy crazy stuff thats been going on for 20 years now suck ass, and it’s not fun at all, and so we get the dull creepy weird villain we pay for.
Yah. Clown world right?
I dont think the purpose was to portray him as a ”carismatic criminal mastermind” its the oposite actually, he is a damaged uncharismatic person that did some stuff at a specific moment and was viewed as the idol of a movement that would have happened with or without him.
hoes mad
There's no statistics to prove it!
Indeed there are for the poor that become poorer and the unfortunate that become further unfortunate due to the unfair mega ecosystem that have been created by our society. Yes for more jokers that can create oneday a balance in our ecosystem.
Wow, perhaps calibrating one’s expectations would be in order. And relax; it’s just Hollywood.
Wow, you guys really missed this one, must be your ideological blinders.
You should probably go watch the movie BEFORE the analysis.
I was assuming a film critic should have a full picture of the lore and the plot of a movie to elaborate a review. Reading critic I must to assume I was wrong. (Or not?)
Its just seems like a horrible piece of crap I would never go watch in a million years thank God for movies like Downton Abbey
christiantsfy
What does this have to do with economics?
Well, I could use different adjectives, but look what happened to The Donald!
You mean the story about the clown that fights Batman in comic books isn't politically sophisticated? Holy rusted metal!
Arthur Fleck is the inspiration behind the idea of the eventual Batman antogonist “the joker”.
Who gives a flying fxxk. 'Rome (Washington) is burning' and you're producing the irrelevant dribble.
Politically sophisticathed does not sell.
Yeah? And what are the root causes of schizophrenia, boanthrophy, split personality, obsessive compulsive, psycopathy? Do you really seriously expect a hollywood movie would provide the answers? The article author perhaps should see a shrink
Why does a movie need to be politically sophisticated? It's a movie.
Off the top of my head, being denied access to meds? Didn't even have to think that hard for that one. But your the professional here. Hmmm.
It’s a movie.
The fact that the mainstream media says these kinds of things about the Joker only confirms to me that the exact opposite is true.
haven't seen it but i got that feeling. it looks all lonely and tortured. i love joaquin but the whole odd child is wearing a bit thin like mel gibson's bottom. it was oh look mel movie 1000 2000 3000 he's assing the jews again. kidman cries a lot and charlise has many tantrums
This is what you hear when an economist or a scientist attempts watching a movie. The jargons start flowing.
It is a movie
Seems like a lot of the so called ' reviewers' are disappointed the movie isnt a flop and people are actually watching and enjoying it. Everyone of them just wants Marvel to always take the W ,and any character associated with DC must flop. Just embedded Journalism.
Delusion requires no logic
Do you experience it
The movie showed a mass of disaffected people who started clinging 2 a symbol of someone who ‘fought back’ against a system of power & wealth. However, the focus of the film was about his slipping into a mental break from multiple traumas which led him to devolve into a criminal.
Genetics
Who says he is a charismatic criminal mastermind? That's not what this film is about
I think 99.9% of the movie we see the world through Arthur Fleck eyes, not Joker. That is the point.
Because nothing justifies any person becoming a sadistic criminal murderer?
In my, and many others, opinion the film is a masterpiece. In yours it’s rubbish. Let’s look back in 5 years and see how history regards each opinion.
Yea it does people have a breaking point and his was broken! 🤷🏾♂️
The desperation to tear down this film is absurd. Don’t worry, I’m sure 5 movies that didn’t even break into the yearly top 10 at the box office will still get nominated for Best Picture.
Ummmmm..... it’s a comic book movie?
I agree, it definitely isn’t insightful or politically sophisticated. A film you could write your thesis about or a film you need to watch multiple times in order to understand its intention. It’s just a masterful performance by Joaquin that’s all. 👍🏾
What did anyone expect? otherwise?
I think the 'Joker' clearly shows the manic phase of bipolar disorder after the depressive phase. And yes, a person changes dramatically.
It's a movie. Chill.
Why do you post articles that people can’t read? Either share or don’t, but click baiting is not a good strategy.
Literally the entire movie is about that
haha when did you guys become a joke?
Who cares honestly take the movie for what it was which is an incredible work of art don’t over think it.
See this is the problem of being filthy rich reviewer. you stop seeing things.
Clickbait alert!
You would say that, wouldn’t you, you groomer of the rich.
Well, in 'Harry Potter' they don't explain, how bullied child has any self-respect left at the age of 11.
Stick to economics.
Did y’all watch the movie or what
Bruh Joaquin phoenix put voodoo on niggas with this film🤣 JokerMovie I just podcasted about it below! Btw I have the GREATEST SPEAKING VOICE! Please Retweet if you agree!
All the loners and depressed incels will see this movie as their bible and guidance because it will give them a reason to get revenge on society. Because they all think the people are the reason they are misunderstood not their behavior.
The reviews find it wanting, but the box office is ringing nonstop.
What do you expect from the auteur of the Road Trip franchise?
so what you are saying criminal masterminds are just born same as babies
We don’t expect The Economist to get it
'I don't even know anyone who likes this move'
It’s a damned comic books character... Gime a Break!
Not sure he turned mastermind. The movie would have been a lot more interesting had the joker been a highly intelligent psychopathic good guy turned bad
How much was it for the article?
Out of touch, maybe.
And let’s not forget this is simply his origin. Bruce is still a little boy. There are a good 15 intervening years where the Joker evolves into the clown prince of crime. OhLawdImANerd
I honestly love how every few months this pathetic Redcoat that writes these tweets humors me with utterly atrocious drivel headlines
Wait so it's... NOT REALISTIC? Never mind about seeing it then. We had all assumed a quasi documentary was going to be shown
You missed point. Obviously!
So, it is Donald Trump's life story.
But he wasn't a charismatic criminal mastermind! At least not yet. He only became a killer.
Exept he doesnt become a charismatic criminal mastermind in the film, thats not the point.
Nothing explains how a literal clown could be charismatic
Ah, did you even see the movie What part of the movie did not do the exact thing you claim it does not capture?
I was thinking the same thing: there’s no road that connects Arthur Fleck at the end of Joker to joker the criminal mastermind
People are so quick to condemn a movie but the psychos that caused the financial collapse of 2008 are probably enjoying their multimillion bonuses to this day. I don't really know how much 'political sophistication' one can fit in a movie, but the sentiment is justified.
Ted Bundy worked a suicide hotline and was engaged. Edmund Kemper narrated books on tape, including starwars novels Prolific child rapist, murderer, and cannibal Albert Fish had MANY children of his own. Do not seek patterns in chaos nor reason in madness.
4Chan, bro.
Rage is a dynamite
Really? Let me help you out then: Joker represents the monster that can be created when society demonizes and/or dismisses a group of ppl with social engineering and the resulting societal cruelties inflicted on that group because of the social engineering. Society created joker
There is nothing in the that explains how an awesome economics journal could turn into a drab political rag
I think you missed the point. Stopped the meds that kept him down. Embraced by a society that appreciated and celebrated his actions. Give fuel to a fire and it will grow. Wait for the sequel.
No me gusto para nada la película
This ok?
Joker has some psychological problem which triggers and abruptly magnifies the negtive side of him due to some negative social events.
If I wanted political sophistication I'd watch a slavoj zizek documentary or something
Canceling my economist subscription
El bromas
Who cares? This is a standalone.
A very desperate, impoverished working class found hope and representation within the joker’s radical actions against the unappealing upper class...sound familiar?
/pol can do it.
Who cares? It has Joachin Phoenix. Nothing else matters.
only a frail bullied loner would know😎😎
See there was a point he got off his fucking medication ...
I know people that are shy beyond reason that will slap on a costume for an event and adopt a persona to a degree that blows the minds of anyone that knows them.
It's amazing what people can do if their true identity remains hidden behind a mask or a makeup.
Well, it’s only a comic book story.
jokers trick
We must not have watched the same movie
Society did it, the society that we all live in as a whole. Now yuo see...
I disagree
Joker was fucking amazing. Period. 👌🏻👌🏻
You cannot get film or music right. Ever 🤣😂🤣 It's actually sad.
Give the author some credit. You could make a film & call it bonkers / zonked clown. Batman reference is grateful .
Sometimes, before talking, maybe just stop and think if it would be a better idea not to say anything at all. I must admit, it is funny to see the reciprocation of contempt between the publications readership and the person who thought condescension is a positive engagement.
ALVedovato
If progressives hate it, it must be wonderful.
The notion that The Economost transcends its glossy source material is belied by the numerous neocon-pleasing references to Hawkish US foreign policy
'You wouldn't understand' - Bruce Wayne 🤡🤡🤡
So because it references comic book lore, it cannot be artful beyond its source material? This is a nonsense argument
Why does it matter that a film is 'not especially perceptive or politically sophisticated', when the purpose of a film is to entertain? Further proof that art critics are the Remoras of the civilized world.
Hollywood is trying to lock the Joker character down. Figure him out. It's maddening of course... figuring out madness, once you found it out, you are already there.🤪😜🤪😜🤪😜🤪
Yeah, it's a fucking fictional movie
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