A few takeaways on JOKER: a phenomenal and instantly iconic performance by Joaquin Phoenix. The political commentary is far more complex and subtle than many critics are acknowledging.
Thomas Wayne is turned into a fantastic representation of elite failure. His answer to the troubled, atomized mob is basically a Makers and Takers speech.
The biggest movie ever in October is now an incredibly dark artistic take on a comic book character as a broken human, betrayed by family and society, falling into desperation, insanity, and violence. That's amazing.
That's what makes Scorsese's comment so tone deaf. Are some superhero movies total cinematic failures? Of course! (Exhibit A is Suicide Squad.) But this isn't one of them.
The contrast between the 2008 Joker's prisoner's dilemma on the boats and the moment those 2019 Joker followers turn on the cops reflects how much the context and fears have changed over the past decade.
"When the chips are down, these 'civilized' people? They'll eat each other." Gotham proved him wrong about this then. Now? We aren't so sure.
If you don't think Todd Phillips had an intentional direction to this, you have to watch this. I want to hear his whole commentary.
