[Closed] Joker - does it deserve the hype?

I'm another in the it-was-brilliant crowd.

I don't have much to add beyond what's been said, except that, before I'd seen it, I'd heard a fair bit of noise from the (political) left about it glorifying Incels, and a few complaints that it focuses on a white male.

I'm very much a leftist myself, but after watching it I was racking my brains to work out if I'd seen the same film.

It's about mental health at heart, and austerity and inequality are strong background presences.

I've not a clue how anyone that's actually seen it could link it to Incels.

I’ve not a clue how anyone that’s actually seen it could link it to Incels.

They probably haven’t, just like most films that provoke that sort of response.
There have been recent examples of that sort of commentary even before a film has been released, based on nothing but a synopsis and hearsay.
My memory isn’t up to giving specific examples, but they’re out there.
It’s reactionary conservatives who are blinkered and only see what they want to see, based on dog-whistle social media feeds.

With Doomaniac on this ...
Overly long, watching a man descend into the depths of insanity. Lots of justifications as to why he did - but then, so what? Obviously a metaphor for modern life and politics.
Great acting from Phoenix - but very bleak. Just didn't like it

It’s reactionary conservatives who are blinkered and only see what they want to see, based on dog-whistle social media feeds.

Or hype pumped out by the movie studios that hardens the resolve of their target fanbase?

They probably haven’t, just like most films that provoke that sort of response.
There have been recent examples of that sort of commentary even before a film has been released, based on nothing but a synopsis and hearsay.
My memory isn’t up to giving specific examples, but they’re out there.
It’s reactionary conservatives who are blinkered and only see what they want to see, based on dog-whistle social media feeds.

Agreed, aside from the fact that this time it was unfortunately reactionary leftists, which feels an own goal to me.

I fell asleep for a few seconds at various points with a dig in the ribs from the missus bringing me back into focus ..
Thought in the main that it was pretty boring ...my sixteen year old son & his mate both liked it though ..
Not having read this thread or any other fluff before going to see it I must have sounded like a bit of a tit when I mentioned that the main actor reminded me of Joachim Phoenix..

Well, a day off and off I went to our new Odeon Luxe.  Only one in the Cinema, so I spread my self out on a leather recliner with my feet up and...

...Maybe I shouldn’t have gone when I’m a bit stressed about things.   I’m not sure if it was good or not I just can’t make my mind up, but I came out with the impression that’s it’s probably close to modern society today and the resulting end scenes with Joker as the new found leader/celebrity of violence are probably not to far away from reality.

i find myself a little disturbed and nervous for my kids future as a result tbh, yet not sure if that’s exaggerated  my mental state and me being silly or a reality check that’s talking.

It was great performance by the lead actor but as a whole a bit meh.

Really pleased Joaquin got the best actor Oscar .

Finally watched it a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely superb, Joaquin’s performance was incredible he caught the body language, the behaviour, voice and look of someone suffering with mental health perfectly. The story was superb too and some great support acting too from relatively unknowns, it’s now one of my favourite films. Seen it twice now.

I saw it but it wasn't as funny as the film name suggests. It would have more laughs if they cast an actual comedian, like Micheal McIntyre or Peter Kay.

Pushing it a bit there with those names they’re as funny as piles.

Piles are funny. Well, other peoples' are.

My son went to see it, thought impressive acting but also thought bleak and disturbing, wondered why people make films like it and why people go to watch them...? He discouraged me from watching it. Not sure I want to see unnecessary disturbing things, there’s enough in the ‘real’ world. Still everyone to their own / it takes all sorts to make the world go around.

wondered why people make films like it and why people go to watch them…?

Because it doesn’t always have to be sunshine and lollipops, I watch lots of different films some can be bleak some jolly others have pew pew lasers.

A well deserved win, brilliant acting and imo the best batman related film yet.

Because it doesn’t always have to be sunshine and lollipops, I watch lots of different films some can be bleak some jolly others have pew pew lasers.

And because 'art' has always reflected every aspect of the human condition. Not every painting is a sunny Monet landscape. Not every poem is a limerick.

Joker is effectively a memento mori.

wondered why people make films like it and why people go to watch them…?

I do understand the question. I saw a trailer over the weekend for a film called Spiral; it looked well done and gripping, but the more it went on the more unpleasant it became.

Te tag at the end said it was "from the book of Saw" a series of films that were so nasty it's hard to grasp who would get pleasure from them.

I get the appeal of suspense and horror, but some things are just too grim.

In the past some of my favourite films were bleak as hell, Requiem for a Dream, Dead Mans Shoes, Oldboy, Tyrannosaur, Martyrs, Snowtown… I used to lap them up. As ive got older ive become less tolerant. I probably couldn’t bring myself to watch them today - I just want to be cheered up!

Still enjoyed Joker tho…

Glad he got the Oscar. Well deserved.

Absolutely.

Big "establishment is rotten to the core and the little guys pay for it" movie...

So no wonder that Hollywood thought it was really amazing.
TBH, I found it unpleasant, disturbing and and dull.

Phoenix;s acting was very convincing - but the more I read about him, the more I wonder if he was actually acting that much. He is a troubled man.

If you like watching people suffer - then it's the movie for you