Joker Reactions Highlight Game-Changing Superhero Film
Todd Phillips‘ standalone Joker bowed at the Venice Film Festival this past weekend and the reactions have been, well, intense. Phillips and his star Joaquin Phoenix joined forces to do something different, something unexpected, with their origin story. They succeeded. The reviews are impassioned, with some hailing the film as a masterpiece, and many pointing out that it received an astonishing 8-minute long ovation after it bowed at the festival.
#Joker received an eight-minute standing ovation following its premiere at the #VeniceFilmFestival https://t.co/68bfwKWoeX
— Variety (@Variety) September 1, 2019
Joaquin Phoenix’s turn as Arthur Fleck, the mentally troubled failed comedian who becomes Gotham’s most twisted villain, is being hailed as Oscar-worthy.
Joaquin Phoenix gives an absolutely ASTOUNDING performance as #Joker. His work will leave you breathless. I actually said, “Wow” into the darkness as the credits started to roll. This film/performance is going to be up for an Oscar, mark my words. pic.twitter.com/KFdfpfxl9h
— Jenna Busch (@JennaBusch) August 31, 2019
Venice: Joaquin Phoenix delivers strong Oscar buzz as evil turn in new portrait of #Joker https://t.co/mqrEkJHFHb pic.twitter.com/rMm2PB82C6
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) August 31, 2019
Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in #JokerMovie is nothing short of Oscar-worthy. He fully commits to the role mentally and physically. Todd Phillips delivered a game-changing comic book film, and I cannot wait to see it again. #Joker pic.twitter.com/cnrL9bsdR2
— Michael Parks (@DorianParksnRec) August 31, 2019
Variety calls the film ‘hypnotically perverse,’ which is the praise of thing the Joker himself would probably appreciate:
#Joker is a “hypnotically perverse, ghoulishly grippingly urban-nightmare comic fantasia.” Read the full review: https://t.co/ZS6v0NSUyB pic.twitter.com/g8sSFLKyYA
— Variety (@Variety) September 2, 2019
Here’s a quick tour of what some other critics are saying. We’ve kept these to spoiler-free reactions. The review embargo has been lifted, so if you don’t mind having some of the surprises spoiled, you can do that:
I saw #Joker — and it is unlike anything before it. The movie is dark, thrilling, and chilling. An insane masterpiece.
The movie absolutely transcends being a comic book film and acts as a character study which, at times, will make audiences uncomfortable in wild ways. 10/10 pic.twitter.com/2B2mCkzbZy
— Brandon Davis (@BrandonDavisBD) August 31, 2019
What I love most in JOKER – aside from Phoenix’s guttural performance & some terrific cinematography- is seeing the humanity in this character, even if that humanity slowly slips away. It’s unlike any comic book origin story you’ve seen. Divisive? Probably. But ferociously unique pic.twitter.com/lXtmCyWoIz
— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) August 31, 2019
Crowd at #Venezia76 went absolutely ballistic for #JOKER. Film is dark, sick, twisted. I’m with a crowd of fellow critics right now, running through the streets of Venice just screaming. Hollering. My legs are tired. We’ve been doing this for hours. Joaquin is an Oscar contender
— Ben Mekler (@benmekler) August 31, 2019
There will be before Joker. And there will be after Joker. I don’t know if the world is ready for this movie. Or maybe it is? It is GNARLY. It is crazy. It is audacious. It doesn’t hold back. Wow. I can’t believe it exists. But it does. And it’s coming.
— Alex Billington @ Venice (@firstshowing) August 31, 2019
Joker hits theaters on October 4, 2019.
Featured image: ‘Joker’ theatrical poster. Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
