The film, which features Joaquin Phoenix as the supervillain of the Batman universe and is directed by Todd Phillips (the same one from “What Happened Yesterday?”), deals with the origin of this dark character and his transition haci to the world of crime.
Even without being released, it has already been praised by a part of the critics: it surprised the Golden Lion at the recent Venice Film Festival.
The mixed reactions generated by the Joker played by Joaquin Phoenix and critically acclaimed
But, at the same time, the themes the film deals with have generated enormous controversy. Many in the United States claim that it glorifies violence and fear that it might inspire young people to commit the acts portrayed in it.
This controversy occurs in a country where 2,220 mass shootings have been committed since the 2012 attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.
One of the most audible voices has been that of the relatives of the fatalities of the Aurora, Colorado shooting, in which 12 people lost their lives while attending the premiere of the film “Batman: The Knight of the Night Rises,” on July 20, 2012.
The character of Jóker is played by Joaquin Phoenix “We want to make it clear that we support his right to freedom of expression. But, as anyone who has seen a film about comics can say, great power comes with a great responsibility,” it reads in the statement sent to the Warner Bros. studio, producer of the film, by the group of families.
“That’s why we’re asking Warner Bros. that they use their power, influence and platform to work with us to make firearms harder to come by.”
For its part, the company, which owns the entire DC Comics catalog (which includes Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman), responded in a statement that it “recognized that gun violence was a critical problem of our society.”
He added: “At the same time, Warner Bros. believes that one of the functions of storytelling is to generate difficult conversations on complex topics. Make no mistake: neither the fictional character Joker nor the film supports violence of any kind in the real world.”
But why is a movie that’s about a comic book causing so much controversy?
The Joker
The Joker’s character is recognized as Batman’s nemesis and main rival within the so-called “Knight of the Night” universe.
In more than 70 years (created in 1940), he has been in film and television as well-known actors such as Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger (who died in 2008, after playing him in “The Dark Knight”) and Jared Letto.
Phillips’ film is the first to concentrate entirely on this character (and Batman’s presence on it is not announced).
Set in the 1980s, it is about the conversion of Arthur Fleck, an aspiring comedian who is played by a lauded Phoenix, into the murderous psychopath nicknamed El Jóker.
And this is where the problems start up: extreme violence and its possible justification.
Film critic and comic book expert Heather Antos noted, “It wasn’t long ago that a young white man who felt socially isolated dressed as The Joker and shot dozens of people inside a movie theater in Colorado.”
And Antos added a comment by a viewer named Rachel Miller: “I don’t know if these are the right times for a film that portrays a white man who becomes a serial killer who is the product of system failures, mental instability and isl social planning.”
It’s an opinion shared by those who didn’t stay on the film’s two previews – on which most objections are based – but saw the full film.
Time magazine’s Stephanie Zacharek noted that the film was guilty of “aggressive and possibly irresponsible idiocy.”
While the critic VarietyOwen Gleiberman said it is “a product that flirts with danger: it gives evil a clown mask, making it the sickest possible form of what is pleasant.”
“It’s not an apology of violence”
The noise of “Joker” comes from two sides: there are the critics of its subject, and there are those who praise it and consider it a masterpiece.
“There’s going to be a before and after Joker. I don’t know if the world is ready for this movie, or maybe it is? It’s EXTREME. It’s crazy. It’s bold. It doesn’t stop. Wow. I can’t believe this exists. But it exists. And it’s coming,” Alex Billington, Firstshowing.net’s film critic, wrote on his Twitter account.
Those who have also come out to the defense of the film have been Phillips and Phoenix themselves in various interviews.
“I think it’s a positive thing when a movie makes you uncomfortable or challenges you in some way. That attracted me to this project and was actually the main reason I decided to do it,” Phoenix told the British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
However, minutes earlier Phoenix had suddenly retired from the place where the interview was being conducted, when he was asked a question on the subject of violence in the film.
The film has been described as a “masterpiece” and at the same time as a film that promotes violence”It was not an easy film for me, because I was with many people to prepare this character who felt that anger and loneliness,” he added.
For his part, Phillips warned that the film is not an apology of violence and responded to criticism.
“I think all this has happened because outrage is a commodity. I think it’s something that’s been a commodity for a long time,” he told The Wrap.
“What strikes me in this speech around this film is the ease with which the far left can sound like the far right when it fits their agenda. It’s really opened my eyes,” he said.
Although the FBI dismissed the threat of an attack in the wake of the film and most cinemas are preparing for release this Friday, CNN reported that the U.S. military was on alert for a possible massive attack in the wake of the premiere of “Joker.”
The LAPD also announced that she was prepared in the eventuality of a shooting.
