Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker was one of the most divisive films of all time. While everyone was unanimous in their praise of the actor, the reception to the story was less than enthusiastic. Accolades poured in from all quarters for Phoenix, but so did the criticism for Todd Phillips, the director.
Even though five years have passed since the film came out, it is still talked about to this day. The film made an effort to take a different, sort of raw approach to dealing with the issues that were highlighted. Unfortunately, it was not for everyone, including renowned filmmaker Ridley Scott.
Why didn’t Ridley Scott like Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker?
The DCEU had a turbulent few years trying to compete with Marvel. When the studio wanted to experiment with something different, the idea for Joker, a kind of outlier of the franchise, was born.
The ambitious DC film revolved around Arthur Fleck, with Joaquin Phoenix playing the titular character. The plot delves deep into the psyche of a disturbed man as he tries to find his way in a grim world. Unfortunately, he falls deeper into the abyss until he rises as the Joker, one of the most legendary comic book villains of all time.
Todd Phillips took up the reins of the project, and combined with Phoenix’s mastery over the craft, the finished product was exceptional. Some thought differently, though, since its exploration of mental illness was only surface-level. Zendaya and Robert De Niro were also part of the cast, with the latter being involved in one of the most talked-about scenes from the film.
Ridley Scott attended Deadline‘s Contenders London event last year. He collaborated with Phoenix to bring Napoleon’s biopic to life. The director showered praise on the actor for his performance in the DC film while highlighting certain aspects that he did not like.
“I was blown away by his outrageous film, Joker. I didn’t like the way it celebrated violence but Joaquin was remarkable,” he said.
The film did very well, as it became the first R-rated film to surpass the $1 billion threshold globally. Moreover, Phoenix and Hildur Guðnadóttir picked up Oscars for Best Actor and Best Original Score for the film.
Why was Joker such a divisive film?
Todd Phillips’ film was embroiled in a lot of controversy since its release. Most of it had to do with the graphic depiction of violence, as the protagonist slowly descended into villainy.
It is also a cautionary tale, and it sheds light on the plight of the poor and those who struggle with mental health issues. Add on the socioeconomic gap, and the final product is dished out with a fair bit of blood and gore.
Arthur Fleck is a troubled man, and his actions seem reprehensible, even though he tries his best to navigate the world around him. While the film did a decent job of opening the door to discussing issues, it also may have contributed to the stigma against those who live in this reality.
Regardless, it was an audacious film from DC, and the gamble paid off for the studio. Given its success, there is a sequel in the pipeline, Joker: Folie à Deux, with Phoenix reprising his role, and Lady Gaga playing Harley Quinn, and the test screening has been positive so far.
The second installment of the series is set to be a musical, and the latest report from Variety suggests the film will have 15 popular songs. The film will come out on October 4, later this year. As of now, the first part of the series is available for streaming on Netflix, and the Max Amazon channel, and it can also be rented or bought on Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu.