# New Joker movie (Joaquin Phoenix) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984 "2019-04-03T15:40:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/1 "2019-04-03T15:40:57Z")
The [trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t433PEQGErc) is out for the Joaquin Phoenix _Joker_. Interesting if nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/2 "2019-04-03T15:46:17Z")
That looks like it’s going to be GOOD. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/3 "2019-04-03T15:54:43Z")
Yikes! I think Joaquin has managed to out creep Heath (obviously he get’s more opportunity what with being _the_ subject of the film). So, is this a totally new telling of Joker’s backstory? I don’t know comics too well but ISTR Jack Nicholson’s version had him having fallen in a vat of chemicals or something? And HL’s had been cut up by his father, thus the origin of “Why so serious?”. I must admit, I’m intrigued. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/4 "2019-04-03T16:12:59Z")
If looks like Bernhard Goetz… \* …the joke.\* ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/5 "2019-04-03T16:25:47Z")
My favorite reaction so far was from Deadspin: “Right now, the movie basically looks like _Falling Down_ but with a clown” ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/6 "2019-04-03T16:53:29Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > My favorite reaction so far was from Deadspin: “Right now, the movie basically looks like _Falling Down_ but with a clown” _Falling Down_ was more of a proto-Trump angry-white-man-lashes-out-at-society film. This is really a friendless loser seeking public adulation almost more along the lines of _Taxi Driver_ or _King of Comedy_. Joaquin Phoenix gives what looks like a great performance but I’m not sure how well this will sell without some kind of judicious counterpoint in the villany of the main character. _The Silence of the Lambs_ is a rare film that featured a paychopath in a role with popular appeal, but Hopkins’ Hannibal Lector was not the protagonist and was presented as kind of a malevolent evil who exploited the inherent corruption of his captors to effect his escape plan. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/7 "2019-04-03T17:03:11Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > And HL’s had been cut up by his father, thus the origin of “Why so serious?”. He gave two different stories, one where his father did it and one where he did it to himself. And he was about to tell another story before Batman stopped him. I think the whole idea behind Joker is that there is no one true story. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/8 "2019-04-03T18:11:08Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > That looks like it’s going to be GOOD. That’s been my reaction. By God this actually looks good ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/9 "2019-04-03T18:21:35Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > So, is this a totally new telling of Joker’s backstory? I don’t know comics too well but ISTR Jack Nicholson’s version had him having fallen in a vat of chemicals or something? And HL’s had been cut up by his father, thus the origin of “Why so serious?” The Nicholson version was the usual origin, but between alternate earths and redos, I don’t know if this other version had appeared in any comics. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/10 "2019-04-03T18:32:42Z")
Also since Joaquin Phoenix is pretty much mental anyway in real life, that adds spice and flavor to playing an insane, homicidal maniac. ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/11 "2019-04-03T23:35:29Z")
I’m also really looking forward to this movie. Here’s a couple of teaser trailers from a few months ago: [one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjAHeFqKdDE), [two](https://youtu.be/UJlxI9xXLXk?t=31). It almost looks more like an arthouse movie than a superhero movie. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/12 "2019-04-04T05:29:53Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > He gave two different stories, one where his father did it and one where he did it to himself. And he was about to tell another story before Batman stopped him. I think the whole idea behind Joker is that there is no one true story. Which is why I’m a bit worried about this film, since it seems to be an attempt at telling just that story. ---
**Author:** ![caffeinatedgeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@caffeinatedgeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caffeinatedgeek)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/13 "2019-04-04T06:11:34Z")
It’s refreshing to see a DC movie without CGI. I certainly like the trailer for this new Joker. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/14 "2019-04-04T06:53:07Z")
I don’t know. I am having a hard time seeing Joaquin Phoenix as being right for the role. He seems a little too … broody? I’m kind of expecting to see a more madcap energy. In any case, I’m sure it’ll be a great movie as long as there’s a scene where he decides that what he really needs to do is cover his body with a whole bunch of shitty tattoos. ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/15 "2019-04-04T13:07:10Z")
I predict he will get an oscar nom for this. I’m definitely going to see it. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/16 "2019-04-04T13:28:46Z")
DC takes a darker tone with the “Man of Steel” and “Batman v. Superman” movies, and this may be a part of the reason those films wasn’t received well by a lot of the audience. (Marvel takes a lighter tone, and they do fine.) So DC’s response is to do another “grimdark” take on their intellectual property. (Insert a “hold my beer” joke.) 🙂 I think that Joaquim has the acting chops for this. Is it risky to try and make the Joker a sympathetic villain? This could backfire. But my interest is definately kindled by the trailer. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/17 "2019-04-04T13:30:29Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > He gave two different stories, one where his father did it and one where he did it to himself. And he was about to tell another story before Batman stopped him. I think the whole idea behind Joker is that there is no one true story. “If I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice.” - Joker, The Killing Joke Yeah, the original canonical one is with the busted robbery and the chemical plant. But the Joker is more a force of nature at this point. Trying to define why he is seems a mugs game. Still, it’ll be interesting to see where this goes. When I heard about it I was of the opinion that the world didn’t need it. But I also thought we didn’t need whatever the hell Heath Ledger was doing in earlier trailers for The Dark Knight and it turned out we did. So what do I know? ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/18 "2019-04-04T13:51:16Z")
It looks to me like Phoenix is going to provide the definitive on-screen Joker performance. I think he’s perfect for the role. He’s even got the name thing going on: Joker - Jokin’ - Joaquin. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/19 "2019-04-04T13:51:17Z")
The trailer is really good. I have hopes. The Joker’s name is “Arthur”? That’s new. I heard someone say that the politician is supposed to be Bruce Wayne’s father. I wonder if that will be a re-imagined Dr. Thomas Wayne (depicted previously as a philanthropist) or whether they’ll completely remake that character with a new name too. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2019, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984/20 "2019-04-04T13:54:58Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > DC takes a darker tone with the “Man of Steel” and “Batman v. Superman” movies, and this may be a part of the reason those films wasn’t received well by a lot of the audience. (Marvel takes a lighter tone, and they do fine.) So DC’s response is to do another “grimdark” take on their intellectual property. (Insert a “hold my beer” joke.) 🙂 They’ve also made Aquaman and Shazam. I appreciate having a variety of tones to choose from. If the choice is between ‘heavy and flawed’ or ‘light and tight,’ _for me_, the former is a more enjoyable experience. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-joker-movie-joaquin-phoenix/831984.md?page=2)