As evidenced by the first trailer, audiences are in store for one helluva performance from Joaquin Phoenix in this year’s JOKER, which finds the actor playing the iconic comic book character as a man descending into madness. Every other actor likely had quite the experience working on the other side of his performance, including legend Robert De Niro, who in a new image from Empire comes face-to-face Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck after he completely dons the clown makeup and fancy suit. I must say, De Niro, is holding it together quite well in this horrifying scenario.
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As part of their August coverage, the image from Empire comes with a few quotes from director Todd Phillips, who said “Bob really loved the script," written by Phillps and Scott Silver. De Niro plays talk show host Murray Franklin in the movie, and just exactly what happens when he meets the Joker is all up for speculation. Less a comic book movie and more a gritty character that happens to center on one of the most iconic comic book characters ever, the movie notably takes inspiration from movies like Martin Scorsese’s TAXI DRIVER and THE KING OF COMEDY, and Phillips recalled telling the Oscar-winning actor that upon their first meeting.
“I met with him and said, ‘I’d be lying to you if I said we weren’t influenced by a lot of your movies.’ I talked with him about Taxi Driver and about The King Of Comedy, which is one of my favourite movies of all time,” Phillips said.
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JOKER doesn't hit theaters for about three months, but already it's garnering a considerable about of buzz. Studio Warner Bros. clearly has high hopes for its awards potential, announcing it would debut at the Venice International Film Festival before its October release date. The distinction has already been made quite clear this is not like any comic book movie before it, with Phillips making headlines yesterday for saying the movie doesn't follow anything directly from the comic books. "We’re not even doing Joker, but the story of becoming Joker. It’s about this man," he said.
I'm not alone in thinking this movie looks exceptional, and with someone like De Niro attached offers more reason to get excited. He's one of the greatest ever, and Phoenix has certainly established himself as another great talent of the screen, so seeing the two together in a movie like this is enough for the price of admission itself. The clown makeup is just an added bonus.
JOKER is in theaters October 5.
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