We previously reported that Joker is set to be the first-ever comic book movie that will be screened at the ‘Gala Presentations’ of the Toronto International Film Festival in the event’s 43-year history. Then, a couple of days ago, news broke that Joker received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. If those haven’t gotten you all hyped for the film, then perhaps this next part will.
Early reviews from critics who were in attendance at the Venice Film Festival suggest that Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, is an absolute masterpiece of a film. Critics have called the film “a game-changing comic book movie,” “dark,” and “disturbing.” Most critics have emphasized that Joaquin Phoenix (Her) deserves a Best Actor Oscar nomination, while some, like Brandon Davis of comicbook.com think that the highly talented actor could probably win the prestigious trophy as well.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions by US critics who managed to catch an early screening at Venice:
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
— Dorian Parks (@DorianParksnRec) August 31, 2019
#Joker is a masterpiece. It's FUCKED UP. This film is sinister and uncomfortable in the best way; I'm actually just shocked it exists… This is a DC film. And it is DARK AND DISTURBING. I am in pure awe and I'm actually delirious. I was not at all expecting that… #Venezia76 pic.twitter.com/tFFVGR2Alh
— Awais (@OasisAwais) August 31, 2019
Joaquin Phoenix absolutely deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in #Joker — and he might just take the trophy home. pic.twitter.com/Xh7VpWoLBj
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) August 31, 2019
#joker was just… Just, just WOW. The Academy Award for Best Actor must go to #JoaquinPhoenix pic.twitter.com/hik3bvXgaP
— Olivier Sarbil (@oliviersarbil) August 31, 2019
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
— BD (@BrandonDavisBD) August 31, 2019
Rotten Tomatoes has compiled these reviews and released their score as well. As it stands, Joker has a very high 88% on the popular aggregator site with an average critic rating of 9/10. The consensus:
Joker gives its infamous central character a chillingly plausible origin story that serves as a brilliant showcase for its star — and a dark evolution for comics-inspired cinema.
Note that as of this writing, there are only 34 reviews compiled so far and the score could very well change once more critics get the chance to check out the film.
Official synopsis of Joker:
Director Todd Phillips Joker centres around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.
Joker is set to hit Malaysian cinemas on 3 October 2019.
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