Joaquin’s “Joker” is a looming reality.
Though superhero-centric source material is beginning to feel like somewhat an endless well, every so ten comes an exception from the rule. Now, with Joaquin Phoenix’s take on the clown prince crime en route, fans are hoping the upcoming Joker film is exactly that. The Todd Phillips directed flick has been keeping its direction largely under wraps until today, courtesy the first ficial trailer.
From the look it, it seems as if Joker will dete from the tone your traditional superhero blockbuster. The trailer features Arthur Fleck (aka Joker) speaking with his therapist, sharing his mother’s favorite point advice: “put on a happy face.” The same mother he bathes in another scene. We also get a look at Fleck’s day job, which is to say, dressing as a clown and spinning a sign on the street. There’s a shot Arkham hospital, as well as Fleck’s run-in with some goons. There’s a cameo from Brett Cullen’s Thomas Wayne, who claims Gotham City has “lost its way,” as well as a young Bruce Wayne’s first run-in with his eventual nemesis.
Of course, there’s also a shot Phoenix in full Joker garb. “I used to think my life was a tragedy,” he says, near the end. “But now I believe it’s a comedy.” The closing shot appears to feature a stone-faced Joker entering an elevator, a silence that speaks to the character’s internal madness.
In a way, it sounds like Phoenix will be drawing from his performance in You Were Never Really Here, a reflective character study an introverted enforcer. Hopefully, Phoenix and Philips can strike gold here – we’ll soon find out. Joker drops on October 4th, so check out the ficial poster below.