FC/OT: First look at Joaquin Phoenix as 'Joker' in new DC film....

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Mixed feelings here, but I think Phoenix is a tremendous actor. Not quite as big a fan of director Todd Phillips, but I did like 'Old School' - no idea how this is going to turn out and pretty bummed that there doesn't appear to be any more effort to elaborate on Leto's take on the character (which was solid I thought, though underused in a terrible movie). Guess this movie is an 'origin' story. Anyway, here's 'Arthur Fleck' (A. Fleck....really???) as Joker....

 

[cavic]

Ledger's Joker will always be iconic. Even Jack's remains memorable.

Just having the stones to take the role against that backdrop is commendable. Phoenix is a solid enough actor that he might do something special with it.

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Ledger's Joker will always be iconic. Even Jack's remains memorable.

Just having the stones to take the role against that backdrop is commendable. Phoenix is a solid enough actor that he might do something special with it.

You could throw in probably the best Joker version ever, Mark Hamill's 'Batman: The Animated Series' too. The key will be doing something new/fresh with the character, which is why I think Ledger's version was so successful. It put some bite, fight, and chaos into a character who had long relied on tricks and gimmicks to thwart Batman. Leto's version was just way too dated with the tattoo's and stuff for anyone to take seriously even though he was probably the second best thing about Suicide Squad. I don't know what to expect from Phillips though - he's a funny guy, but this is a tough story to tell. I do think this is a non-canon version of the Joker (for now), so maybe no pressure to set up a sequel or future franchise or anything.

 

[mrtailgate]

Before long every actor will have played The Joker. How many times do they need to recycle this character by someone else.

 

[LDandy]

Ledger pretty much ruined The Joker for anyone who would come after him. The only draw back to The Dark Knight was that Ledger was so mesmerizing he sucked all the oxygen out of every scene he was in. Christian Bale, a great actor in his own right, might has well have been an extra that they pulled out of a craft services line. Ledger's presence was that domineering. Phoenix could be good, but the standard will be Ledger for most.

 

[Bob78]

Ledger's Joker will always be iconic. Even Jack's remains memorable.

Just having the stones to take the role against that backdrop is commendable. Phoenix is a solid enough actor that he might do something special with it.

I agree that Jack's Joker was memorable, and when thinking back on it and some of his lines, it brings a smile to my face.

Ledger's Joker.... no smiles come to mind, just awe. A whole lot of 'wow'. Eyes wide open through each scene, it seemed. The interrogation room scene is one of my all-time fave scenes of any movie of any genre I've ever seen*. And then the hospital scenes. And then.... and then....
Wow.


* well, you know, of scenes where clothes stayed on. I mean, geez, let's be real here.

 

[PrtLng Lion]

Before long every actor will have played The Joker. How many times do they need to recycle this character by someone else.

How many Batman movies and actors can be recycled too?