Ridley Scott Praises Joaquin Phoenix's Portrayal of Joker, Saying All Other Superhero Movies Are "Boring as Sh*t"

Director Ridley Scott is making the rounds right now as he promotes his star-studded film House of Gucci in the wake of just releasing another Oscar-buzzed film, The Last Duel. He has several other projects coming up as well, including a Napoleon Bonaparte origin story titled Kitbag, an untitled Alien prequel, and a Gladiator sequel.

In a recent interview with Deadline, Scott was asked what he thought of the superhero film genre, as it’s one that is getting people back into theatres, and he did not have great things to say. According to the Oscar-winning filmmaker, superheroes movies are simply "f-cking boring as sh-t."

"Their scripts are not any f-cking good. I think I've done three great scripted superhero movies. One would be Alien with Sigourney Weaver. One would be f-cking Gladiator, and one would be Harrison Ford's [Blade Runner.] They're superhero movies."

He went on to add:

"So, why don't the superhero movies have better stories? Sorry. I got off the rail, but I mean, c'mon. They're mostly saved by special effects, and that's becoming boring for everyone who works with special effects, if you've got the money."

That’s an interesting perspective. I believe the last 13 years have proved (with a few exceptions) that superhero movies actually can have depth and great storytelling. But to each his own.

He went on to say he did enjoy the performance in one superhero film, Joker, which stars a collaborator of the director, Joaquin Phoenix, who he worked with in Gladiator, and will be working with in the upcoming film Kitbag.

He explained:

"It's almost Shakespearean, and I think, you know, Joaquin can do anything," Scott told the trade. "So, when he then does something like Joker, there are moments in the Joker that I've never seen before. There are reactions in the Joker which are silly. You can't just say they're not evil. They're coming from a damaged soul. And that's what I'm looking for: What will Joaquin's version of Napoleon be? He will be the painter of his own portrait, and I'll be there to monitor it as best I can because that's what I do."

It takes all kinds of perspectives to give us the range of films we enjoy, so Ridley Scott is entitled to think whatever he wants. I like superhero movies, and I also like many of the films from Scott, so as long as they can coexist, I think we will be okay.

The House of Gucci hits theatres on November 24th.