The Mounting Controversy Surrounding DC's JOKER, and There's a New Poster For the Film

As the tension builds between now and the October 4th release date of the DC Comics film Joker, the critics and fans are sounding off about the Oscar buzz, as well as the controversy surrounding the unconventional take on the comic villain.

The star of the film, Joaquin Phoenix, is known for the deep and dark character portrayals he has chosen his films by in the past, so we knew going into this that we weren’t going to get a stereotypical cartoon-type performance that is sometimes seen in comic book films. The director, Todd Phillips, has been vocal about the fact that he wrote the film (with co-writer Scott Silver) specifically with Phoenix in mind, and with early Oscar talk and just the trailer causing fans to hail the portrayal, it seems like he made the right choice.

But after the film’s premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where Variety reports the film received an eight-minute standing ovation, it also received some sparks of controversy. Some critics and social media posts from attendees of the film were concerned that the film’s subject matter was treading on sensitive ground, with thoughts that it may portray sympathy toward the “homicidal loner at a time when America and the rest of the world are plagued by gun violence.” That’s tough.

While the film is based on a comic book character, it is obviously doing a good job of making the character of the Joker feel very real, and it’s hitting close to home, as he is possibly looking for revenge on a society who he feels has wronged him, and America is healing from the many instances, especially recently, where someone has done exactly that.

The film is set to make its second debut at the Toronto Film Festival, and opens nationwide in just a month, so while the people will continue to talk, maybe this can actually open some healthy dialog between the American people. While we wait to see the film and get in on the discussion, we have a cool new UK poster for the film for you to check out below that includes some of the rave reviews that it has received so far. I am so stoked to see this movie and check out the portrayal that will probably gain Phoenix his fourth Oscar nomination, but possibly his first win.

Joker opens in theaters on October 4th. Are you excited?