j thots

My thoughts on this first Joker trailer (or is it a teaser?) are numerous and yet sparse.  For some reason I’m reminded of an album I purchased at the end of March in 2009.  An hour or so ago I knew exactly why I was reminded of this album but now I have absolutely no idea but I have been listening to this album lately and it does indeed have a very special place in my heart.  I remember I purchased it at a Target store and then proceeded to listen to it over a roughly 2.5 hour drive and then for several warm days afterward.  Later on I would buy another copy of this album as a gift for someone. Or would I?  the more I learn the less I want to know.  The key clue may be the commercial with the red suit and that may indeed be the link between these two disparate things here.  Who really knows?  Of course, it’s all linked from way back to a pulpier iteration while I was strapped to an electric and eating an incredibly rich piece of chocolate cake (I can’t handle milk anymore, that’s for damn sure).  I had many thoughts swirling around my brain (love, vengeance, motor oil, more tenuous connections, it’s all related.  Or is it?  The more I learn the less I want to know).  I’ve since lost interest in most of them because I’m not a very interesting person but I’ll still vomit em out onto the page here so my legions of loyal readers can read and feel good and whatever.  I am a big fan of this trailer and will poo poo any of the naysayers in a respectful way.  Still, I will also remain cautious as this director has never crafted anything quite like this before.  Still, we must all remember that Jonathan Demme had never crafted anything quite like Silence of the Lambs before he did so.  Cinematic history is filled with comparable examples.  Also making me cautious is that trailers are ridiculously good at deception.  Going on what I’m seeing though Joaquin Phoenix continues in a trend of…ugh, can’t think, it looks like he’s doing some great acting here is what I want to say.  Still, can be best Jared Leto from Suicide Squad which to me is still the definitive cinematic portrayal of the clown prince of crime?  Only time will tell.  Time, patience, the right berries.  You know, this trailer really reminds me a lot of the trailers for the movies Lords of Salem and Birdman.  I ended up loving both of those movies so maybe that’s a good sign.  Or maybe it doesn’t mean anything.  Words on the streets is they are shooting this feature film with the ARRI ALEXA 65.  I was initially skeptical of the cinematography because I was aware of some of the film’s influences and so was expecting slash hoping for a grittier 70’s FILM aesthetic.  Yet after a couple watches I now think this cinematography is quite beautiful, garish and gritty in it’s own way and forward thing in a similar way to the photography in Michael Mann’s Public Enemies (again, everything is connected here).  Speaking of influences everyone and their dog has been mentioning Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and that certainly seems apt but it seems even MORE apt to mention that same director’s own excellent The King of Comedy, especially given the role Robert DeNiro plays in Joker.  Also, I see a sly nod to The Exorcist here with the stairs.  I wonder just what significance these stairs will have in the grand scheme of things.  lots of little eggs and nods there.  I like the appearance of Arkham and some zaniness taking place at Wayne Hall (with Chaplin) and of course the appearance of Thomas Wayne on the tele and then young Bruce Wayne being forced to prominently smile.  This is the future.  Even if this is a failure (though if it I hope it is an artistic ambitious failure as I can never not love those) I hope the future of comic films belong more to these unique idiosyncratic takes rather than homogenized shared universes.  Still, I ultimately cannot grasp EXACTLY what the tone of this is going to be and how violent which leaves me very intrigued.  Random stuff: the song selection was great, trailer making truly is an art form.  I really dig Joaquin’s laugh and physicality and with that scrawled note regarding mental illness I’m very curious as to the state of mind in which we will find Arthur Fleck at the movie’s beginning.  And is that a singing in the rain reference there at the end?  Him running and then posing in front of the mirror seems to take place following the beating he receives in the train (same outfit, bloodied face).  Does he do something to those guys?  Is that why he’s running?  What will he do on DeNiro’s show?  What is this uprising slash movement he’s inspiring (the folks with Joker masks in front of Wayne Hall and then again in a confrontation with the police.  I see a sign with the word “greed”.  Word is that Thomas Wayne may represent at least in part a certain VERY familiar super rich dude.  Having those political overtones could go either way, it all depends on the writing.  I love that this is a period piece, excited for little 80’s detail and VCR’s.  Finally, Gotham just looks dirty which is great and how it should look!  And it’s just exciting to see an actor like Phoenix playing such an iconic character (seems like it could almost be a swell companion piece to You Were Never Really Here, one of my favorite movies from last year) and a beloved villain of mine and seeing a studio take this chance!  I will eagerly await news of the rating and further trailer(s). I’m pumped!  I’m jacked!  I’m psyched!  And all the while I’m still a complete failure and utterly worthless individual!  And such is the nature of wisdom!