Todd Phillips’ Joker is tijdens het filmfestival van Venetië in wereldpremière gegaan. Uit de eerste recensies blijkt dat het op zijn minst een spraakmakende superheldenprent is geworden.

Variety vindt hoofdrolspeler Joaquin Phoenix verbluffend en schrijft dat hij in tegenstelling tot de meeste van zijn genregenoten actuele thema’s aansnijdt.

Volgens IGN verdient Phoenix een Oscar en is Joker niet alleen een meeslepende karakterstudie, maar ook een briljante Batman-film waar nog jaren over zal gepraat worden.

IndieWire noemt het de meest gewaagde superheldenfilm sinds The Dark Knight, maar voegt eraan toe dat hij de Joker te veel lijkt te verheerlijken en te schatplichtig is aan Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver en The King of Comedy.

Ook Vanity Fair weet niet of de film zijn hoofdpersonage als een rolmodel of als een monster ziet.

Bekijk nog meer reacties hieronder:

I now understand why @wbpictures decided to play the #JokerMovie in Venice and #TIFF. 'Joker' is a great movie. It just so happens to be a comic book movie. #JoaquinPhoenix will absolutely get nominated for an Oscar and the film has a real chance at end of the year awards. pic.twitter.com/0KGyvWZrfi

— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) August 31, 2019

I saw the @JokerMovie and REALLY dug it. It's a feature that steals your attention and requires time to process. It's an acting showcase for Joaquin Phoenix and a story that's ambiguous and surprising, but one that really grounds Arthur Fleck's transformation. pic.twitter.com/OOWgpct13i

— Rob Keyes (@rob_keyes) August 31, 2019

JOKER is a bold, bodacious love letter to Scorsese's #TheKingOfComedy, told through the lens of DC's most iconic villain. Dark, disturbing, brutal & sad, it's about an abused man who doesn't start living until he's dead inside. Joaquin Phoenix is so damn good#JokerMovie pic.twitter.com/WCk1Ya4FFG

— Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) August 31, 2019

There will be before Joker. And there will be after Joker. I don't know if the world is ready for this movie. Or maybe it is? It is GNARLY. It is crazy. It is audacious. It doesn't hold back. Wow. I can't believe it exists. But it does. And it's coming.

— Alex B. (@firstshowing) August 31, 2019

FWIW, this Joker screening received the loudest applause/cheers of the festival yet. Seems critics loved it. 😈🤡 #Venezia76

— Alex B. (@firstshowing) August 31, 2019

#JokerMovie is the type of film that defines an actor's career, type of role & character that comes once in a lifetime. Heath Ledger's #Joker redefined the character, but Phoenix cements it as one of the greatest, darkest villains in cinematic history. All hail Joaquin Phoenix!

— International Film Critique (@IntFilmCritique) August 31, 2019

Phoenix evokes a sense of tragic, melancholic beauty in his transformation as the #Joker, going beyond impersonation & disturbingly explodes on screen in an act so flawless in timing & character perception, it's quite frankly one of the most impressive method acting feats.

— International Film Critique (@IntFilmCritique) August 31, 2019

“Bring in the clowns!!!” 🤡 #Joker will surprise the hell out of people. Dark, twisted, brutal origin story of the most recognised villain in popular culture. Joaquin Phoenix adds another iconic performance to his extraordinary career #Venezia76

— Radek Folta (@rdfolta) August 31, 2019

#Joker is a masterpiece. It's FUCKED UP. This film is sinister and uncomfortable in the best way; I'm actually just shocked it exists… This is a DC film. And it is DARK AND DISTURBING. I am in pure awe and I'm actually delirious. I was not at all expecting that… #Venezia76 pic.twitter.com/tFFVGR2Alh

— Awais (@OasisAwais) August 31, 2019

I can’t quite believe how good Joker is. It’s a masterpiece. Funny, dark, beautiful, full of rage, and really fucking cool. Joaquin Phoenix is masterful and every shot is sublime. #Venezia76

— James Jones (@jamesjonesfilm) August 31, 2019

#Venezia76 The #Joker we fucking deserve. Rings of comedy, rings of fire. It's a circus, it's a carnival, it's a mayhem. Phoenix brings us dancing through this social disease and it's a triumph. #JokerMovie

— Lorenzo Ciorcalo (@rotovisor) August 31, 2019