‘Joker’ First Trailer Stuns CinemaCon, Critics Compare Footage to ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Requiem for a Dream’
Zack Sharf
The first footage of Joaquin Phoenix’s “Joker” premiered during the Warner Bros. panel at CinemaCon and quickly set the film world ablaze on social media. The October tentpole stars Phoenix as the iconic Batman villain, who has previously been played on the big screen by Jack Nicholson, Jared Leto, and Heath Ledger. The latter won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his Joker performance in Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight.” Now comes Phoenix’s turn as the character, who in “Joker” is portrayed as a failed stand up comedian who gets seduced into Gotham’s criminal underworld in the early 1980s.
Appearing at CinemaCon, director Todd Phillips described the film as an “origin story about a beloved character with no definitive origin” and said the genre of the film is “tragedy.” Phillips was adamant that he is still shaping the film and said a lot of the reporting on the project has not been 100% true.
The first teaser trailer was screened, which begins with Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck appearing skinny and scary while caring for his sick mother (Frances Conroy). Fleck says his purpose in the world is to bring laughter and joy. Arthur visits Arkham Hospital and then is shown in clown makeup laughing on the Gotham subway. The trailer draws a strong connection to Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy,” with Robert De Niro popping up briefly as a talk show host appearing onstage during his program. The footage ends with Phoenix in full Joker makeup.
The footage was instantly praised on social media, with Business Insider reporter Jason Guerrasio saying the film looks “fucking insane.” The footage drew additional comparisons to “Taxi Driver” and “Requiem for a Dream.”
“Joker” is co-written and directed by Todd Phillips, best known as the filmmaker behind “The Hangover” movies. The supporting cast includes Robert De Niro as a popular talk show host, Zazie Beetz, Bill Camp, Frances Conroy, and Marc Maron. Warner Bros. is releasing “Joker” nationwide October 4. Check out the first reactions to the footage below.
Uh JOKER doesn’t look anything like what I expected and yeahhhh you guys can see it yourself tomorrow wow #CinemaCon
— Kate Erbland (@katerbland) April 2, 2019
The only shot of De Niro in it is a quick glimpse of him on stage and, long before that happened, I couldn’t stop thinking about KING OF COMEDY. Todd Phillips is clearly thinking about it, too.
— Kate Erbland (@katerbland) April 2, 2019
#Joker looks dark, emotional, and somewhat creepy. Joaquin’s laugh will haunt me in my sleep. I can’t wait.#CinemaCon
— Beatrice Verhoeven (@bverhoev) April 2, 2019
JOKER looks fucking insane!!! Has a very TAXI DRIVER vibe to it, but def a lot more twisted. You’ll see the footage we just saw tomorrow. #CinemaCon
— Jason Guerrasio (@JasonGuerrasio) April 2, 2019
#Joker trailer: Looks like a really dark and twisted character study. Joaquin Phoenix is living in the role and this will no doubt be another inspired and manic performance from him. If you’re missing the “dark” DC, then here’s your medicine. #CinemaCon
— JoBlo.com (@joblocom) April 2, 2019
Shots in the JOKER trailer evoke REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, KING OF COMEDY, much more. Very weird, very well cut, you do get to hear Phoenix’s Joker laugh. I fucking loved it.
— Scott Wampler™ @ CinemaCon (@ScottWamplerBMD) April 2, 2019
The ‘Joker’ trailer reveals it is absolutely not like any “comic book” movie that has come before. You’ll see tomorrow when it’s online. pic.twitter.com/OFaYADFQSI
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) April 2, 2019
The JOKER teaser is pretty great. Joaquin never disappoints. I’m in. #cinemacon
— Josh Horowitz (@joshuahorowitz) April 2, 2019
Additional reporting by Kate Erbland
