The performance of Joaquin Phoenix in "Joker" has raised mixed feelings among critics, a war between purists of cinema as art and those who defend the industry and the bluckbuster of MARVEL and DC Comics.
It became evident at the last Venezia Festival, where the film won the Golden Lion, a prize usually reserved for intimate, "rare", experimental films, by which jurors can express their hatred (and their underground envy) towards Hollywood, a festival where films such as "Roma", by the Mexican Alfonso Cuarón, or "Desde Allá", by the Venezuelan Lorenzo Vigas, traditionally succeed.
Despite an anti-Hollywood jury chaired by Argentina Lucrecia Martel, who was very ambiguous about Roman Polansky for the pending trial that the filmmaker has in the US for alleged abuse of a minor in the 70's ("I do not separate the man from the work. His presence [on the show] was very uncomfortable for me ... "), they had to recognize the impressive performance of Phoenix, as well as the black, depressive, apocalyptic air of the saga that tells the life of the failed comedian, outraged and abused, who decides to take revenge on Gothic City becoming the worst Criminal of the bleak city.
Todd Phillips' film dazzled the jury, although we don't know if Mrs. Martel really voted for "Joker" or was a vote against. Would Mrs. Martel be able to vote for what she has publicly hated all her life? Was it a mea culpa to see if Hollywood adopts her as director? We won't know that either.
We know that critics applaud to rage Phoenix and see him as a sure Oscar winner.
The Guardian has described the film as "gloriously daring," while Total Film said it was "challenging and subversive."
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Phoenix's interpretation has been described as "stunning" in The Hollywood Reporter, or "amazing" in Variety magazine.
Australian Heath Ledger played the Joker in 2008, and then died tragically. He won the Oscar posthumously with what many consider the best one of the saga: "Batman: the Dark Knight" (2008).
Phoenix (44) has been nominated for "Gladiator", "Johnny & June: passion and madness" and "The Master: every man needs a guide". He has never won and this would be his first time.
The critic Jim Vejvoda also bets on Phoenix for the Oscar and describes his interpretation as "fascinating (and) totally compromised."
David Sexton of the London Evening Standard is betting that "An Oscar nominee is already on the way", referring to the "absolutely convulsive performance" of Phoenix.
The character of the "Joker" has been fruitful for extraordinary, bold, unhinged interpretations, and there will always be controversy about which has been or will be the best of all, whether Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger or Jared Leto.
So far, Phoenix is advancing at the pace of victors towards the bald and golden statuette.
However, not all critics are in favor. Some think it is overacted, so much so that the rest of the cast and the film itself is devoured by Phoenix. The actor loses control, and perhaps repeats Heath Ledger's suicide performance in 2008.
Can a movie be reduced only to a monstrous performance? Is everything else that happens in this DC Comics film trivial, and the only thing that will remain is the interpretation of Joaquin Phoenix?
All this controversy helps the movie, and the prizes also, of course, to make it a blockbuster when it opens in October.
When we see the movie, we will discuss it, and don't worry, there are no spoilers in the film, everything is known from the beginning.
Óscar Reyes-Matute / מתת
Joker, Trailer
