Put on a happy face

cover story

Joker

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Written by: Todd Phillips and Scott Silver

Running time: 122 minutes

Music by: Hildur Guðnadóttir

Tagline: Put on a happy face.

The evolution of the comic book movie has been nothing short of magical. 

Even a little over a decade ago, it would’ve been hard to wager that superhero movies would soon be the world’s biggest blockbusters. Yet, just a few short years later, comic book adaptations have become the indisputable rulers of the box office, and one of them is even the highest grossing film of all time.

As superheroes have leapt out of the pages of graphic novels and taken over the silver screen, the Big Two of the comic book world – Marvel and DC – have found themselves battling it out for ultimate supremacy. So far, it’s Marvel that has come out on top, thanks to the unprecedented success of its Avengers collective. But even though building a connected universe hasn’t worked out quite as well for DC, they have still had their share of successes, most notably with Christopher Nolan’s terrific The Dark Knight trilogy.

It’s the world of Batman that has now provided DC with yet another triumph. But this time it’s not the Caped Crusader who is taking centre stage. Instead the spotlight has been turned to his biggest nemesis, the Joker.

The notorious character – one of pop culture’s best-known villains – has already had several cinematic outings, mostly as a baddie in Batman’s escapades, and has been portrayed by some enormously talented actors, including Jack Nicholson who played him in 1989’s Batman, Heath Ledger who essayed the role in 2008’s The Dark Knight, and Jared Leto who played the part in 2016’s Suicide Squad (and even Zach Galifianakis who voiced the character in 2017’s delightful The Lego Batman Movie).

Unlike all these iterations though, the new film chooses to focus on the character’s origin story, detailing how a struggling comedian ends up becoming the Clown Prince of Crime.

Joaquin Phoenix portrays the protagonist, Arthur Fleck, a man who works as a party clown but aspires to be a stand-up comedian. Arthur lives with his aging mother (who is forever waiting for her former employer, billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, to answer her letters). He suffers from mental health issues, including a condition that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times.

But an incident leads to him being fired from his clown job, making him even more desolate. This, combined with an episode of bullying, pushes him to his breaking point. He snaps. Violence ensues.

It’s all very dark and gritty, and it’s very thoroughly riveting.

Writer and director Todd Phillips has created one of the most compelling dramas in the DC universe this side of Nolan’s trilogy. 

An intriguingly disturbing central character, engrossing story, absorbing atmosphere, terrific score and soundtrack, and, most significantly, a very powerful performance by Phoenix all come together to create a chilling portrait that redefines an infamous villain. Phoenix, in fact, is so deeply committed and astoundingly brilliant in the part that his portrayal even gives Ledger’s version of the villain a run for his money. The supporting players around him have also been brought to life by talented actors, including the legendary Robert De Niro (who appears as a talk show host who plays a part in Arthur’s unravelling), the lovely Zazie Beetz (Arthur’s love interest), and the ever-reliable Frances Conroy (Arthur’s mother).

While there are elements of the film that come off as a bit derivative and while its ultimate destination is obviously a foregone conclusion, Joker does manage to create an interesting tale and also holds up a mirror to society, deeming us responsibility for the plight of humanity.

But – and it’s a very significant but – Joker’s narrative is also undeniably problematic.

For starters, being mistreated by society does not and should not justify murder or make a character seem more sympathetic, like it’s meant to here. Plus equating mental health problems to crime just perpetuates the misconception that people with mental illnesses are bound to be violent. It’s always frustrating when someone associates mental issues with violence, even more so when a mass-consumed piece of entertainment chooses to reinforce this inaccurate stereotype. The stigma around mental problems is already troubling, and Joker’s negative depiction doesn’t do anyone any good. We need to do so much more for an already stigmatized group, not harm them further in the name of entertainment. The film could have easily avoided this pitfall and spun a tale with just as much impact without employing this toxic trope.

If you ignore the film’s take on mental illness though – and you really shouldn’t, because it certainly is an issue – then you have a dark, twisted tale powered by a terrific lead performance, one that will stay with you long after you’ve left the cinema. Joker is a very well made movie, an unsettling albeit fascinating watch, and one of DC’s most intriguing episodes; it’s just that it could have been a lot less problematic if it had been a little more tactful.

*****

Dazzling DC

The world of DC Comics

1. What does the “DC” in “DC Comics” stand for?

A. Dramatic Comics

B. Dynamic Creations

C. Detective Comics

D. Direct Current

2. What was the name of the comic book publishing company that eventually morphed into DC Comics?

A. Superhero Comics

B. Fantastic Comics 

C. American Publications

D. National Comics Publications

3. Who was the first DC superhero?

A. Doctor Occult

B. Shazam

C. Batman

D. Superman

4. Which DC character has made the most appearances?

A. Superman

B. Batman

C. Green Arrow

D. Wonder Woman

DC superheroes

5. Which of these is not a character created by DC?

A. The Defenestrator, a man who carries around a window through which he throws criminals

B. Dog Welder, a hero who welds dead dogs to people’s faces

C. Galaxoid, a woman who can wield galactic objects like meteors and comets

D. Guts, a mass of internal organs arranged in a humanoid shape

6. Who is Aquaman’s archnemesis?

A. Sinestro

B. Black Manta

C. Cheetah

D. Silver Banshee

7. Who won the crossover clash between Marvel and DC?

A. Marvel

B. DC

C. It was a draw

D. It never happened

8. Fans were given the chance to decide the fate of which character that they then voted to kill off?

A. Harley Quinn

B. Robin

C. Superman

D. Flash

Joker

9. Which of these statements about the Joker is not true?

A. He prefers his past to be multiple choice

B. He has super sanity

C. He was originally supposed to die after a few appearances

D. He has a daughter with Harley Quinn

10. Which of these is not one of the Joker’s many nicknames?

A. Mister J

B. Clown Prince of Crime

C. Ace of Knaves

D. Jester of Jeopardy 

11. Which Star Wars actor is renowned for voicing the Joker?

A. Adam Drive 

B. James Earl Jones 

C. Harrison Ford

D. Mark Hamill

12. This is Joaquin Phoenix’s first leading role in a comic book film. Which part did he previously turn down?

A. Thor

B. Hulk

C. Doctor Strange

D. Hawkeye

-----

Answers

1. C

“DC” stands for Detective Comics. The abbreviation comes from the company Detective Comics Inc. and their popular series, also titled Detective Comics, which was initially published from 1937 to 2011 and later continued in 2016.

This makes DC Comics’ full name “Detective Comics Comics”.

2. D

American comic book publishing company National Comics Publications, Inc. was the direct predecessor of DC Comics.

The companies National Allied Publications (formed in 1934) and Detective Comics, Inc. (formed in 1937) merged into National Comics Publications in 1946 before eventually being renamed National Periodical Publications, Inc. in 1961. The company soon became known colloquially as DC Comics, before officially adopting the moniker in 1977.

3. A

Ghost detective Doctor Occult – a private investigator who uses magic and specializes in supernatural cases – is considered the first DC superhero. He first appeared in 1935 and is the earliest DC character who still appears in the DC Universe. 

4. B

According to the folks at Ranker, Batman has appeared most frequently in comic books across all publications (more than 14,000 issues), followed closely by Superman (more than 13,000 issues).

5. C

The Defenestrator, Dog Welder, and Guts were part of Section 8, a fictional team of superheroes created by writer Garth Ennis and artists John McCrea and Steve Dillon. The team first appeared in Hitman #18 (September 1997) and is named after the military discharge for service members deemed mentally unfit for duty.

6. B

Underwater-based mercenary Black Manta is Aquaman’s archenemy.

Sinestro is the nemesis of Green Lantern. Cheetah is Wonder Woman’s archenemy. And Silver Banshee is primarily an opponent of Superman.

7. A

The DC versus Marvel Comics crossover miniseries was published in 1996. There were 11 battles fought between the two universes. Six were determined by the miniseries’ creative team (both Marvel and DC won 3 each) while the remaining were determined by the readers’ votes (Marvel won 3, DC 2).

8. B

In 1988, the fate of Batman sidekick Jason “Robin” Todd was left in the hands of fans. They voted – 5,343 to 5,271 – to axe the Boy Wonder.

9. All of them are true.

In Alan Moore’s graphic novel, The Killing Joke, the Joker says “If I’m going to have a past, I prefer it to be multiple choice!”

In Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum, he is described as having “super sanity”.

The Joker was meant to be killed off in his second appearance but was spared after editor Whitney Ellsworth saw potential in the character.

In the Injustice series, Joker and Harley Quinn have a daughter, Lucy Quinzel.

10. D

Jester of Jeopardy isn’t one of the Joker’s names. Jester of Genocide is.

11. D

Mark Hamill has received critical acclaim for his voice performance as the Joker. He started played the role in 1992 and has voiced the character in various television shows, films, and video games.

12. C

Before Benedict Cumberbatch was hired to play Doctor Strange, Joaquin Phoenix had been in talks to portray the mystical Marvel superhero, but he passed on the role, a decision that he thinks worked out well for everyone involved.

- Sameen Amer

Us Magazine, The News International, 25th October, 2019 *

In the picture: In the Tall Grass and Gemini Man

movie reviews

In the Tall Grass is let down by the slenderness of its premise; Gemini Man misfires on several fronts

In the Tall Grass

Starring: Laysla De Oliveira, Avery Whitted, Will Buie Jr., Harrison Gilbertson, and Patrick Wilson

Directed by: Vincenzo Natali

Several Stephen King novels have spawned memorable movie adaptations, but the new thriller In the Tall Grass clearly proves that some of his stories just aren’t very well-suited for the big screen treatment.

Based on the novella of the same name by King and his son Joe Hill, the film is built on a premise that turns out to be too sparse for a full-length feature.

After hearing a boy, Tobin (Will Buie Jr.), shout for help from a field of very tall grass, pregnant Becky (Laysla De Oliveira) and her brother Cal (Avery Whitted) – who have stopped at the side of a road while driving to another city – enter the field in the hopes of rescuing the child. But they quickly realize that they, too, are now lost in the grass, unable to leave. Separated and panicking, the siblings struggle to find each other, and it starts to become evident that something sinister is at play.

Director Vincenzo Natali successfully builds a creepy atmosphere, and the claustrophobic setting initially seems quite unsettling, but the story he is working with simply doesn’t allow the filmmaker to maintain the intrigue for too long. Things start to feel more plodding than thrilling as the plot is stretched till it leads to dull tedium. New elements enter the tale with the arrival of Becky’s boyfriend, Travis (Harrison Gilbertson), and Tobin’s father, Ross (a standout Patrick Wilson), but much of it feels like it’s been tacked on instead of masterfully plotted.

While the performances, overall, are serviceable, you are never really invested in the fate of the characters. It’s not a good sign when the protagonists’ misfortune generates an indifferent “meh” from the audience.

Despite the eerie setting and some visual flair, In the Tall Grass struggles to keep the viewer invested and fails to be particularly scary, although some of its more gruesome, gory turns might intrigue devoted horror fans. 

Rating: 2 out of 5

*****

Gemini Man

Starring: Will Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Clive Owen, and Benedict Wong

Directed by: Ang Lee

Tagline: Who will save you from yourself?

You’d think an actor as charismatic as Will Smith would be consistently hitting cinematic home runs. Instead his output of late – or rather his choice of projects, to be more precise – has been downright disappointing. His latest, in what has become a string of underwhelming entries, is the Ang Lee action thriller Gemini Man, a damp squib that gets almost none of its elements right.

Smith stars as Henry Brogan, a hitman for a government agency – supposedly the best in his field – who decides to retire after a tense mission to assassinate a terrorist. But he soon finds out that the man he killed was actually innocent and ends up being chased by a group, led by Clay Varris (Clive Owen), who want to guard their secrets.

The man who is sent to kill Henry turns out to be his younger clone, a reveal that carries zero surprise (given the film’s marketing) and arrives annoyingly sluggishly. With the help of his new ally Dani (a feisty but out of place Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and old colleague Baron (Benedict Wong, reliable as always), Henry must figure out what’s actually going on and defeat the bad guys before they harm him or his friends.

None of the events, however, deliver an impact. The storyline is lazy; the end result unengaging. The script seems like a first draft that wasn’t polished. The action sequences, though, at times, well executed, are so inconsequential that they become tiresome. The young CGI Will Smith clone feels like he has walked out of a video game and into this film.

Given how dull and predictable the plot is, you’d expect that the movie will ultimately deliver a redeeming twist, but that never happens. There are so many interesting implications of the central premise that the film either simply shrugs off or doesn't even bother to consider at all. 

Gemini Man misfires on many fronts, while Smith, once again, delivers a good performance in a subpar movie, leaving you wishing that he’d pick better projects that could make good use of his acting talents.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 20th October, 2019 *

In the picture: It Chapter Two and Abominable

movie reviews

It Chapter Two takes a meandering route to its inevitable conclusion; Abominable takes viewers on a charming animated outing

It Chapter Two

Starring: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, and Bill Skarsgård

Directed by: Andy Muschietti

Tagline: It ends.

The members of the Losers Club reunite to, once again, face off against Pennywise the Dancing Clown in It Chapter Two, the second instalment of the horror tale based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel.

Nearly three decades after they first defeated It (portrayed again by the outstanding Bill Skarsgård, still fantastic in the role), the childhood friends are now grownups. All except Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) have moved away from Derry. Bill (James McAvoy) has become a successful novelist; Richie (Bill Hader) is a stand-up comedian; Ben (Jay Ryan) works as an architect; Eddie (James Ransone) is a risk assessor; Stanley (Andy Bean) is an accountant; and Beverly (Jessica Chastain) is in an abusive marriage.

Bound by the promise they made 27 years ago to kill Pennywise if It came back, the group return to their hometown when it becomes apparent that the demented clown has re-emerged. With only hazy memories of the past, the Losers must face their fears, regrets, and guilt if they want to defeat It and survive the ordeal.

With a nearly three hour length, Chapter Two struggles to maintain a taut narrative and its scares end up feeling repetitive. The film goes on a meandering, overlong journey as each of the friends confront past traumas or recall childhood experiences. The flashbacks give the young cast of the first movie – including the terrific Finn Wolfhard and Sophia Lillis – to reprise their roles and steal the show along the way.

Hader is perfectly cast here and delivers a standout performance, but the rest of the adult cast, even though it comprises of some amazing acting talent, isn’t always as effective as their younger counterparts. McAvoy, for instance, seems miscast here. And Chastain doesn’t make a very convincing Beverly and is effortlessly outshone by Lillis.

Despite its flaws though, Chapter Two still makes for an intermittently interesting viewing, particularly if you enjoyed the first instalment. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is still likely to please fans of the series or the novel it is based on.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

*****

Abominable

Starring (voices): Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Eddie Izzard, Sarah Paulson, Tsai Chin, and Michelle Wong

Directed by: Jill Culton 

Tagline: Find your way home.

A fairly standard story yields surprisingly charming results in Abominable, a delightful animated outing centred on a trio of youngsters and their quest to help a magical creature return home.

The protagonist is Yi (voiced by Chloe Bennet), a feisty violin-playing teenager who is working hard to save money for a trip across China that her late father had been planning for their family. Yi suddenly finds herself on an unexpected adventure when she comes across a wounded yeti on the roof of her apartment building. Turns out her new friend is being pursued by a zoologist (Sarah Paulson) who wants to capture him along with a wealthy man (Eddie Izzard) who is on a mission to prove that yetis exist. 

After surmising that the yeti is from Everest, Yi embarks on a journey across her country to help the misplaced being – thereby nicknamed Everest – go back to where he belongs and reunite with his family. Along for the ride is her (initially reluctant) popularity-obsessed neighbour Jin (Tenzing Norgay Trainor) and his basketball-loving younger cousin Peng (Albert Tsai).

Together, the group must evade the bad guys while dispensing a few lessons along the way.

Despite its familiar building blocks, Abominable easily charms viewers with its sweetness. There may not be anything particularly exceptional about the storyline (or the performances of the voice cast, for that matter), but the affable characters, beautiful visuals, touching musical moments, and poignant turns make sure that the drama remains engaging.

A little more imagination would have helped elevate the adventure and make it more memorable. As it stands, Abominable may not be as remarkable as its obvious influences – like the timeless E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial or Pixar’s instant-classic Up, for instance – but the movie still makes for some amicable, entertaining family viewing.

Rating: 3 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

Instep, The News on Sunday - 13th October, 2019 *

El Camino - not bad at all

movie review

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Starring: Aaron Paul

Written and directed by: Vince Gilligan

In the days leading up to the release of El Camino, as the Breaking Bad fandom dissected every single frame of the then-upcoming film’s trailer, it became glaringly obvious that the project had generated very high expectations. And why wouldn’t it have. This was, after all, the follow-up to one of the most critically acclaimed television series ever made, and with the drama’s genius creator, Vince Gilligan, once again at the helm, the cinematic continuation was bound to be a masterpiece that tied up any remaining loose ends while giving us the closure we didn’t even hitherto know we lacked.

But high expectations can be a tricky thing. And it’s these pesky expectations that make the otherwise thoroughly entertaining El Camino seem just a tad underwhelming in the end.

The movie picks up right where Breaking Bad left off. After escaping captivity, a beat-up, traumatized Jesse (Aaron Paul, reprising his Emmy-winning role) crashes at his friends Skinny Pete (Charles Baker) and Badger’s (Matt Jones) place, as the events of the scene he fled become national news, identifying him as a person of interest. With law enforcement on his tail, Jesse has to figure out how to evade capture, leave behind the mayhem that led him to this point, and hopefully head towards a peaceful future.

Guiding him on his journey are memories from his past in the form of flashbacks that both shape the narrative and give familiar faces a chance to reappear.

Some sequels and follow-ups are designed to also work for viewers who may not have watched the original. El Camino isn’t one of them. Primarily created for the fans, the film recaptures the feeling of its parent series, and basically feels like an extended episode of the show. The familiar characters, setting, and ambience invoke nostalgia that BrBa fans will find impossible to resist. Gilligan is as terrific as ever at writing compelling characters, and once again puts together dark drama and wry wit into an intriguing narrative.

But El Camino doesn’t really make any mindblowing revelations or offer any spectacular twists. Instead this meditative slow burn takes Jesse on a journey, the overall trajectory of which is pretty much what you would have expected. It takes you to its conclusion competently and efficiently, but it does leave you with the feeling that where it ends would have been a more fascinating place for the film to begin instead. Maybe covering a greater stretch of time instead of focusing solely on the immediate aftermath would have made the project even more rewarding.

And while this is certainly not a criticism of the movie itself but a side-effect of the aforementioned expectations, El Camino may not necessarily focus on the things that you would have wanted to see. Many old characters make an appearance; several are conspicuously absent. Some fates are revealed; others are left unmentioned. But then again, this was always meant to be Jesse’s story, not a sweeping, all-encompassing epilogue to the entire BrBa universe. For all we know, Gilligan may have more projects planned that will give us what we missed here.

The acting, once again, is terrific. Aaron Paul is fantastic in the lead role and is supported by a wonderful cast, although, given how long it’s been since the original series ended, it is inevitable that the actors don’t look the same as they did before; one in particular is almost distractingly different and gets more screen time than seems necessary.

All in all, El Camino is a compelling, entertaining continuation that may not be as ambitious as some of us would have hoped but is beautiful nonetheless. If you're curious to find out exactly how Jesse managed to get out of Dodge, then point your browser to Netflix and press play on this Breaking Bad movie immediately so that you can enjoy a poignant reunion with some unforgettable characters.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

- By Sameen Amer

The Express Tribune Blog - 12th October, 2019 *

Ad Astra drowns in earnest contemplation

movie review

Ad Astra

Starring: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga, Liv Tyler, and Donald Sutherland

Directed by: James Gray

Tagline: The answers we seek are just outside our reach.

Would you like to watch two hours of Brad Pitt being emo in space? Then you’re in luck because you can do just that by watching Ad Astra, a moody exploration of a glum astronaut’s interstellar father issues.

The protagonist is Roy McBride (Pitt), a coolheaded space traveller (with a grating penchant for voiceovers). His father, celebrated astronaut Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones), went on a mission to the outer reaches of the solar system in the hopes of finding intelligent life decades ago, but eventually went missing after reaching Neptune.

When mysterious power surges start hitting the world, they raise the possibility that the senior McBride is still alive and might be causing the disruptions. Roy – who believes Clifford is dead – is recruited to potentially establish contact with his father. The quest for the truth leads him on a mission of his own, a voyage that finds him looking inwards while journeying through the vast expanses of outer space.

The movie is visually stunning; the cinematography is impeccable. And Pitt’s central performance is decent. Everything else, however, is a bit of a let-down.

The more science fiction you’ve consumed, the less impressed you’re likely to be with Ad Astra. Its cinematic influences – from 2001: A Space Odyssey to Gravity and Interstellar among many others – cast a shadow on the outing, making it seem derivative and vacant in comparison. 

How you feel about moon pirates and rabid monkeys randomly entering an introspective drama might also determine how much you’ll enjoy Ad Astra. The film begins with some promising ideas, but its potential starts to evaporate with each questionable turn, ultimately collapsing under its own pretentiousness. The movie’s attempts at venturing into interesting, philosophical territories – exploring topics like abandonment and hubris – mostly falter, largely because of a weak script. The unnecessary, on-the-nose voiceovers are eye-roll-inducing; the earnest contemplation has all the depth of a teenager’s diary.

The supporting cast is also mostly squandered. Liv Tyler, who plays Roy’s wife, has little to do in the film. Natasha Lyonne appears in one whole blink-and-you’ll-miss-it scene because why not.

All in all, Ad Astra is visually stellar but lacks the fascinating, compelling, inventive elements that make meditative dramas gripping. Heavily inspired by sci-fi classics, this James Gray film is most likely to connect with viewers yearning minimal excitement and in the mood for some mellow introspection.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

- Sameen Amer

Instep Today, The News - 11th October, 2019 *