Why so serious?: Why are we all so scared of Joker?

Movies rarely cause as much uproar as Joker has over the last few weeks. What is it about Todd Phillips’ take on this character that has caused such a divisive debate?

A movie will rarely cause as much uproar as Joker has done in the last few weeks. Since premiering in Venice, it’s been the subject of many a heated discussion amplified by its take-home of this year’s Golden Lion. What is it about Todd Phillips’ take on the infamous character that has caused such divisive debate? The Joker has been the highlight of many actors’ careers, perhaps most notably the late Heath Ledger, but this time around, the scrutiny seems to be tighter than ever before.

During a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in 2012, open fire was launched on an unsuspecting audience during a shooting where twelve people died and a further seventy were injured. The families of the victims have urged Warner Brothers to “join [them] in [their] fight to build safer communities with fewer guns,” a quote found in a letter obtained by Variety.

Warner Brothers responded after the military and FBI issued warnings that places showing the film could be hotspots for potential violence. “Neither the fictional character Joker, nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence” is the crux of the Warner Bros.’ statement, which is available to read in full here.

Has a film been the subject of such rigorous audit in recent years? It almost seems to be mimicking the controversy of David Fincher’s Fight Club, which garnered criticism from the likes of Roger Ebert who called it a “celebration of violence” in his two-star 1999 review.

Joaquin Phoenix is this year’s pawn in the Joker game, his performance already being heralded as “blood-curdling” and “out of this world” on Rotten Tomatoes. His exploration of the dark and twisted origins of Arthur Fleck found itself at the hands of acrimonious dispute.

Robbie Collin of The Telegraph had a sit-down meeting with the man himself to discuss his interpretation of the film’s reception. “Aren’t you worried that this film might perversely end up inspiring exactly the kind of people it’s about, with potentially tragic results?” was the question that kicked Phoenix over the edge, causing him to leave the interview. A similar story has surfaced from Todd Phillips who said: “In the middle of a scene, he’ll just walk away and walk out.”

This kind of energy is the exact reason Joker is earning its negative reception. From marketing to the film itself, the paper trail leading up to Joker‘s release exudes arrogance. One of the most popular arguments attached to the film is whether or not we need another story of a man gone rogue after society hits him too hard. In Phillips’ attempt to divulge the mind of Arthur Fleck, he has created his very own Frankenstein’s monster.

It relishes in its anarchistic ways, leaving its audience with little room to breathe in its relentless attempt to plow home its message. The only problem is that the message gets lost along the way. This nihilistic avenue of a man simultaneously causing a revolution and driving himself to insanity — without stopping to atone his sin — is at the heart of what’s wrong with Joker.

The argument of whether media is responsible for societal repercussions is as old as the industry itself. Perhaps the most prominent case would be linked to the James Bulger murder in 1993. Whether it’s filmmakers’ responsibility to uphold a moral code for society is up for debate. Phoenix already being tipped for an Oscar nomination before the film’s release is a sign that this conversation will continue long into awards season and will likely become more complex along the way.

As the topic of mental health continues to circulate in cinema, it is necessary to push filmmakers to do better with their representation. Everyone will face a battle with the issues affronted in Joker, either directly or indirectly, and regardless of opinion, Joker will be an interesting case study of the idea of morality in media. Are we, as an audience, responsible for what we consume? Or do filmmakers need to be conscious of what they put into the world? Or do we need to find a balance of both?

What do you think of the negativity surrounding Joker leading up to its release date? Share your thoughts in the comments section.