It’s one of the most talked about films currently on the festival circuit. Having made its North American Premiere at TIFF, Todd Phillips' Joker is already surrounded by Oscar buzz. At the Venice Film Festival earlier this month, the dark and disturbing origin story received an eight-minute-long standing ovation and took home the Golden Lion award.
But the frightening, violent themes and ‘lonely man’ archetype are leading some critics to question whether the Arthur Fleck character, masterfully portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix as the eponymous villain, could be perceived as a rallying cry or indictment of toxic incel culture.
Host Tamara Khandaker chats with freelance writer Sarah Hagi about her review of the film. They discuss the plethora of actors who have tackled the Joker role, whether or not the character requires an origin story, and both the praise and backlash the film has received.
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