JOKER Director Todd Phillips And Star Joaquin Phoenix Address Concerns The Movie Could Be "Dangerous"

JOKER Director Todd Phillips And Star Joaquin Phoenix Address Concerns The Movie Could Be "Dangerous"

In a new interview, Joker director Todd Phillips and star Joaquin Phoenix address concerns that the R-Rated DC Comics adaptation could be viewed as "dangerous" due to the Clown Prince of Crime's actions...

News
By JoshWilding - Sep 24, 2019 02:09 AM EST
Filed Under: Joker
Source: IGN
Last week, Joker star Joaquin Phoenix walked out of an interview after being asked about the possibility that the movie could inspire disturbed individuals to carry out violence in the real world. Well, IGN brought up that subject yet again when they caught up with both the actor and director Todd Phillips, and this time, they both had a lot to say on the matter. 

"I really think there have been a lot of think pieces written by people who proudly state they haven't even seen the movie and they don't need to," Phillips explained. "I would just argue that you might want to watch the movie, you might want to watch it with an open mind."
 
"The movie makes statements about a lack of love, childhood trauma, lack of compassion in the world," the filmmaker continued. "I think people can handle that message."
 
Phoenix, meanwhile, expressed his hope that those watching the movie will have the sense to realise that it's not something that should be taking inspiration from. "Well, I think that, for most of us, you're able to tell the difference between right and wrong. And those that aren't capable of interpreting anything in the way that they may want to."
 
"People misinterpret lyrics from songs," the actor continued. "They misinterpret passages from books. So I don't think it's the responsibility of a filmmaker to teach the audience morality or the difference between right and wrong. I mean, to me, I think that that's obvious."
 
Phoenix has clearly given this some thought since that interview last week, as he also addressed the possibility of viewers carrying out real-life violence. "I think if you have somebody that has that level of emotional disturbance, they can find fuel anywhere. I just don't think that you can function that way. The truth is you don't know what is going to be the fuel for somebody."

It's certainly easy enough to see where both men are coming from, but disturbing to think that there's even a chance Joker is going to push someone over the edge and inspire them to carry out violence similar to what the Clown Prince of Crime perpetrates in this movie. As they say, though, if they're really that messed up, they'll find inspiration from pretty much anything. 

What do you guys think? 

Hit the "View List" button below to
check out some hi-res stills from Joker!


JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in “Joker,” from Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative. A Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

ROBERT DE NIRO as Murray Franklin in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(L-r) Director/co-writer/producer TODD PHILLIPS and ROBERT DE NIRO on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(L-r) Director/co-writer/producer TODD PHILLIPS and JOAQUIN PHOENIX on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(Center) JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s tragedy “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative's "JOKER", a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s tragedy “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(L-r) Director/co-writer/producer TODD PHILLIPS and JOAQUIN PHOENIX on the set of Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

ZAZIE BEETZ as Sophie Dumond in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(Center) JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(L-r) ZAZIE BEETZ as Sophie Dumond and JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Joker in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(L-r) ROBERT DE NIRO as Murray Franklin and JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Joker in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Joker in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

(L-r) JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck and FRANCES CONROY as Penny Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

JOAQUIN PHOENIX as Arthur Fleck in Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures and BRON Creative’s “JOKER,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.
 

Quentin Tarantino Responds To JOKER 2 Praise Backlash: What Do You Care What the F*ck I Like?
Related:

Quentin Tarantino Responds To JOKER 2 Praise Backlash: "What Do You Care What the F*ck I Like?"
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Finishes Theatrical Run With Just $206 Million Worldwide Ahead Of Max Debut
Recommended For You:

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX Finishes Theatrical Run With Just $206 Million Worldwide Ahead Of Max Debut

DISCLAIMER: As a user generated site and platform, ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and "Safe Harbor" provisions.

This post was submitted by a user who has agreed to our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines. ComicBookMovie.com will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. Please CONTACT US for expeditious removal of copyrighted/trademarked content. CLICK HERE to learn more about our copyright and trademark policies.

Note that ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?
Want to contribute?
Nightwing1015
Nightwing1015 - 9/24/2019, 2:57 AM
"So I don't think it's the responsibility of a filmmaker to teach the audience morality or the difference between right and wrong"

Somebody should've told the critics this before they watched The Punisher.
dracula
dracula - 9/24/2019, 3:13 AM
@Nightwing1015 - True, seriously a violent movie isn't going to change anything, people are still going to be violent. Shit if these people get their way we will be back to the days when the edgiest thing on screens was
dracula
dracula - 9/24/2019, 3:07 AM
Did anyone want to declare war on white people after seeing Killmonger in Black Panther?
No.
Did anyone want to kill half the population after watching Thanos in Infinity War.
No.
Has anyone every actually done something horrible because a movie has a somewhat sympathetic villain?
NO!
People seriously need to chill out on this, shit people are violent and a movie isn't going to change that. There have been tones of sympathetic villains that audiences see their point of view. People are no so stupid that they will actually do this stuff. Movie isn't even out yet and the few negative it has gotten go on and on about how disturbing it is and how it could effect society.....seriously why not talk about the actual quality of the film. We have a real oscar contender for the first time in a while but since its a comic book movie, people feel the need to make up fake drama, while ignoring plenty of other disturbing films. Pretty sure the Saw films didnt get this drama
tmp3
tmp3 - 9/24/2019, 3:14 AM
@dracula - The difference is that from reviews of this, it sounds like this movie doesn't have the Hollywood sheen that these other examples had; the violence and brutality feels real, unnerving and disgusting. I don't think there will be riots on the streets because of this killer clown movie, but it's a lot closer to something like You Were Never Really Here than Black Panther or Saw in terms of how it's presented.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 9/24/2019, 4:24 AM
@dracula - @dracula - well, if there was technology, that was readily available by conquest, to kill half the population then sure.

This isn't a personal attack on you, but I wish people would actively seek to find the central themes of all movies rather than the ones they are told to like movies like joker. Killmonger's plan had nothing to do with kill all white people. If you can watch black panther and show me a scene where killmonger says he'll kill all white people I'll cash app you some money
SpideyPuffsMJ
SpideyPuffsMJ - 9/24/2019, 5:26 AM
@tmp3 - Good. That sounds amazing for a solo R-rated Joker film.
RageDriver2401
RageDriver2401 - 9/24/2019, 3:26 AM


OmegaDaGrodd
OmegaDaGrodd - 9/24/2019, 3:34 AM
Phoenix is an incredible actor, so I don't know why he can't seem to pretend to have better answers about this.

Big yikes
Reeds2Much
Reeds2Much - 9/24/2019, 8:54 AM
@OmegaDaGrodd - To be fair "Yes, even if it's isolated and all the research shows that generally violent media doesn't lead to any more violent behavior than watching a sporting event that our movie could still be dangerous" is just bad marketing.
Kumkani
Kumkani - 9/24/2019, 3:43 AM
Good on them to actually answer the questions instead pretending to be shocked and walking out of interviews. I liked their answers somewhat too.
MyCoolYoung
MyCoolYoung - 9/24/2019, 4:38 AM
I'm glad he acknowledged the misinterpretation of other art mediums like movies, muaic, and books. These types of things happen all the time BUT to act as if they don't play a hand in influencing societal views, both positive and negative, is a hit misguided and somewhat naive.

I'll watch the film to see this message about childhood trauma, which is pretty serious, and lack of compassion but if that message is wrapped up in a plot about a special needs adult who gets pushed around and beat up everywhere he goes until he decides he's going to be the one to do the pushing then I can tell you now I'll leave there with a try harder.

That isn't the drowning baby conundrum in philosophy. It's not new nor profound it's lazy writing and if it is indeed the case I won't be a fan of the plot, though that wouldn't mean the movie wouldn't be good.
dragon316
dragon316 - 9/24/2019, 5:38 AM
Oh right dangerous yeah I can see it I. Trailers it could be but saw, hostle, chainsaw massacre, THE PURGE, they are plenty more dangerous to joker no offense to them those movies have people being killed that joker movie will not show
SpideyPuffsMJ
SpideyPuffsMJ - 9/24/2019, 5:42 AM
Good answers. People are misguided and dangerous with or without movies. Also, call me crazy but I think an R-rated Joker movie should make people feel an appropriate level of discomfort watching it. A good one anyway.
Thing94
Thing94 - 9/24/2019, 6:21 AM
Good answers.

Be responsible and don't play victim and say a movie or song made me do it.

Bums.
BertieGregory
BertieGregory - 9/24/2019, 6:28 AM
Movies, literature, and music used to all be "dangerous," that's why it was made in the first place.
ShellHead
ShellHead - 9/24/2019, 6:41 AM
You guys need to fix your mobile site, like damn. The comment section isn't pulling up when I hit the tab. I've missed the comments on like five articles, until I finally pulled up the desktop site.
Toonstrack
Toonstrack - 9/24/2019, 7:50 AM
I get where they are coming from honestly. Not interested in this film but it is not a movies responsibility to teach people how to be good and not psychos.
Related Headlines
Latest Headlines

Hot Headlines Hot Headlines

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Anime & Manga

Gaming

Horror

Cartoons & Animated Features

Action Movies & TV

Pro Wrestling & MMA News
View Recorder