I Love Films That Make Me Think About Life
Joker (Todd Phillips, 2019)
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGVQLHvwOY]
The most controversial, reviled and defended movie of the year. Is it justified? Yes, it is. It is because it puts in front of our face some uncomfortable truths we would prefer to ignore.
1- There was a time (70s and early 80s) when Hollywood used to make bleak films depicting the dark side of human nature and the violent side of society that public opinion refused to look at. Those were the years of Clockwork Orange, Mean streets, French Connection, Dirty Harry. Then Hollywood turned into a provider of entertainment (dignified in the 80s and 90s, shallow afterwards), and empowerment for minorities. Joker harks back to the 70s, not only in its esthetics, making us look at things we would rather not to
2- Human nature is what it is. When SOME people (the movie makes it clear that not everybody reacts the same way) are humiliated beyond a certain point, their reaction is violence. It has always been like that, going through suffering due to UNJUSTIFIED power may lead to violence. And today most of power looks quite arbitrary.
3- Human have never been good at empathy. Almost nobody cares about the unfortunate ones.
4- Strong personalities have followers, but they do not choose them. Followers choose their leaders.
5- 2019 is the year of the Joker, because in these times of utter absurdity, laughing is the new despair.
6- For those who say this movie is marxist, fuels white men's anger, or support incel movement...it is hard to see yourselves, your resentment and envy in the mirror, isn't it? 馃槀
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAGVQLHvwOY]
The most controversial, reviled and defended movie of the year. Is it justified? Yes, it is. It is because it puts in front of our face some uncomfortable truths we would prefer to ignore.
1- There was a time (70s and early 80s) when Hollywood used to make bleak films depicting the dark side of human nature and the violent side of society that public opinion refused to look at. Those were the years of Clockwork Orange, Mean streets, French Connection, Dirty Harry. Then Hollywood turned into a provider of entertainment (dignified in the 80s and 90s, shallow afterwards), and empowerment for minorities. Joker harks back to the 70s, not only in its esthetics, making us look at things we would rather not to
2- Human nature is what it is. When SOME people (the movie makes it clear that not everybody reacts the same way) are humiliated beyond a certain point, their reaction is violence. It has always been like that, going through suffering due to UNJUSTIFIED power may lead to violence. And today most of power looks quite arbitrary.
3- Human have never been good at empathy. Almost nobody cares about the unfortunate ones.
4- Strong personalities have followers, but they do not choose them. Followers choose their leaders.
5- 2019 is the year of the Joker, because in these times of utter absurdity, laughing is the new despair.
6- For those who say this movie is marxist, fuels white men's anger, or support incel movement...it is hard to see yourselves, your resentment and envy in the mirror, isn't it? 馃槀
