Todd Phillips, creator of a beloved psychopath
About the director
Todd Phillips, an American filmmaker, began his career in 1993. During the early 2010s, he became well known for directing The Hangover Series. Some of his work includes Road Trip, Due Date and War Dogs.
In today’s post, I’ll discuss his most prestigious respected work, the “Masterpiece” Joker.
Unlike any comic book-based movie, Todd Philip created a brilliant depiction of society. Todd presented the audience with the consequences of Inequality in society.
The film was screened at a different film festival and was released worldwide on October 3rd, 2019. There are also streaming platforms online where you can watch it.
Joker’s Dance
The joker’s dance symbolizes Arthur’s emergence from a horrified old man into a psychotic joker. This is how his body reacts to a regretful or terrifying situation. His tragedy then becomes a pleasure for him.
His suit represents the 1980’s when bright and bold colors were in fashion in the movie’s time period.
Todd Philips played a music score while filming this scene on the set of Joker.
Todd Philips felt this is an effective way to imply the beginning of the joker’s transformation.
How about another joke, Murray?
This is the scene where the joker reaches the pivot of his suffocated anger after getting humiliated on live television again.
The gun in the joker’s hand represents empowerment for someone with little power and control.
And in fact, that scene subverted the audience…
Director Todd Philips staged this scene so that the audience will be rooting for the joker to kill a talk show host and if he doesn’t, he will piss the audience. A unique way of directing a scene by Todd Philips
“The atmosphere in the theatre was by far the tensest I’ve ever experienced”
Todd’s Vision Of This Movie
“It’s about making the audience love this guy until they can’t.” — Todd Philips.
Todd Philips indeed changes my understanding of a villain movie. One of my biggest observations is that villains become villains because they wish to show the people the real society, how they were treated, and to seek revenge.
Todd Philips pushed the boundaries to tell this story. The movie is like a big mirror being placed in front of the theatre audience, reflecting society’s current state. This is a valuable lesson for us to see that this is the reality and people live like this. Everything was incredibly well put together from the script to the set design to the music score.
Joker isn’t a mad dog that will bite anyone. He’s the dog that was kicked and decided to bite back.