Most Controversial Drama of 2019 With 11 Oscar Nods Leaves Netflix Soon

The Joker, who first appeared in the pages of DC Comics in 1940, has long been one of the most fascinating and interesting anti-heroes in popular culture.

He tops the list of greatest villains, competing with Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter, and playing this trickster in a movie is an honor, a fame, and a chance to win an Oscar.

Todd Phillips Made One of the Darkest Films Based on Comic Books

Director Todd Phillips, once famous for the comedy franchise The Hangover, quite unexpectedly made one of the most gripping and emotional films not only in the world of comic book movies, but in modern mass cinema in general.

Phillips has accomplished a great deal: revolutionizing the comic book movie genre, being the first in history to reveal the Pinner works of the iconic villain, receiving 11 Oscar nominations, and ultimately grossing over a billion dollars at the box office, an incredible amount for an auteur project.

Joker is not just another reboot of a comic book villain, but a new story about a lost and humiliated man who is driven to the brink of collapse, forcing him to turn into an insane criminal.

Joker Sparked Controversy Upon Its Release

Immediately upon its release, the project was accused of romanticizing criminals and promoting toxic masculinity. Many also believed that the movie could provoke riots.

At the same time, Todd Phillips stated that he did not believe Joker could provoke anyone to violence because his work is a mirror of society, not its creator, and besides, the character himself has been around for more than 80 years.

Joker Is Not Really a Comic Book Movie, But a Gripping Social Drama

Despite the dark and tough tone of the movie, it is impossible to tear yourself away from Joker. This is a great credit to Joaquin Phoenix, who took a risk by showing the shocking decline of the personality.

But this one-man theatrical extravaganza was made possible by the visual and audio splendor provided by the film crew. The poignant soundtrack was composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, the creator of the grim soundtrack to another psychologically heavy project, the Chernobyl series.

Todd Phillips borrowed relatively little from comic books (among the sources we can mention only The Killing Joke, in which the Joker also started out as a comedian), but the film was definitely influenced by classic cinema: Taxi Driver and Martin Scorsese 's The King of Comedy, from which Phillips borrowed Robert De Niro himself.

Joker is not a fantasy movie, and even calling it a comic book movie is a stretch. It's more of a dramatic thriller in the vein of a story about the early years of Hannibal Lecter. This is a tale about a man who had no choice but to become a villain.

Joker Is Leaving Netflix Soon

So maybe now it’s time to turn to this gripping and dark story – Joker is leaving Netflix on April 30.