After Todd Phillips, director of the upcoming solo Joker movie, dropped the first ever look of Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character (named Arthur) sans make-up the other day, my thoughts on the look fell somewhere in the ballpark of “goddamn he looks seedy yet it works for me”.
Well it may be time to change my opinion once again because Phillips has now released a new clip of Phoenix as the Joker, only this time we see him in what appears to be his full clown make-up.
And boy does it look so freaking creepy. I’m talking about “and now I’m scared of clowns” creepy.
Much like how Heath Ledger’s version of the character was dirty and scarred, and Jared Leto’s version was just plain weird, Phoenix’s Joker take is distinctive enough that it just works. Plus the bloke is just so effortlessly seedy, which just accentuate’s the character’s creepiness even more.
The make-up also gives us a glimpse into what this version of the Joker may be. There’s no scars or stupid grills in his teeth just plain red, white, and blue face paint, which suggests that the movie will indeed be the big character piece Phillips teased.
Now I really can’t wait to see what Phoenix does with the Joker and if he decides to go full-on I’m Still Here method, we’re in for something special.
After a couple of days of the comic book spotlight light being hogged by Batman’s penis, it almost seems fitting that all the attention was wrestled back by his greatest nemesis.