Batman: The Killing Joke
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| + | "The graphic novel ''[[Batman: The Killing Joke]]'' (1988) served as the basis for [[Joker (2019 film)|''Joker'']]'s (2019) premise." --Sholem Stein | ||
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| - | '''''Joker''''' is a 2019 American [[psychological thriller]] film<!--Do not add more genres per [[WP:FILMLEAD]]--> directed by [[Todd Phillips]], who co-wrote the screenplay with [[Scott Silver]]. The film, based on [[DC Comics]] characters, stars [[Joaquin Phoenix]] as the [[Joker (character)|Joker]]. Distributed by [[Warner Bros. Pictures]], it is intended to launch DC Black, a series of DC-based [[standalone film]]s. The film, which acts as an [[origin story]] for the Joker, is set in 1981 and follows Arthur Fleck, a [[failed]] [[stand-up comedian]] who turns to a life of crime and chaos in [[Gotham City]]. [[Robert De Niro]], [[Zazie Beetz]], and [[Frances Conroy]] appear in supporting roles. | + | '''''Batman: The Killing Joke''''' is a 1988 [[DC Comics]] [[One-shot (comics)|one-shot]] [[graphic novel]] featuring the characters [[Batman]] and the [[Joker (character)|Joker]] written by [[Alan Moore]] and illustrated by [[Brian Bolland]]. ''The Killing Joke'' provides an origin story for the supervillain the Joker, loosely adapted from the 1951 story arc "[[The Man Behind the Red Hood!]]". The Joker's origin is presented via flashback, while simultaneously depicting his attempt to drive [[James Gordon (comics)|Jim Gordon]] insane and Batman's desperate attempt to stop him. |
| - | Phillips conceived ''Joker'' in 2016 and wrote the script with Silver throughout 2017. The two were inspired by 1970s character studies and the works of [[Martin Scorsese]] (who was initially attached to the project as a producer); the graphic novel ''[[Batman: The Killing Joke]]'' (1988) served as the basis for the film's premise, but Phillips and Silver otherwise did not look to specific comics for inspiration. Phoenix became attached to the project in February 2018 and was cast that July, while the majority of the cast signed on by August. [[Principal photography]] lasted from September to December 2018 and took place in [[New York City]], [[Jersey City]], and [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]]. ''Joker'' was the first live-action [[Batman in film|''Batman'' franchise film]] to receive an [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#MPAA film ratings|R-rating]] from the [[Motion Picture Association of America]], due to its violent and disturbing content. | + | Created by Moore and Bolland as their own take on the Joker's source and [[psychology]], the story became famous for its origin of the Joker as a tragic character; a family man and failed comedian who suffered "one bad day" that finally drove him insane. Moore stated that he attempted to show the similarities and contrasts between Batman and the Joker. The story's effects on the mainstream Batman continuity also included the shooting and [[paralysis]] of [[Barbara Gordon]] (a.k.a. [[Batgirl]]), an event that laid the groundwork for her to develop the identity of [[Barbara Gordon#Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey and other appearances (1989–2011)|Oracle]]. |
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| - | ''Joker'' premiered at the [[76th Venice International Film Festival]] on August 31, 2019, where it won the [[Golden Lion]], the festival's highest prize. It is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on October 4, 2019. The film received <!-- Do not change to "acclaim", which is hyperbolic. See [[WP:PEACOCK]]. -->positive reviews<!-- Do not change to "acclaim", which is hyperbolic. See [[WP:PEACOCK]]. --> from critics, with particular praise for Phoenix's performance. | + | |
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| - | == Plot == | + | |
| - | <!--Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries should generally be no more than 700 words. The current summary is 594 words.--> | + | |
| - | In 1981, [[party clown]] Arthur Fleck lives with his mother, Penny, in [[Gotham City]]. Gotham is rife with crime and unemployment, leaving segments of the population disenfranchised and impoverished. Arthur suffers from a neurological disorder that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times and depends on a social services worker for medication. After a gang attacks him in an alley, Arthur's co-worker, Randall, lends him a gun. Arthur invites his neighbor, single mother Sophie, to his stand-up comedy show, and they begin dating. | + | |
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| - | While entertaining at a children's hospital, Arthur's gun falls out of his pocket. Arthur is fired and Randall lies that Arthur bought the gun himself. On the subway, still in his clown makeup, Arthur is beaten by three drunken [[Wayne Enterprises]] businessmen; he shoots two in self-defense and executes the third. The murders are condemned by billionaire mayoral candidate [[Thomas Wayne]], who labels those envious of more successful people as "clowns". Demonstrations against Gotham's rich begin, with protesters donning clown masks in Arthur's image. Funding cuts shutter the social service program, leaving Arthur without medication. | + | |
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| - | Arthur's comedy show goes poorly; he laughs uncontrollably and has difficulty delivering his jokes. Talk show host Murray Franklin mocks Arthur by showing clips from the routine on his show. Arthur intercepts a letter written by Penny to Thomas, alleging that he is Thomas's illegitimate son, and berates his mother for hiding the truth. At [[Wayne Manor]], Arthur talks to Thomas' young son, [[Batman|Bruce]], but flees after a scuffle with butler [[Alfred Pennyworth]]. Following a visit from two [[Gotham City Police Department]] detectives investigating Arthur's involvement in the train murders, Penny suffers a stroke and is hospitalized. | + | |
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| - | At a public event, Arthur confronts Thomas, who tells him that Penny is delusional. In denial, Arthur visits [[Arkham Asylum|Arkham State Hospital]] and steals Penny's case file; the file says Penny adopted Arthur as a baby and allowed her abusive boyfriend to harm them both. Penny alleged that Thomas used his influence to fabricate the adoption and commit her to the asylum to hide their affair. Distraught, Arthur goes to the hospital and kills Penny. He enters Sophie's apartment unannounced. Frightened, Sophie tells him to leave; their previous encounters are revealed to have been Arthur's delusions. | + | |
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| - | Arthur is invited to appear on Murray's show due to the unexpected popularity of his routine clips. As he prepares, he is visited by his former co-workers Gary and Randall. Arthur murders Randall but leaves Gary unharmed for treating Arthur well in the past. En route to the studio, Arthur is pursued by the two detectives onto a train filled with clown protesters. One accidentally shoots a protester and incites a riot while Arthur escapes in the chaos. | + | |
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| - | Before the show goes live, Arthur requests that Murray introduce him as [[Joker (character)|Joker]], a reference to Murray's previous mockery. Arthur walks out to a warm reception, but begins telling morbid jokes, admits that he killed the men on the train, and rants about how society abandons the disenfranchised and how Murray mocked him. Arthur kills Murray live on television and is arrested as riots break out across Gotham; <!--DO NOT LINK TO JOE CHILL, HE IS NOT IDENTIFIED IN THE MOVIE-->one rioter<!--DO NOT LINK TO JOE CHILL, HE IS NOT IDENTIFIED IN THE MOVIE--> corners the Wayne family in an alley and murders Thomas and his wife [[Martha Wayne|Martha]], sparing Bruce.{{efn|Identified off-screen as the [[origin of Batman]]. | + | |
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| - | Rioters in an ambulance crash into the police car carrying Arthur and free him. He dances to the cheers of the crowd and notices that he is bleeding from his mouth; he uses his own blood to paint a smile on his face. | + | |
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| - | In an interview at Arkham, Arthur laughs to himself and tells his psychiatrist she would not understand the joke. He then runs from the orderlies, leaving a trail of bloodied footprints. | + | |
| + | Many critics consider the graphic novel to be the definitive Joker story and one of the best Batman stories ever published. The comic won the [[List of Eisner Award winners#Best Graphic Album|Eisner Award]] for 'Best Graphic Album' in 1989 and appeared on [[The New York Times Best Seller list|''The New York Times'' Best Seller List]] in May 2009. In 2006, ''The Killing Joke'' was reprinted as part of the trade paperback ''[[DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore]]''. In 2008, DC Comics reprinted the story in a deluxe hardcover edition, which features new coloring by Bolland, with a more somber, realistic, and subdued palette than the original. Elements of ''The Killing Joke'' have inspired or been incorporated into other aspects of Batman media. | ||
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"The graphic novel Batman: The Killing Joke (1988) served as the basis for Joker's (2019) premise." --Sholem Stein |
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Batman: The Killing Joke is a 1988 DC Comics one-shot graphic novel featuring the characters Batman and the Joker written by Alan Moore and illustrated by Brian Bolland. The Killing Joke provides an origin story for the supervillain the Joker, loosely adapted from the 1951 story arc "The Man Behind the Red Hood!". The Joker's origin is presented via flashback, while simultaneously depicting his attempt to drive Jim Gordon insane and Batman's desperate attempt to stop him.
Created by Moore and Bolland as their own take on the Joker's source and psychology, the story became famous for its origin of the Joker as a tragic character; a family man and failed comedian who suffered "one bad day" that finally drove him insane. Moore stated that he attempted to show the similarities and contrasts between Batman and the Joker. The story's effects on the mainstream Batman continuity also included the shooting and paralysis of Barbara Gordon (a.k.a. Batgirl), an event that laid the groundwork for her to develop the identity of Oracle.
Many critics consider the graphic novel to be the definitive Joker story and one of the best Batman stories ever published. The comic won the Eisner Award for 'Best Graphic Album' in 1989 and appeared on The New York Times Best Seller List in May 2009. In 2006, The Killing Joke was reprinted as part of the trade paperback DC Universe: The Stories of Alan Moore. In 2008, DC Comics reprinted the story in a deluxe hardcover edition, which features new coloring by Bolland, with a more somber, realistic, and subdued palette than the original. Elements of The Killing Joke have inspired or been incorporated into other aspects of Batman media.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Batman: The Killing Joke" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
