First ‘Joker’ Reactions are Love/Hate but There's Across-the-Board Praise For Joaquin Phoenix’s Performance

August 31, 2019 Jordan Ruimy

“Joker” has just premiered at Venice Biennale this morning (August 31), and the first reactions are mostly praising the film, with only a few critics deciding not to chime in due to, I presume, the potential of being scolded by fanboys for their negative takes.

‘Joker' Poster: Joaquin Phoenix/Todd Phillips Movie Cannot Come Soon Enough

April 2, 2019 Jordan Ruimy

I have been onboard this Joaquin Phoenix/Todd Phillips “Joker” movie since the very beginning. Phoenix is one of the great actors of the last 15 or so years. His decision to play the Joker, a man haunted by mental anguish and demons he cannot get rid of, very much defines, not just the iconic roles that have made the actor one of the greats of cinema, but his own real-life tumultuous personality which culminated in an infamous public mental breakdown in 2009 and 2010. Phoenix is an eccentric guy, he oozes with authenticity when it comes to the “tortured artist” cliche that has inflicted the greats (Brando, De Niro).

Chaos at the DCEU: Jared Leto’s Joker Movies Cancelled at DC Films

February 14, 2019 Jordan Ruimy

Jared Leto‘s short-lived time as the Joker is nearing its end, according to Forbes.

James Gunn’s upcoming “Suicide Squad” is rumored to not have Jared Leto’s Joker. Not just that, the unofficially tilted ‘Mad Love’-type Joker and Harley Quinn film has also been cancelled, again according to Forbes. That film looked promising considering Glenn Ficarra and John Requa were the writer/directing team behind it.

Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad” will be keeping Will Smith and Jai Courtney, but no one else, including Harley Quinn. Call it a soft-rebooting, with most of the old squad nixed.

The Leto Joker spin-off movie not happening is unsurprising, especially considering that Todd Phillips‘ “The Joker” with Joaquin Phoenix will be released this October and hype surrounding it couldn’t be higher than it is.

The DCEU is in the midst of major change, Henry Cavill is done as Superman. Ben Affleck is certainly done as Batman. The whole thing is a charade, with plenty of questions left unanswered. There doesn’t seem to be a clear path in what they want as an organization, this is what we like to call a shitshow, my friends.

Todd Phillips Releases Image of Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker

September 17, 2018 Jordan Ruimy

The Joaquin Phoenix/Joker movie is actually happening. Phoenix will indeed be playing the clown-terrorist in an origin film directed and co-written by Todd Phillips. Shooting is supposed to begin this fall, if it hasn't already. Phoenix will follow in the footsteps of Caesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Jared Leto (who must be royally pissed this is happening).

If it were up to me, I'd totally scrap the Leto projects and concentrate on Phoenix, who might just be the most talented actor to have ever partaken in this type of movie, and, yes, I am including Heath Ledger, whose legendary performance as The Joker in 2008's "The Dark Knight" will surely be very hard to beat.

Michael Douglas Says Jack Nicholson, 89, Is “Not Working Any More" and Has “Disappeared"

While James L. Brooks teased last year that "we'll soon be seeing" Jack Nicholson, 89, act again, and that he was "reading scripts," that idea has now been shut down by his close friend Michael Douglas, 82.

Karyn Kusama to Direct ‘Mouthwashing’ Movie for Sony, ‘The Invitation’ Writers to Pen Script

Sony has acquired the feature film rights to "Mouthwashing," the acclaimed psychological horror game. The studio has hired Kusama to direct, and she will bring her most reliable writers, Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay, with her.

Sir Patrick Stewart, 86, Has Died

A real shocker. There are some people you think will live forever, and Sir Patrick Stewart was one of them. The legendary actor has passed away at the age of 86. We’ve lost one of the greats.

Ken Russell's ‘The Devils' Extends Theatrical Run Indefinitely (!) After $3.3M Box Office Surprise

Nobody expected a 55-year-old NC-17 movie to be one of the surprise box office stories of the fall. Yet here we are, and this absolutely puts a smile on my face.

‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ First Reactions Are Very Positive

Of course, we all know the rule: take these reactions with a grain of salt rather than treating them as gospel. Still, I will say that the film tested like gangbusters earlier this year, and Lionsgate clearly has confidence.

August 19, 2019

3-Hour ‘Midsommar' Director's Cut Screened in NYC

This year’s 12th edition of the Scary Movies festival at Film at Lincoln Center premiered Ari Aster’s extended version of “Midsommar” this past Saturday.

CONFIRMED: Sadie Soverall Exits Brady Corbet's ‘The Origin of the World' Mid-Shoot, Lily McInerny Steps In Lead Role

Sadie Soverall was just let go after briefly filming on Corbet's new film — no official reason given. She had the lead role. Corbet has replaced her, last minute, with Lily McInerny.

Ron Howard’s ‘Alone at Dawn’ Starring Adam Driver and Anne Hathaway Sets Christmas 2027 Release

This is the adaptation of the nonfiction book by Dan Schilling and Lori Longfritz. It wrapped production in February and has been in post-production ever since. The film test-screened a few months ago.

Jeremy Saulnier’s Next Film Retitled to ‘Slayground,’ Current Runtime is 2.5 Hours, Plot Details

Jeremy Saulnier’s mysterious A24 project, formerly “October,” still has no release date. You’d think, given that it has been in post-production for almost a year now.

Jemima Kirke and Alexi Wasser to Star in Woody Allen's Next Film

A few months ago, Deadline reported that Woody Allen's next film, set in Madrid and carrying a $14M budget, will be "largely English-language" and feature a "high-profile cast."

Fritz Lang’s ‘M’ Tops the Best Films of the 1930s, According to 100+ Critics

We’ve gone through the decades. The ‘40s ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘2000s, and ‘2010s. — all revisited, argued over. Now, here are the results for the best films of the 1930s.

Critics Poll: ‘Citizen Kane' Named Best Film of the 1940s

The results are in, and according to critics, this decade filled with cinematic riches did not have a better film than Orson Welles’ “Citizen Kane.” Nobody should be surprised by this result. “Citizen Kane” changed cinema forever.

Critics Poll: ‘Vertigo’ Named Best Film of the 1950s, Over 120 Participants

It was a closer race than anticipated, but Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” has topped our best of the ’50s poll, besting Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen’s “Singin’ in the Rain” by just two votes.

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