After scoring an eight-minute standing ovation following its premiere last weekend, Warner Bros. and DC Films’ Joker has been selected for the top prize, the prestigious Golden Lion, by the jury at the Venice Film Festival.
“They took a comic book mythology that has been done in so many ways and overturned it and revitalized it for now,” said jury member Mary Harron, who also went on to praise the “magnificent performance” of Joaquin Phoenix in the title role as the Clown Prince of Crime.
Recent recipients of the Golden Lion include The Shape of Water and Roma, both of which went on to enjoy success at the Academy Awards, which certainly bodes well for Joker’s chances of making a big splash come awards season.
SEE ALSO: Joker director explains why the film is not a typical comic book origin movie
Joker centres around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. The exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society, is not only a gritty character study but also a broader cautionary tale.
Joker is set for release on October 4th 2019 and stars Joaquin Phoenix (The Sisters Brothers), Robert De Niro (Goodfellas), Zazie Beetz (Deadpool 2), Bill Camp (Red Sparrow), Frances Conroy (American Horror Story), Brett Cullen (Narcos), Glenn Fleshler (Billions), Douglas Hodge (Penny Dreadful), Marc Maron (GLOW), Josh Pais (Motherless Brooklyn), Shea Whigham (Kong: Skull Island), Douglas Hodge (Robin Hood) and Dante Pereira-Olson (You Were Never Really Here).
Originally published September 7, 2019. Updated September 8, 2019.
