Page 66 - Sonoma County Gazette February 2020

The Joker, spawn of the DC Universe, is an arch-villain who has captured the imagination
of the American public for decades. He is Batman’s nemesis, usually flamboyantly attired, clownish but sinister.
In 1966, the TV series cast Caesar Romero to play the evil buffoon. Romero was an unusual
First of all, I want to send out my prayers to Kobe Bryant’s family. Way too young. Amd his daughter, Gianna, wanting to follow her father into basketball. We lost TWO stars. Kobe touched the hearts of so many people. Honored on the Oscars since he won an Academy Award in 2018
choice because he was your typical dark and handsome Latin Lover and a dancer. When asked
how he could slip into a role so against type he said, “When you get into an outfit like that you fall right
Every year I give you my Oscar predictions and for the last four years I’ve been 100% right, so if you go to an Oscar party, remember my choices.
Best Picture will be “1917”. I would like “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”
into it.” The Joker just emerged with the clothing. In 1989, Jack Nicholson was the malevolent jester in Tim Burton’s adaptation of the comic book. Burton often times has a dark vision that suited Nicholson’s own dim visual imaging of the character. Perhaps Heath Ledger made 2008’s rendition of the story the most famous or notorious because of his death due to a drug overdose shortly after it was released. A method actor, Ledger had spent weeks locked in a London hotel room alone in order to inhabit the persona of the demonic clown. In 2016’s Suicide Squad, Jared Leto assumed the role. He starred along with Will Smith and Margot Robbie. The actor is a little bizarre in his personal life so he added a particularly maniacal touch to his portrayal. In keeping with his character, he would offer the cast and crew “gifts” of live rats, condoms, and even a dead pig! In 2017, Zach Galifianakis of the over the top Hangover movie voiced the crime clown in the animated Lego Batman Movie. It featured frenetic action, Bat songs, and jokes that targeted previous films. There have been myriad animated features and video games that have used the clown as a protagonist that will be skipped. This one is mentioned only because it received a 90% rating by the critics and took in 300 million at the box office!
The Joker. Image courtesy of www.joker.movie
The most recent film starring Joaquin Phoenix provides theorigin story. Why is this guy so twisted and sadistic? It is brutally nihilistic and audacious in its unpleasantness. Even with its ultimate artistry, it is not always easy to watch. The director, Todd Phillips, is mostly known for comedies but in this, he goes way beyond solemnity into Shakespearean tragedy. In an odd but maybe clever bit of casting Robert De Niro plays a late-night TV talk show host. Frances Conroy from the TV series “Six Feet Under” plays the Joker’s mother. She is a semi-invalid in the dark, drab, depressing apartment where they live. Arthur Fleck, the Joker’s alter ego, has been undone by outrageous misfortune. He has been bullied, ridiculed, betrayed and abandoned. All this angst is set against an equally squalid background, a dimly lit, rat rampant, garbage-strewn Gotham City. It is a tour de force performance for Phoenix.
Three previous Jokers were all Oscar winners. Jack Nicholson won for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Terms of Endearment and As Good As It Gets, Health Ledger for The Dark Knight and Jared Leto for The Dallas Buyer’s Club. It is a tough act to follow but Joaquin Phoenix lives up to the challenge.
to win because, believe it or not, Quentin Tarantino has never had a film
win Best Picture.
Best Director will be Sam Mendes for “1917”. Again, I would like Quentin
to win because he has never won for Best Director. He has won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay twice for “Django Unchained” and “Pulp Fiction”. He will probably win a third this year.
Best Actress will be Renee Zellweger for “Judy”. If you still have the October issue of the Sonoma
County Gazette you will see
in my column that I predicted
Renee would win for Best Actress and Joaquin Phoenix would win Best Actor for
his amazing performance in “Joker”. Laura Dern will win the best-Supporting Actress for “Marriage Story” and Brad Pitt will finally win an acting Oscar for Best Supporting for “Once Upon A Time in Hollywood”.
Celebrate Oscar Sunday on
February 9 at Mountain Mike’s
Pizza in Rohnert Park to help
raise money for the Boys and
Girls Club in Sonoma County.
There will be a Joker and Judy
Garland costume contest. Party starts at 5 pm with Debbie Abrams from KZST. If you have ever wanted to meet her, this is your chance!
Opening at a local theater near you is “Birds of Prey” starring Margot Robbie. After splitting up with the Joker, Harley Quinn and other female superheroes Black Canary and Huntress come together to save the life of a little girl from an evil crime lord.
February 14th is “Fantasy Island” starring Michael Pena. This is the remake of the iconic 1970s show. Mr. Roarke invites guests to his exclusive island resort to fulfill their fantasies but they can only choose one.
February 21st is “The Call of the Wild” starring Harrison Ford. This is the adaptation of the beloved novel where John Thornton whose dog, Buck, becomes the rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team.
February 28th is “The Invisible Man” starring Elisabeth Moss in this terrifying tale of obsession inspired by Universal’s classic monster character. She plays a woman who tries to flee her abusive, controlling husband, only to end up being haunted by him when he suddenly kills himself.
For my live theater fans, there is “A View From The Bridge” by Arthur Miller at the 6th Street Playhouse. Closes February 16th. Call 707 523 4185 for more information. Fans of Harry Potter will be happy to know that “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” is still running at the Curran Theater in San Francisco. Call 415 358 1220 for more information.
Email me: dongibblecast@hotmail.com with any film and theater questions.
Renee Zellweger in Judy
66 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 2/20