Before July’s San Diego Comic-Con, it was revealed that Warner Bros. wasn’t going to have a big presentation for its comic book film slate. This meant that October’s “Joker” wouldn’t get a prime SDCC panel. Instead, it was reported that WB had fall film festival aspirations for the comic book film, which left many people confused. Sure, the film stars Joaquin Phoenix and features Robert De Niro in a supporting role, but is “Joker” ready to play alongside the Oscar bait that seems to populate the fall fests? The answer, according to one of the directors at the Toronto International Film Festival is a big ol’ “Yes!”
Speaking to the Toronto Sun, one of the people behind this year’s TIFF explained why “Joker” was chosen for its lineup and why the film can be in the Oscar conversation at the end of the year, despite its comic book origins.
“First of all [‘Joker’ is] terrific. So it should play on our largest stage,” Cameron Bailey, co-head and artistic director of TIFF, said. “But it’s a really original take on comic book movies and on the Joker character in particular.”
READ MORE: Venice Festival Director Says Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker’ Is Headed “Straight To The Oscars”
He added, “But it has an interesting tone and approach to it. It’s set in the late ’70s, early ’80s and it feels like it was made then. It’s gritty in its look. It has references to Martin Scorsese’s filmmaking and it feels like a cinematic achievement on a high level. Although it’s working with very populist material, it has great ambition. That’s why it’s a Gala.”
As far as Oscar potential, with TIFF becoming one of the go-to places to debut your awards season contender, Bailey thinks the Warner Bros./DC Comics film can make waves.
“I think people will be looking at Joaquin Phoenix’s performance in Joker. It’s that good,” he said.
This echoes Venice Film Festival boss Alberto Barbera, who also said that Todd Phillips’ film is a likely Oscar contender when everything is all said and done. Of course, when that statement was made, people scoffed. But with Bailey’s endorsement, perhaps people will start looking at “Joker” as a crime thriller with awards aspirations and not just the latest DC comics film.
“Joker” arrives in theaters, for those that can’t catch it at Venice and TIFF, on October 6.