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The People's Joker!
🕑 Added 2024-04-13 14:56:45 +0000 UTCLast night I had the pleasure of introducing, watching, and then moderating a Q and A for the long-awaited 'The People's Joker" at the NuArt Theater here in Los Angeles.
I wasn't sure what to expect, in fact, I was steeling myself for not liking it. I knew a lot about it and was even IN it, as the voice of a but you know how I feel about comic book culture but I had read Richard Brody's glowing New Yorker review and was hopeful.
It started out a little rough, as the early scenes were SO green screen, I worried the movie would just be THAT. But pretty soon, it picked up and the vacillating styles became so inventive and creative, yet consistent enough to make everything feel cohesive. And soon enough, I was drawn in (also literally, as my cartoon Alex Jones-style character popped in through the movie) because it was clear this movie was really special: First, it was about something! It was ABOUT a lot of things; Identity, finding a community, and your relationship with your family.
It was a love letter to the myths and archetypes created by the folks at DC and despite what the law says about who owns Batman and all of his friends and foes, those characters are ours - They are about as American as country and jazz music.
It's about comedy, and what it means to be funny and why we want to be funny. A sharp critique of the strict guardrails and gatekeepers of mainstream comedy
But most of all, Vera stole the show as the Joker. She created a comic, sympathetic new kind of leading lady. Witty, vulnerable, and wild with laugh-out-loud delivery and physicality. The thought occurred to me, halfway through that it felt a little like "Annie Hall!" Despite what we all think of Woody now, "Annie Hall" was so revolutionary and bold in its inventive storytelling and getting to the core of the heavy emotional subjects of love, loss, and anxiety, all while keeping things light and funny.
Nathan Faustyn as the Penguin (or Vera's Tony Roberts) was terrific and the two of them had some of the most natural and funny back-and-forths I've seen in a while. Lynne Downey as Vera's mom was so good - natural, funny and heartbreaking throughout... Our own David Liebe Hart was transcendent as Ra's al Ghul (no small task for Vera to make that work, believe me, I know) and... stand by and stand back for this... Phil Braun was an inspired and very funny choice for Batman himself! He made me laugh every time he showed up.
Afterward, Vera and I had a very funny and lovely q and a, which started out very emotionally as I heaped praise on her and how proud I was to see this thing come to fruition. As you may know, it was a long, 3-year labor of crowd-funded love, with so much of the special effects and post-production coming together through the vast network of talented artists out there (maybe some of you!) So many Tim and Eric and Office Hours-friendly names popped up in the end credits.
I've written this whole movie without typing "trans" once, so I'll just say that as a straight white CIS male dude guy it was so valuable to be able to have this glimpse into what it FEELS like to be trans - to have a filmgoing experience in which, I was able to experience their journey with them. It made me prouder than ever to be a staunch supporter of the community and I'm so happy they have THIS movie as their own. I also want more movies from Vera - I want her to have a bigger budget and a small studio's support to make her version of "Stardust Memories" or whatever the hell she wants to do.
I hope you get a chance to see this movie, check your local listings - It's a true original and you're bound to see some folks, maybe in costume who finally get to see themselves represented for who they are up on the big old silver screen. It's a wonderful thing to see.
P&L, T
Comments
Plop Slop
upload this thing to usenet
Stephanie
Saw it last night and loved it!
Di Drew
If anyone has a way to see it in Australia link me up!
ToddUmptious
Well it's official. I am old man. Forgot the Irish Film Centre changed it's name to the Irish Film Institute and I was looking at the wroooong website.
abi harding
aha checked the comments and I too have missed the opportunity! well hoping there'll be another then, or that'll be available to be streamed at some point
abi harding
Hoping there's a chance for UK fans to see this!
Johnnee
It WAS AMAZING!!! So glad i brought my Mom with me! Very cool to see my name all big in the credits too! Both Phil Braun and David Liebe Hart destroyed in this movie! And you gotta love Tim's Alex Jones character!
lilula9
Damn this recap is amazing. Thank you for supporting the queer community and the weird-art community. I just found out this is showing a couple miles by me and I’m so excited to go. Anyone in St. Louis: Webster University is showing it this Thursday for 8 dollahs, let’s go! DM me, I can try answering all your trans questions—but only with drops 😏
Phil Braun
I don’t look like that in real life
roxxyxxyxxy
This is so sweet, thanks cisgender Tim <3 <3 Saw TPJ in Sydney a few months ago and it absolutely rocked my world, opened my eyes to how things can be made
Brandon Holmes
You and your animated FUPA did a great job Phil
Heath Gardner
Oh boy, I’ve been looking forward to seeing this for a long time and your review affirms how much I already know it will rule. Thanks T! Congrats to Vera, I know it was a long process
Phil Braun
Would you believe they had a trailer for the 89 Batman before this. I almost “booed” during it but decided not to (in spite of the laughs it would’ve generated)
Branleigh
Aw Tim gettin' sweet + sentimental just made my Saturday. Viva Vera, can't wait to see this pic
Randy Faucheux
I hear the Batman is better than both Keaton and Bale (but not West)
Randy Faucheux
Only if you get express written consent from Vera Drew in advance
Johnnee
I'm taking my Mom to see this tonight!
casey
Tim are you moderating the American Cinematheque Q&A in May?! (I’m going to the LF3 screening on May 3rd if any Angelinos missed last night & want to join me!!)
Dan
Seeing it in Orlando in a few weeks!
Bill R Tomison
(sees topic) AWESOME! I’m about to see it in Providence next weekend. 💜 (and if anyone wants to meet up DM!)
Sarah Strassner
Is there any chance of streaming it anywhere? Or is it strictly in theaters right now?
Brian Rooney
The piano and tap dancing is EXACTLY why I subscribe. Why leave your couch when you got OHL!? Uncles assemble!!!
Josh Parsons
bydaway, Vera is also on Patreon (veradrew22), and you should go check that out if you're interested. I adored the little glimpses and video essays she gave us throughout the entire TPJ process. A moment that I think about a lot is when Tim appeared on This American Drew back in 2016. The episode was called "Heroes" and it was a more introspective look at the people who influence us and what we do to try to succeed in light of that influence. In that appearance, Tim plays a bit where he's a disgruntled and highly critical, disinterested guest. But there's this moment that happens near the end where Tim flips a switch into something more genuine and sincere and honest. He recognized that Vera had a unique angle to storytelling and presentation, and more of an open book and vulnerable in contrast to who Tim and Eric were up to that point. Vera was in that mid-20s point in their career, working hard in the scene, but unsure of what to focus on while striving for greater success. Tim explicitly encouraged Vera to stay true to their unique storytelling and presentation trajectory because there was something there that was intriguing. Vera has been able to grow with and cultivate her community because she's stayed to true to herself and her vision. I've told Vera this on her Patreon about this journey and I'll say it here. What she showed us about the making of The People's Joker and that really makes this whole thing so special is how much joy you can have with others when you really go out and make the things that you want to make with the people you like being around and who understand what it is that you're trying to do. And how powerful and important it is to have people around you who love you as you are, support you, can provide emotional support, and will fight for you when things get tough. There is something truly magical and joyful when you can get together with your friends and community and go and make really cool and weird shit. Office Hours Live has these same markers. How many of our favorite moments happened because the people in the room just tried something out and everyone just ran with it? You need community to be able to do that. You also need talent. The People's Joker was no accident. Yes, fortune does play a role, people have to be in the right place at the right time, but at the end of the day, this project was built on the foundation of going out and making something fucking rad and cool that she wanted to make with a community of creative people. Everyone involved in the making of The People's Joker should be very proud of what they've achieved. It makes me tremendously happy to see all of this happen.
Phil Braun
I saw it last night and Vera really killed it. I loved it. And I could watch an entire movie with Vera’s version of Lorne/Maria Bamford
Jane Crocker
Thanks for supporting trans women, Tim! We sure do appreciate it. ❤️🏳️⚧️❤️
ToddUmptious
https://www.ifccenter.com/films/the-peoples-joker/ IFC in Dublin currently showing it for anyone living in The Pale. Googling for screenings near me did not bring this up at all, I had to dig for this. I think Google's dying or showing its bias 😅
Dan Gilbert
Yeah I know she's working on foreign distribution so it'll be back. If nothing else it'll stream somewhere eventually.
ToddUmptious
https://www.lighthousecinema.ie/film/gaze-the-peoples-joker-pre-feature-short Okay seems in my reclusiveness I have missed a screening. But this is good news, no doubt it will return soon. My Google Fu isn't what it used to be, or maybe Google isn't what it used to be but I can't find any upcoming international dates 🫣 Excited for all who are seeing it soon, have seen it before or will get to see it eventually <3
ToddUmptious
If I buy a ticket can you pop yr phone in the seat and zoom me so I can watch too? Yr not recording it so I think this is technically okay. They would be the ones discriminating against my inability to be on the same landmass as them if it's made into an issue. I really wanna see this 😅
Måns Thuresson
come to sweden
courtney
I'll be seeing it in New York this week!! Now I'm gettin excited!
Randy Faucheux
I have tickets to see it in Providence on Friday. Pretty stoked!
jason noice
Love this. Gonna see it in Portland next week. I did work on this movie, doing VFX and 3D composition filming. I think there is a special connection with OHL and TPJ community. Something kind of unserious, yet serious, dismissive yet accepting, janky yet well crafted. Lots of love and joy and curiosity and welcome. Can't wait to see the film in its entirety. Love you all.
Bryan Hamill
I’ve followed this from the beginning and to be honest, I thought it was a goof for the first couple of months. Seeing it come together is really amazing and I can’t wait to watch it
Mary-Anne McTrowe
I had the incredible good fortune to see The People’s Joker in Calgary (OF ALL PLACES) last year. I’ve been hoping for a wide release ever since and hounding my friends to go see it if they have the chance. Vera rules!
Pepito
Hoping to see it this week! 🥰
ToddUmptious
I've been hearing about this for what feels like two years now and I still don't know how to see it. Anybody know how to watch this in UK and Ireland? Congrats to everyone involved with the project and thank you Tim for hyping it up <3
