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For Now, This ‘JOKER’ Is Just a Teaser
“…smile and put on a happy face.”
With these words, Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Comics, and ‘Hangover’ director Todd Phillips present the first teaser trailer for the much-anticipated film ‘JOKER.’ Starring the enigmatic Joaquin Phoenix–on and off-screen–DC Comics is attempting to replace one of two major characters within Gotham City for its current DC Expanded Universe (DCEU) in the Joker. Batman is next after Ben Affleck recently left the part.
For now, take a brand new look at ‘Joker.’
Unnerving, mysterious, weirdly entertaining and oddly intriguing. That sums up the Joker in Gotham City, whether on screen or in print.
While no actor will ever surpass Heath Ledger’s perfect performance as the Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’ directed by Christopher Nolan, Mr. Phoenix and Mr. Phillips have produced a snapshot of a captivating movie. It’s a patient and deliberate character piece that will unfold into dark fun within a gritty Gotham City in 1981.
They say comedy is tragedy plus time. That will be put to the test this fall as ‘JOKER’ arrives at a theater near you on October 4.
Tim Cook’s A(pple)+
It was fitting for Apple, Inc.’s brass to present its “+” services in the Steve Jobs Theater in northern California. That “one more thing” addition at the end of those now iconic Steve Jobs presentations from yesteryear is thankfully ingrained in the cultural and innovative DNA of Apple. And after recent years of veritable coasting regarding the popular yet technologically and stylistically static iPhone, iPad and the like, Tim Cook’s Apple needed to make an imaginative splash that would generate new curiosity and excitement.
The details from Apple’s big event yesterday are limited. However, the potential of the new services and the industry leaders creating with the innovative tech giant is enough of a headline and opening statement to quench our thirst for now. Here are the highlights of Apple’s big day.
Apple gets an A+ for recruiting top talent to join its streaming video service via future TV and film offerings. Above all, Steven Spielberg’s partnership with Apple is truly special.
Speaking of Mr. Spielberg, it should be noted that some people are criticizing the famed director because of his recent stand against Netflix films being nominated for Academy Awards without a long theatrical release are misguided in their criticism.
By the way, Mr. Spielberg is 100% correct in his view.
During his presentation yesterday, the Academy award winner did not advocate for films on Apple’s new streaming service to be eligible for Academy Awards. He did not mention anything of the sort. All he discussed is the exciting potential for creating new stories on its expanded video streaming platform, which is in concert with his recent comments that great TV shows and movies are being made today on many different platforms.
Just needed to offer a quick and necessary defense of Steven Spielberg because of the fact that details matter. And the details concerning all of the new Apple + services will ultimately determine the future success of Tim Cook’s Apple in a variety of areas during the next five to 10 years.
What Apple did yesterday at its March 2019 event was prove it can still surprise with excitement.
And we can take that to the bank like never before.
Happy Monday!
The following announcement isn’t great. It isn’t awesome. It’s excellent!
As there are many questions surrounding the plot of this forthcoming film, confirmed details for ‘Bill & Ted 3: Face the Music’ are few and far between. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s currently known:
- Original stars Keanu Reeves (Theodore “Ted” Logan) and Alex Winter (William “Bill” S. Preston Esq.) are returning.
- Original screenwriters Ed Solomon and Chris Matheson wrote the script.
- Orion Pictures will return as the film’s distributor.
- William Sadler (Death) will be alive and well in the third film of the ‘Bill & Ted’ trilogy.
‘Bill & Ted’ will be a trilogy. That’s a fact. Let that sink in for a moment. This is a great an excellent moment for film history and (pop) cultural history. Summer 2020 cannot come soon enough.
Have a Better Week Than Last Week.
P.S. Keanu Reeves may have revealed overarching plot details a while back.
Season Three’s Company Is Stranger Than Before
There is something coming on this 4th of July. And for the wisenheimer out there, no, I don’t mean just the 4th of July. Call it an event. Call it a happening.
But whatever you do, call it what it is:
Strange. Strange things. And then even stranger things as found in the brand new trailer for ‘Stranger Things 3.’
The setting for’Stranger Things 3′ looks like polished 1980s nostalgia gold before seven kinds of chaos is unleashed. Season one felt akin to a Spielberg film with childlike wonder and otherworldly forces whereas season two had a dark, gritty Stephen King touch. Makes sense, considering the elevator pitch for ‘Stranger Things’ was Steven Spielberg meets Stephen King.
And now season three, which will drop on Netflix this 4th of July, seems to be made in the vein of any high school movie or TV show with storylines that take place in the quintessential mall of the ’80s. Now add a terrifying creature like ‘Alien’ and we’re all set.
4th of July TV watching guide:
‘Independence Day’ during the day and a ‘Stranger Things 3’ binge at night with Eggo waffles on the menu.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 