April 25, 2024 FILM: THE PEOPLE’S JOKER DIRECTED BY: VERA DREW STARRING: VERA DREW, GRIFFIN KRAMER, LYNN DOWNEY RATING: 3 ½ out 4 stars By Dan Pal The People’s Joker is a dazzling kaleidoscope of visually striking colors and images that take the queer coming of age story in a completely new and original direction. Vera Drew wrote, directed, edited, and stars in the film as a transgender woman attempting a career in the world of comedy as “Joker, the Harlequin.” In interviews, the filmmaker has talked about her obsession with comic books and Batman growing up. As such, the film is filled with iconography and characters borrowed from the Gotham City universe, including comedians dressed as the Penguin and the Riddler. There’s also more than one Joker in the film as the protagonist falls for a transgender man costumed curiously like Jared Leto’s version of the Joker. It’s a wild ride filled with animation, found footage, and computer generated visual imagery.
It’s certainly a wild ride. Very inventive and actually heartfelt. Most enjoyable!!
I really want to see this. I’d read a bit about it and it seems bold and visually and mentally compelling.
It is very much so that! Very original!