Joker is ‘going straight to the Oscars’

Joker is going to be one of the main contenders at the 2020 Oscars, according to the artistic chief of the Venice Film Festival, where it is premiering later this month.

At first, Alberto Barbara admitted that it is a surprise that the Warner Bros film is actually being entered as part of the main international competition. “As usual they said they wanted to be in a more protected situation [as with A Star Is Born last year, which launched out of competition].”

“But then [director] Todd Phillips said: ‘I don’t care if I run the risk of not winning. Why shouldn’t I go in competition when I know what we’ve/I’ve got on our hands?’”

Barbara believes that this was a wise choice on the studio’s part, as he told Variety that he thinks Joker will go on to be a major player in the upcoming awards season.

“I have to say, Warners was convinced pretty rapidly, because it’s a really surprising film. It’s the most surprising film we’ve got this year…This one’s going straight to the Oscars even though it’s gritty, dark, violent. It has amazing ambition and scope.”

Joker will compete against James Gray’s Ad Astra, Steven Soderbergh’s The Laundromat, Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story and Olivier Assayas’ Wasp Network for the coveted Golden Bear gong.

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It wouldn’t be a surprise if Joker ended up with various nominations at the likes of the Oscars, Critics’ Choice, BAFTA and Golden Globes. Not only has Joaquin Phoenix previously earned three Oscar nominations, but Robert De Niro has won two, while another Oscar winner Martin Scorsese is an executive producer.

We’ll get to see what they can muster up with Joker when it is released on 4 October.