A NEW TAKE ON A CLASSIC POP
CULTURE VILLAIN AND A
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT A POP MUSIC
ICON START ON AREA SCREENS
THIS WEEKEND. HERE TO GET US
UP TO SPEED ARE FILM CRITICS
PAM POWELL AND CHUCK
KOPLINSKI. Joker (Starts
Friday) Director Todd Phillips
"The Hangove") brings the DC
Comics villain
big screen as a gritty
character study of Arthur
Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man
disregarded by society. At
times brilliant, at others
frustrating, this is an
ambitious, timely film that
threatens to shoot itself in
the foot from the first frame.
Though overlong, Phoenix keeps
us mesmerized throughout,
eliciting sympathy for Fleck,
a man who never stands a
chance in an uncaring world.
Not a call for violence, but
rather a plea for help
regarding mental health care.
3 Stars (Chuck Koplinski)
Rated R. 121 minutes. AMC-C,
AMC-D, SAV. Linda Ronstadt:
The Sound of My Voice (Starts
Friday) With one of the most
memorably stunning voices that
has ever hit the airwaves,
Linda Ronstadt burst onto the
1960
in her early twenties. This
reverent documentary is not
only a solid summation of the
singer
of what a trailblazing,
eclectic artist she was.
Extensive archival footage and
current interviews with her
contemporaries help put her
place in pop music history in
proper focus. 3 ½ Stars (Chuck
Koplinski) Rated PG-13. 95
minutes. ART.
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