WATCH TV LIVE
MENU
LIVE
'Joker' Raises Concern for Movie Theater Massacre Families
'Joker' Raises Concern for Movie Theater Massacre FamiliesJoaquin Phoenix in "The Joker." (Warner Bros.)
Tuesday, 24 Sep 2019 5:38 PM
Join in the Discussion!
Families involved in a 2012 movie theater mass shooting in Colorado have asked the studio behind "Joker" to help lobby for gun reform, expressing concern about the film's portrait of a mental breakdown that leads to violence.
In a letter to Warner Bros, the families of some of the victims also urged the company to end any political contributions to candidates who take money from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and to fund gun violence intervention programs.
The letter does not ask for the movie to be withdrawn. But it says, "with great power comes great responsibility. That's why we're calling on you to use your massive platform and influence to join us in our fight to build safer communities with fewer guns."
The letter, seen by Variety and other Hollywood industry outlets, comes before "Joker," starring Joaquin Phoenix as the Batman comic book villain, opens in U.S. movie theaters on Oct. 4.
The movie won the top award at the Venice film festival in September and has won plaudits for its disturbing depiction of a social outcast who wreaks terrifying violence. Box office analysts expect it to take about $70 million-$80 million at the North American box office on its opening weekend.
Warner Bros said on Tuesday that it had a long history of donating to victims of violence, including those in the Colorado shooting. The movie studio added in a statement that its parent, telecommunications company AT&T Inc, had recently joined other business leaders in calling for legislation to address the issue of mass shootings in the United Sates.
"Neither the fictional character Joker, nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of any kind. It is not the intention of the film, the filmmakers or the studio to hold this character up as a hero," the statement added.
Twelve people were killed and 70 were wounded in 2012 during a midnight movie theater showing of "The Dark Knight," also about the Joker character, in Aurora, Colorado, by a lone gunman who is now serving multiple life sentences.
"When we learned that Warner Bros was releasing a movie called 'Joker' that presents the character as a protagonist with a sympathetic origin story, it gave us pause," said the letter, dated Sept. 23 and signed by five men and women.
One of those signatories, Sandy Phillips, told the Hollywood Reporter in an interview that he feared that even one person who is "on the edge, who is wanting to be a mass shooter, may be encouraged by this movie. And that terrifies me."
Phoenix and "Joker" director Todd Phillips have defended the film against suggestions that it may encourage violence.
"I think we all are aware of these issues and we're concerned, and I think that's why we talk about it. I don't think that we can be afraid to talk about it," Phoenix told entertainment website IGN in an interview earlier this week.
© 2019 Thomson/Reuters. All rights reserved.
Join in the Discussion!
Join the Newsmax Community Please review Community Guidelines before posting a comment.
» Register to share your comments with the community.
» Login if you are already a member.
RECOMMENDED
Powered by
Newsfront
House Panel Unveils Proposed $1B Fund to Replace Huawei Equipment
US to Provide Venezuela’s Guaido With $52M in Funding
SPONSOR: Govt Insider Reveals Dems’ File of Secrets
Bill O'Reilly to Host Live Town Hall Tuesday
Trump Confidant Roger Stone Loses Bid to Get Evidence Tossed
SPONSOR: Citigroup Says Gold to $2,000 in 2019. Still Time to Profit
In Rural West Va., Circuit-Riding Pastors Keep Sermons Alive
Bloomberg: Richest Stockpiling Cash Fearing Recession
More Newsfront
RECOMMENDED
Powered by
x
back to top
Contact | Advertise
Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
NEWSMAX.COM America's News Page
© 2019 Newsmax Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved
×
Newsmax TV & Web
www.newsmax.com
FREE - In Google Play
VIEW
Read Newsmax: 'Joker' Raises Concern for Movie Theater Massacre Families
