Reverse Angle:
Director of “Yonkers Joe,” Robert Celestino
Will Phoenix rise as the Joker?
DC’s “Justice League Universe” is in disarray. But there’s one potentially very bright spot: the potential casting of Joaquin Phoenix as the lead in the Joker origin movie.
That’s the reportedly gritty crime drama Martin Scorsese is producing and Todd Phillips (“The Hangover”) is directing.
Phoenix would seem to be ideal for the role, especially if the film draws from the Alan Moore Joker origin story, “The Killing Joke.” That telling reveals layers of agony beneath the garish exterior. Phoenix has provided plenty of performances that fit that bill.
Variety has reported that Phoenix is “in talks” to play the part; he was previously “in talks” to play Lex Luthor in “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” and the title role in “Doctor Strange” before walking away from both.
So … hold that laughter.
Trivia question
Superhero/comic-book movies have been nominated for only two of the “major” Oscars (picture, directing, writing, acting). What are those nominations?
Bay Area Filmmaker Focus: Composer Justin Levitt
Composer Justin Levitt and director Walter Yamazaki have been racking up awards for their short films celebrating Diablo Ballet, including the U.S. Hollywood International Golden Film Award last year for Levitt’s “Libera” score.
“It was crazy. I never anticipate or expect winning an award for music,” said Levitt. “When Walter and I went, we met people from all over the world within, like, five minutes. Iceland, China, Canada. We kind of understood the bigger scope of what we were in. It kind of broke me down a bit. It was so incredibly special and surreal.”
Walnut Creek’s Levitt picked up piano at 15, saying, “I wouldn’t call it an obsession, but a lifestyle. It just kind of became who I am.”
Among his influences: the Romantic composers (Chopin, et al), Elton John and Eminem. He has played Carnegie Hall.
And he says his collaboration with Yamazaki, his move into scoring, is “challenging, rewarding,” and has made him a better composer.
Their new short, “Spiritus,” will premiere at Diablo Ballet’s 24th anniversary performance March 22. Yamazaki describes it as “about the cycle of birth and rebirth” within “many layers of meaning within the visual storytelling.”
The Diablo Ballet performance will be at the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Information: https:// tinyurl.com/y8rlcv5f
Writers Guild of America winners
Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” and James Ivory’s “Call Me by Your Name” scripts picked up the Writers Guild of America awards for original and adapted screenplays, respectively. “Call Me” also picked up the USC Scripter Award for adapted screenplays.
The Writers Guild awards are better Oscar precursors than most, with 13 original and 12 adapted winners matching the Oscar picks since 2000 — about two-thirds of the time.
The major hiccup here is that serious original screenplay contender “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” did not qualify because it was not produced under the Writers Guild Minimum Basic Agreement. “Billboards” also won the top Screen Actors Guild prize (ensemble), making it an instant Oscar contender for best picture.
Trivia answer
Heath Ledger won the supporting actor prize as the Joker in “The Dark Knight” (2008), and the final Hugh Jackman Wolverine movie, “Logan,” is nominated this year for adapted screenplay.