Jared Leto IS The Joker - - - - - - Part 15

[Eddie Dean]

I hope Leto is so upset by getting his scenes cut, he doesn't return.

 

[tanita_mors]

no, that won't be the reason. but he did say in an interview that if the overwhelming response to his joker was negative he won't overstay his welcome.

personally, he isn't going anywhere.

 

[harryoscop]

Yep, he's here to stay.

 

[tanita_mors]

For better or for worse, the audience have responded well to him and Margot. WB would be crazy not to milk them for all they are worth.

 

[Jekecy]

Margot is almost universally loved, Leto not so much. I don't think it'll be enough for him to go away, but I think it's fair to say everyone's aware this Joker didn't set the world on fire.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

I feel bad for Jared. I really wanted to give an honest opinion of him as the Joker but there wasn't enough of him in SS to even give one.

Is it wrong to want to watch the version that was more darker in tone and showed/explained the full extent of his relationship with Harley? I really want to see that version just to see...and how it would have enhanced the film more than the one we all saw.

Wasn't there a second test screening? If so, what were the reactions for that version??

 

[tanita_mors]

when i said they responded well, i meant to them as a couple. there is far to little of joker in SS for me to judge his performance. overall i liked what i saw, but that was just a sampling at best.

i still think they can get away with a more abusive relationship between joker and harley and a more hardcore joker in future films. just make all the flashbacks from her perspective as they have that weird pink tint - a romanticized perspective.

 

[baby]

its not wrong, I really want to see it too!! I hope they'll be on the blu ray, and some fan edit it into the movie. But I want an extended cut!!

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

what about the first test screening?? Before that version got f'ed over with so much trimming and scenes being cut, diced, chopped...?

 

[tanita_mors]

i doubt that the original version will see the light of day. not any times soon. and extended cut - maybe, alternative cut - doubtful. deleted scenes - most likely.

 

[DarknessOfDeath]

They should have gone with an R rated version...but no WB didn't want to go down that route... *rolls eyes* yeah I know...

 

[gwynplaine]

Of course like most I would have liked to see a more fleshed out Leto Joker, but I still think that with as little as we got and as little as he was given to work with, Leto was still able to bring something different and interesting to the table while retaining the spirit of the character and some of his original elements, plus I liked the "Beauty and the Beast" aspect that was never done before in live action. And I liked the "horror/fairy tale" treatment it was given. Like a Creepshow vignettet:
I also thought that Robbie and him had great chemistry and would like to see them again onscreen. I particularly liked their whole encounter with Batman, even though it was unfortunately super short, it really felt like something straight out of a comic book. And Leto looked like Conrad Veidt in that scene lol.

 

[Guts]

 

[Eddie Dean]

It's true. His "method acting" has become a punchline since the first reports of his portrayal of The Joker.

 

[marcvader]

I was apprehensive of this Joker since the first time he was revealed but I still went in with an open mind as I really like Leto but I hate to say this Joker just doesn't do it for me.

 

[The Shape]

No, I didn't know what you were talking about. I couldn't have. The "Huh?" you offered wasn't as pithy as you must have assumed it was. Regarding your sudden evocation of Heath Ledger's Joker, I have this to say: quantity is not the same as quality. Sure, if you delete pieces of Ledger's performance from The Dark Knight, the character would likely suffer. But Leto's Joker is not Ledger's Joker. And Suicide Squad is not The Dark Knight. You seem to be making a ridiculous assumption that more screen time automatically equals stronger characterization. That is not true.

I'm not making any ridiculous assumptions, nor am I attempting to definitively say exactly what impact Leto's additional material would have had on the film. I'm talking about what might have been, the potential for Leto's Joker to be more effective and memorable, how viewers may have perceived The Joker in Suicide Squad if his part in the film hadn't been reduced, neutered, and watered down. There's no way of knowing those things now because his part WAS reduced in this way, which is why we're discussing the hypothetical possibilities and how such cuts and changes may have likely detracted from what we saw of Leto's Joker -- while you seem to believes there's virtually no chance that anything would have been improved by leaving those scenes in the film.

This also ultimately has nothing to do with quantity (amount of screen time) vs. quality. I'm getting the sense you haven't completely read my posts on the matter, which your prerogative. The point is not that "more minutes of screen time automatically equals better performance and character". It's about what is in those minutes of screen time -- character beats, dialogue, actions, mannerisms, different plot elements, motivations, etc.

For instance, some of the chief complains about Leto's Joker as he was shown in the film are that he wasn't threatening enough, comes off as a love-sick puppy who just wants his girlfriend back, and the relationship between The Joker and Harley was romanticized and watered down. It seems the original version would have painted a different picture of him and his relationship with Harley, potentially alleviating some of those concerns -- not because simply because he would have been in the film more, but because his role in the film and his interactions with Harley would have been different.

Again, you are making a ridiculous assumption. I understand that plenty of Joker material ended up on the cutting room floor. You must understand, though, that virtually every performance in the history of cinema has been pared down. Cuts are normal.

Of course cuts are normal, but unless you've been living under a rock or just refuse to accept this, all of the cuts and changes to Suicide Squad do not fall under the typical editing scenario, where things are simply cut or trimmed for time, weren't needed, had to be reshaped a bit, etc. There were apparently some fairly significant cuts, changes, and additions which affected many aspects of the film outside of just The Joker. It's a clear sign of heavy studio interference, and it's clear why the studio wanted those changes to be made.

We're not talking about the usual bits of pieces of a performance winding up on the cutting room floor here.

David Ayer maintains that the version of the movie we've seen in theaters is his own approved cut. He maintains that he welcomed the opportunity WB granted him for reshoots. You and others may be willing to call the man a boldfaced liar; I, however, am taking his word for it. Whatever was cut was not good enough to make the final cut and therefore most likely did not add significantly to The Joker's characterization.

You must pretty pretty gullible, then.

As to the second sentence I bolded, look who's making ridiculous, unfounded assumptions.

Again, all evidence suggests that this movie is what it is. And so Leto's Joker most likely is what it is, extended scenes or not. In a similar way, a few months back, disappointed fans were hoping a three-hour Batman v Superman would somehow morph the theatrical version into something other than trash. That didn't happen. Here's hoping Ben Affleck delivers a Batman script that will allow Leto to shine.

Actually, all signs point in the opposite direction, even if you can't see them for whatever reason.

 

[JtheDreamer]

David Ayer maintains that the version of the movie we've seen in theaters is his own approved cut. He maintains that he welcomed the opportunity WB granted him for reshoots. You and others may be willing to call the man a boldfaced liar; I, however, am taking his word for it. Whatever was cut was not good enough to make the final cut and therefore most likely did not add significantly to The Joker's characterization.

That's called being gullible.

Ayer fell on the sword, which is blatantly obvious to anyone who recognizes that if he didn't it could possibly cost him studio work in the future.

 

[Joy in J-Land]

I guess what I want to know is, if Leto's performance was so bad they felt they needed to cut or deeply edit all his scenes, why did various members of the cast, the crew, the director, and even Ben Affleck talk about how phenomenal they found his performance at various points over the course of the past several months? Was all of that just hype or what?

 

[MasterChief2829]

I guess what I want to know is, if Leto's performance was so bad they felt they needed to cut or deeply edit all his scenes, why did various members of the cast, the crew, the director, and even Ben Affleck talk about how phenomenal they found his performance at various points over the course of the past several months? Was all of that just hype or what?

lol it's not because it was bad, it's been said by Jared, Margot, and David that the focus of the film is on the Suicide Squad and the present storyline, not flashbacks. Plus test audiences didn't like abusive Joker so that stuff was cut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1zFAsgLz9Y&t=2m

 

[Matt Mortem]

I really can't judge Leto's Joker until he's face to face with Batman. That's what will make or break the character for me. His minute and a half cameo in Suicide Squad wasn't enough to form an opinion over.

 

[DeadStroke]

I thought he was a solid Joker who probably could have been a very good Joker, but was severely hurt by editing.

Reddit is saying he had just 7 mins of screen time. We see his intense moments but we never see any build up.

There is no kind of set up for the Joker scenes. Jared has every right to be pissed because if you went in with any doubt you'd hate this Joker. If you went in optimistic I think he'd think he was all lright.

There was no purpose to this Joker outside of Harley but thats thanks to Ayer. I still thought the movie was decent. Still hopeful for Leto if he's supported by Ben and Johns.

I'll say it again. If you cut Ledger or Jack's Joker first Joker appearance time down to 7 minutes like Leto...you'd lose quite a bit.

If anything we needed a movie featuring the Joker first before this film. It would altered the perception because we'd already understand the psychosis of the character.

 

[Timebomb]

I was apprehensive of this Joker since the first time he was revealed but I still went in with an open mind as I really like Leto but I hate to say this Joker just doesn't do it for me.

I felt and feel the same way

 

[Eddie Dean]

Hannibal Lecter is only in Silence of the Lambs for 16 mins out of a total 138. You can deliver an iconic villain in a short amount of time, Leto did not.

 

[MasterChief2829]

Hannibal Lecter is only in Silence of the Lambs for 16 mins out of a total 138. You can deliver an iconic villain in a short amount of time, Leto did not.

It's a good thing he's not the villian in this film lol, he literally exists for the sole purpose of introducing Harley Quinn to the audience and showing her story.


Also those tweets are more try hard than anything Jared has done. The need for people to hate and reach with these lame tweets they are embarassing themselves.

 

[Joy in J-Land]

lol it's not because it was bad, it's been said by Jared, Margot, and David that the focus of the film is on the Suicide Squad and the present storyline, not flashbacks. Plus test audiences didn't like abusive Joker so that stuff was cut
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1zFAsgLz9Y&t=2m

I should've been more specific, sorry. My comment was aimed at the people who keep saying it wouldn't have made any difference to his performance if he had had more screen time. I'm pretty sure it would have.