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cover of episode Best Of: 'Joker' Director Todd Phillips / Actor Uzo Aduba

Best Of: 'Joker' Director Todd Phillips / Actor Uzo Aduba

2024/9/28
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Todd Phillips discusses the creative process behind turning Joker into a dark musical, highlighting the use of music as an inner monologue for Arthur Fleck and the collaboration with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.
  • The sequel to Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, is a dark musical.
  • The music in the film serves as an inner monologue for Arthur Fleck, reflecting his emotions and fantasies.
  • Todd Phillips, the director, wanted to explore the idea of Arthur having music inside him.
  • The film touches on mental health issues, treatment of the criminally insane, and the media's role in turning killers into celebrities.

Shownotes Transcript

Todd Phillips, the director and co-writer of the new musical sequel to *Joker, *shares what it was like to direct Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in a singing, dancing, very dark adaptation of the DC character. And actor Uzo Aduba, best-known for her role as "Crazy Eyes" on Orange is the New Black and HBO's In Treatment, has written a new memoir that pays homage to her mother, a Nigerian immigrant who raised her family in a nearly all-white Massachusetts suburb. Also, David Bianculli reviews the new Disney+/Marvel series Agatha All Along, a spinoff of the series *WandaVision. *Subscribe) to Fresh Air's weekly newsletter and get highlights from the show, gems from the archive, and staff recommendations.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices)NPR Privacy Policy)