There's more in the original at The Wrap:
https://www.thewrap.com/joker-director-todd-phillips-rebuffs-criticism-of-dark-tone-we-didnt-make-the-movie-to-push-buttons-exclusive/
The "far left" in this context are families of Aurora theater victims where 12 people were murdered and 70 injured by a gun nut during the premier of Dark Knight Rises. And when you follow the link to another story that links to another story it finally tells you it's five people who sent the letter. But hey, controversy sells -- to political marks.
sharehuh? His quote came before the Aurora letter.
shareHe's a douche bag who knew exactly the kind of reaction this kind of movie was going to create. It's why he went in this direction in the first place. Nothing sells like controversy.
shareSJWs are responsible for that "reaction"!
shareMy understanding is that he's trying to make a commentary on society by depicting some of its ugliness, and then some people don't want to look and complain that he's adding to the ugliness.
It is not his fault that people are offended by his film.
In this climate? Over this specific subject? Ask Blum and Zobel if controversy helped The Hunt.
His comment is a reaction to the hypocrisy of those trying to kill it in the same way the other side would. He's not ginning it up but rather pushing back against a tide that's continued to rise in the days before that old quote was even published.
Two people who saw the premiere posted on Reddit. Here's Loeb123:
Joaquin Phoenix does a marvelous job (no news here, what a great actor!). Every gesture, every word he says, a fantastic work. Academy, give this man a fucking Oscar already.
The oppressive and decadent setting, the OST (brutal), everything ties together a society spiraling into despair. Gotham and Fleck/Joker become a reflection of each other.
And, by the way, to anyone denouncing this movie inspires violence and what not... Perhaps I fell into a deep coma during the movie or something, but I still have to see ONE scene or hear ONE phrase that justifies or encourages violence, really, or makes you empathize with the Joker. To be honest, I have seen FAR MORE violent movies that people are perfectly OK with.
https://www.reddit.com/r/DC_Cinematic/comments/cxysk3/rdc_cinematic_joker_review_megathread_1all/?sort=new
Joaquin Phoenix doesn't need an Oscar. He needs a category for himself, so you can have Best Actor, Best Actress, and the yearly Oscar for Phoenix.
He and Seymour Hoffman are (sadly, were) miles ahead of the rest of Hollywood.
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