The joker sings!, SNL movie, and more

Stars of David

By Nate Bloom, Stars of David Contributing Columnist

Editor’s Note: Persons in bold are deemed by Nate Bloom to be Jewish for the purpose of this column. Persons identified as Jewish have at least one Jewish parent and were not raised in, or identify with, a faith other than Judaism. Converts to Judaism, of course, are also identified as Jewish.

“Joker: Folie a Deux”

The latest entry in films inspired by the Batman comic books, “Joker: Folie a Deux” opens in theaters on Oct. 4. A “Folie a Deux” is a French expression that describes a delusion or mental illness shared by two people in close association.

“Joker: Folie a Deux” is a sequel to “The Joker” (2019), a huge box-office hit. Joaquin Phoenix, 49, starred as the Joker (real name, Arthur Fleck). Phoenix won the best actor Oscar (2020) for his (first) performance as the Joker/Arthur Fleck.

As I have noted before, Phoenix is the son of a non-Jewish father and a Jewish mother. Phoenix is not religious and, a few years ago, he said he defined himself as “a secular Jew.”

In case you are not familiar with the Joker character, here’s a capsule description: he’s a mentally ill, nihilistic criminal with a clown-inspired persona. Before turning to crime, he was a poor party-clown and an aspiring stand-up comedian.

As “Joker: Folie a Deux” opens, the Joker/Arthur Fleck is being held (really, imprisoned) in a state mental hospital. He is there because of his crimes in the first film, “The Joker.”

Lady Gaga co-stars as Harley Quinn, a music therapist at the mental hospital. She meets Fleck and is curious about him. This curiosity turns into obsession, and she forms a deadly romantic relationship with him.

Lady Gaga can certainly sing, and so can Phoenix. Just watch “Walk the Line” (2005), an acclaimed film about country music icon Johnny Cash. Phoenix (as Cash) sang all the songs — quite well — in his voice (not dubbed). Phoenix got a best actor Oscar nomination for this role.

So, here’s the big surprise: “Joker: Folie a Deux” isn’t just another comic book inspired flick — it’s a full-on musical!

A song list has not been released, but it’s clear that most of the songs are classic hits of the past (1920-1980). Advance rumors say that one tune used is “That’s Entertainment” (1953) written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz.

“Joker: Folie a Deux” was directed by Todd Philips, 53. He directed the first Joker movie, too. He has four Oscar nominations, three of them for “The Joker.” He co-wrote both Joker films with Scott Silver, 59.

“Saturday Night”

This biographical comedy-drama set in 1975, which opens Oct. 11 in theaters, follows the events leading to the premiere of NBC’s Saturday Night (later known as Saturday Night Live and/or SNL). The film was directed by Jason Reitman, 46. He co-wrote the script with Gil Kenan, 47.

Jason Reitman is the son of Ivan Reitman (1946-2020). Ivan Reitman directed many comedy film classics, including “Ghostbusters” and “Kindergarten Cop.”

Jason Reitman’s big hits include “Juno” and “Up in the Air.” He and Kenan co-wrote “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” and “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.” Jason Reitman directed “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” and Kenan directed “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.”

This is all nice, but I was not happy when I read the “Saturday Night” movie character/cast list. In one sense, this film busts any record I know of: the number of non-Jewish actors who play “real” Jews. I counted 27 named characters in the credits, and 14 are/ were Jewish. Only one (!) “minor” Jewish role went to a Jewish actor (!).

I don’t have the space to give you all these names and who they are/were. Here are just the “top” five Jews played by non-Jews. (Contact me if you want the complete list.) Lorne Michaels, 79, the star character of this film, and the creator/producer of “SNL;” Rosie Shuster, 74, Michaels’ first wife and a SNL writer; original cast member Gilda Radner (1946-1989); original cast member Laraine Newman, 72; and an important guest star Andy Kaufman (1949-1984).

There is something wrong when only one Jewish actor plays a Jew and 13 nonJews play others. What if this was a movie with 14 Hispanic characters and only one actor playing a Hispanic person was “really” Hispanic? Today, hell would break out — even if the director were Hispanic.

“Disclaimer”

This 7-episode Apple+ series premieres on Oct. 11. Premise: Cate Blanchett plays a journalist famous for uncovering others’ misdeeds. She receives a novel by an unknown author that is really a list of all the bad things she’s done. She races to find out who knows her secrets — secrets that could destroy her career and her marriage. Sacha Baron Cohen, 52, plays her husband.

“Before”

A 10-episode Apple+ series, “Before” begins on Oct. 25. Premise: Eli (Billy Crystal, 76) is a child psychiatrist who, after losing his wife, Lynn (Judith Light, 75), encounters Noah, a troubled young boy who seems to have a haunting connection to Eli’s past.