'Joker' puts the police on alert – Variety



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The LAPD plans to increase its visibility on theaters at the opening of "Joker" next week, as police became more and more concerned about the violent Warner Bros. movie.

The ministry said it had not received any specific threat about the film, but had encouraged spectators to be vigilant.

"The Los Angeles Police Department is aware of the public's concerns and the historical significance associated with the creation of" Joker ", said department spokesman Josh Rubenstein. "While there is no credible threat in the Los Angeles area, the department will retain great visibility around the theaters when it opens."

In 2012, a gunman killed 12 people and wounded 70 others at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" in Aurora, Colorado. Families of victims have expressed concern about "Joker", in which Joaquin Phoenix plays the character. a depressed loner whose stand-up failures provoke a violent outburst.

Some critics worry about the film's approach that depicts violence, which seems to be largely inspired by 1970s movies like "Taxi Driver." Stephanie Zacharek, Time's critic, describes the character as "patron saint of the incels", while David Ehrlich, of Indiewire, suggests that the valorization of the character by the film is "deeply dangerous".

The studio said Tuesday that the film was not an "endorsement of violence in the real world, of any kind whatsoever".

On Thursday, Sandy and Lonnie Phillips – whose daughter Jessica Ghawi was killed in the Aurora shooting – released a response to Warner Bros.'s statement, in which they urged the studio and its parent company, AT & T, to "put her money where her mouth is and announces that she will no longer provide political donations to candidates and legislators who oppose firearms reform." The statement was developed with Guns Down America, a non-profit firearms reform, noted that in 2016 Warner Bros.'s parent company paid at least $ 66,000 in political contributions to members of the Congress that accepted funding from the NRA.

Theater channels have refused to discuss the specifics of their security protocols. However, insiders said discussions were underway on the best ways to ensure guests' security as the controversy around the film progressed.

In a statement to the media, AMC, the world's largest exhibitor, reaffirmed its costume policy, a policy it put in place following the shooting of the Aurora.

"Guests are welcome to come in costume, but we do not allow masks, face painting, or anything that hides the face," the company statement reads. "AMC does not allow the use of weapons or objects that may interfere with other guests or impair their cinematic experience."

Regal Cinemas, the second-largest operator in the country, issued a statement that it was working with the National Theater Owners Association, the exhibition industry lobby group, to keep in touch regular with the police. It was later noted, "At Regal, we do not believe that the content or existence of a film is a cause or sign of violence."

The FBI has informed local law enforcement authorities of potentially alarming online messages on the film. A source said that there did not seem to be any specific threat against a theater.

"Although our usual practice is not to comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is in contact with our law enforcement and private sector partners about online publications," said the FBI in a statement Tuesday. "As always, we encourage the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to law enforcement without delay."

Gizmodo reported Tuesday that the US military had distributed a bulletin to some bases to warn of the risk of violence associated with the film. The Phillips family took note of the US Army newsletter in its letter.

"As Americans who have experienced the horror and tragedy of a collective shootout in 2012 and who have dedicated their lives to demanding that our federal government elevate the norms of the possession of property." guns in the United States and prohibits deadly assault weapons, we are devastated and horrified by the warnings of the army of our country, "wrote the family.

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