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Groucho Marxist
Updated
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
2019
Original Running Time:
122
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
46
Available in HD?
Additional Links:
Awards:
Brief Synopsis:
This edit aims to streamline Joker into a story of class struggle (though a bit of a tongue in cheek one) and less of a Scorsese pastiche superimposed on the Batman universe.
Intention:
Todd Phillip's original film touches on but never fully addresses a variety of concepts (daddy issues, what is comedy, romantic delusions about your neighbor, etc.). By refocusing on class themes and redirecting the use of violence/humor (such as motivations for violence), this edit hopes to present a clearer and less pitiful narrative arc for Arthur, as well as provide more room to laugh in the process.
Additional Notes:
I made most of this edit in about a day cause I thought Groucho Marxist was a funny name. I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did editing.
Special Thanks:
jrWHAG42 for the initial feedback that really helped refine the final cut.
Release Information:
Digital
Cuts and Additions:
- Added opening prologue of Groucho Marx from an interview on Firing Line with William F. Buckley Jr.: Is the World Funny?
- Removed romantic subplot with Sophie neighbor entirely.
- Moved Arthur’s stand up routine (originally after first murder) near the beginning of the film. This now serves to introduce his anxious laughing tick. Cut around Sophie as this was part of their date sequence.
- Removed subplot regarding Arthur’s quest for a father figure (i.e. fantasy scene with Murray, whole Thomas Wayne/adoption storyline)
- Cut social worker/Arthur relationship to only their last session. Removed on-the-nose line “They don’t care about people like you, Arthur… or people like me for that matter”
- Re-arranged order of mother’s death and Arthur’s first murder. Originally, the murders occur before his mom is hospitalized - now her death acts as part of the catalyst to Arthur’s subway murders.
- Cut around Arthur suffocating his mother with pillow as result of the Thomas Wayne/adoption storyline. Her death is now ambiguous and occurs the night she’s hospitalized/Arthur is mocked on Murray.
- Removed instances of inter-violence among lower class characters (Opening assault over sign, Arthur murdering his co-worker). We still elude to Arthur getting jumped, but it’s only referenced by his bruises, his co-worker, or Arthur to his boss. The first time we see Arthur physically beaten is by the Wall Street Boys (this keeps the focus on class)
- Cut around his mother when Arthur is watching the news about the murders (since this now occurs after his mother’s death)
- Added reprisal of Claude Boiling’s Temptation Rag to the cop chase bit.
- Trimmed Murray scenes (removed pre-show introductions, re-cut interview to be less of a film “thesis” and feel more in line with narrative) Removed dialogue like “you decide what’s right or wrong the same way you decide what’s funny and not”
- Added new ending track, Joy by Satellite Orchestra. Thought it brought some humor to the end and tied the character arc of Arthur finally finding acceptance in class solidarity.
- For sake of bookending Groucho Marx opener, added Karl Marx quote to close the film.
- Removed psychiatric hospital ending.
- Removed romantic subplot with Sophie neighbor entirely.
- Moved Arthur’s stand up routine (originally after first murder) near the beginning of the film. This now serves to introduce his anxious laughing tick. Cut around Sophie as this was part of their date sequence.
- Removed subplot regarding Arthur’s quest for a father figure (i.e. fantasy scene with Murray, whole Thomas Wayne/adoption storyline)
- Cut social worker/Arthur relationship to only their last session. Removed on-the-nose line “They don’t care about people like you, Arthur… or people like me for that matter”
- Re-arranged order of mother’s death and Arthur’s first murder. Originally, the murders occur before his mom is hospitalized - now her death acts as part of the catalyst to Arthur’s subway murders.
- Cut around Arthur suffocating his mother with pillow as result of the Thomas Wayne/adoption storyline. Her death is now ambiguous and occurs the night she’s hospitalized/Arthur is mocked on Murray.
- Removed instances of inter-violence among lower class characters (Opening assault over sign, Arthur murdering his co-worker). We still elude to Arthur getting jumped, but it’s only referenced by his bruises, his co-worker, or Arthur to his boss. The first time we see Arthur physically beaten is by the Wall Street Boys (this keeps the focus on class)
- Cut around his mother when Arthur is watching the news about the murders (since this now occurs after his mother’s death)
- Added reprisal of Claude Boiling’s Temptation Rag to the cop chase bit.
- Trimmed Murray scenes (removed pre-show introductions, re-cut interview to be less of a film “thesis” and feel more in line with narrative) Removed dialogue like “you decide what’s right or wrong the same way you decide what’s funny and not”
- Added new ending track, Joy by Satellite Orchestra. Thought it brought some humor to the end and tied the character arc of Arthur finally finding acceptance in class solidarity.
- For sake of bookending Groucho Marx opener, added Karl Marx quote to close the film.
- Removed psychiatric hospital ending.
Teaser
User reviews
17 reviews
Overall rating
9.9
Audio/Video Quality
10.0(17)
Visual Editing
10.0(17)
Audio Editing
9.8(17)
Narrative
9.9(17)
Enjoyment
10.0(17)
(Updated: August 26, 2023)
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
This is literally such a perfect edit of a movie that I can't even remember what is missing (aside from the Zazie Beetz plotline). I absolutely loved it. It was tight, controlled, careful in what it selected and what it didn't, and the new music was so so good. It told the story of "Joker" in one-third the time with three times the emotional punch, and the actual edit work is flawless.
Congratulations on this enormous success!
Congratulations on this enormous success!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
J
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
9.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
9.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Some fan edits are built like lifeboats. They're meant to salvage as many people as they can, but there's still the matter of the sinking ship. Groucho Marxist is no lifeboat, in fact it's arguably a god damn ocean liner. I've never seen a fan edit that so beautifully chopped apart a film and made it a genuinely enjoyable, yet entirely different, experience. Frankly, it's the only version worth your time.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
L
Overall rating
9.8
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
8.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
The one issue I’ve found is a half-second cut to silence (I’m sure it was not intended) at 21:18.
Groucho Marxist -- what is up with such a title… It’s almost too perfect to be true; it’s brilliant.
The audio edits are impressive. Most scenes are shorter but also more focused than the original ones. Each one transitions to the following scene with an incredible flow, much because of the way the audio edits are structured.
The main character is not such a pitiful (comic book-like) caricature and the story is much more grounded in reality. The main story arc is actually completely different. Now, the class struggle is the main course, instead of being a forced and rushed subplot like in the original.
What a remarkable example of storytelling and editing!
Groucho Marxist -- what is up with such a title… It’s almost too perfect to be true; it’s brilliant.
The audio edits are impressive. Most scenes are shorter but also more focused than the original ones. Each one transitions to the following scene with an incredible flow, much because of the way the audio edits are structured.
The main character is not such a pitiful (comic book-like) caricature and the story is much more grounded in reality. The main story arc is actually completely different. Now, the class struggle is the main course, instead of being a forced and rushed subplot like in the original.
What a remarkable example of storytelling and editing!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
G
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
I liked that this story was now viewable in the span of a serious TV show.
There were a couple things I missed being present, but they were not essentials, and this plot still runs along just fine at a good pace.
The original movie was good, but I guess the romance and Batman elements were ultimately just filler, and this edit has sacrificed those to keep the story served tightly wrapped with a bow.
I liked the music used in the cop transport scene, but I didn't like the quote at the closing scene - just seems too on-the-nose and polemical. The point it makes was there with not-so-much subtlety already, so it just struck me as overbearing and excessive.
But a good edit, overall!
There were a couple things I missed being present, but they were not essentials, and this plot still runs along just fine at a good pace.
The original movie was good, but I guess the romance and Batman elements were ultimately just filler, and this edit has sacrificed those to keep the story served tightly wrapped with a bow.
I liked the music used in the cop transport scene, but I didn't like the quote at the closing scene - just seems too on-the-nose and polemical. The point it makes was there with not-so-much subtlety already, so it just struck me as overbearing and excessive.
But a good edit, overall!
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
V
Overall rating
10.0
Audio/Video Quality
10.0
Visual Editing
10.0
Audio Editing
10.0
Narrative
10.0
Enjoyment
10.0
Great edit, highly recommend it. It cuts the Joker lore, making it feel like just the story of a shitty city.
User Review
Do you recommend this edit?
Yes
Format Watched?
Digital
L