Chicago, turn that frown upside down and see Joker early and for free

Photo: Warner Bros. Entertainment
What is Joker, really? Is it a superhero movie? A gritty, character-based drama? A gripping star turn for Joaquin Phoenix? A nihilistic reflection of a volatile cultural moment? A bellwether of the most insufferably speculative aspects of an artificially accelerated film culture? It’s a little of all of those things, and if your curiosity is getting the best of you—and you happen to live in Chicago—then we’ve got good news: We’re giving away tickets to see it early and for free.