- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says 'very violent' Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Guardians maul Tigers, miracle Mets rally in MLB series openers
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Madrid beat Villarreal but Carvajal suffers knee injury
- Madrid beat Villarreal to move level with Liga leaders Barcelona
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- French rugby player on rape charge whistled but 'serene' on return
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Toddler among 3 dead in migrant Channel crossings
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Kovacic stars as Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Thousands march for Palestinians ahead of Oct 7 anniversary
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Toddler crushed to death in migrant Channel crossing
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
- Gauff fights back to set up Beijing final against Muchova
- Guardiola claims Premier League won't delay season for Man City
- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
Dark, music-filled 'Joker' sequel brings Lady Gaga star power to Venice
A dark and music-filled "Joker" sequel brought Lady Gaga to Venice Wednesday, playing the star-crossed love interest of the DC Comics-inspired anti-hero in one of the year's most anticipated films.
The megastar was the main attraction at the world premiere of "Joker: Folie a Deux" at the Venice Film Festival, one of 21 films vying for the top Golden Lion prize at the prestigious competition.
Todd Phillips's 2019 film starring Joaquin Phoenix subverted the codes of superhero films in a disturbing commentary on alienation in American society, with the film going on to win at Venice that year and handing a Best Actor Academy Award to Phoenix.
On the red carpet, Lady Gaga drew screams from fans, where she showed off an elaborate mask that suggested two pointy Batman ears draped with a swathe of Venetian lace, paired with a black velvet gown with a generous taffeta skirt.
Ahead of Wednesday's premiere, the pop star and actress confessed to having been "deeply moved" by the original film, in which an ignored, mocked and mentally ill stand-up comic, Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), is driven to violence.
"The first film really deeply moved me, I loved it so much," Lady Gaga told a press conference, calling Phoenix's performance one that "set the bar extremely high".
"I think sometimes when stories are told about people that are maybe misunderstood by society, the director gives you a chance... to really take a hard look at that world in a deeper way," Lady Gaga said.
"I felt like when I watched the first film I got to understand something I may not have seen before, that's why I did this movie."
The sequel heavily relies on musical numbers to express the inner feelings of Fleck, in dark, brooding renditions of classics such as "Get Happy" or "For Once in my Life".
Phoenix told journalists how he "had this dream that I was performing as Joker doing songs and I just called Todd because I thought there might be something there."
That idea took flight, and Lady Gaga was the next piece of the puzzle, Phillips said.
Both actors sang live on set, Phoenix said, an element that created a "necessary" energy.
"Early on she was like 'Oh, we're going to sing live' and I was like 'No, we're not. You can sing live if you like.' And ultimately we did it and it was really the only way," Phoenix told journalists.
The film's music was a vehicle to "give characters way to express what they need to say," Lady Gaga said.
"We worked really hard on the way that we sang. For me it was a lot about unlearning technique and forgetting how to breathe, allowing the song to completely come out of the character," she said.
- High expectations -
In her return to the big screen after 2021's "House of Gucci", Lady Gaga plays Harley Quinn, the partner in crime and love interest of the Joker, with whom she becomes obsessed as he awaits trial for his murder spree.
The film -- loosely based on the DC Comics characters and set in a gritty Gotham City -- was wildly successful, grossing $1 billion at the box office but sparking criticism for its nihilistic violence.
Phillips said he was happy to return to Venice, but "a little more nervous" this time around.
"I think it's a lot easier to come in to something as the insurgent as opposed to coming in as the incumbent," he said.
"There's a lot more expectations on a second film so there's definitely a sense of more nervousness than I had with the first one."
In co-writing the screenplay with Scott Silver, Phillips said he knew it would have to be as daring as the original in order for Phoenix to sign on again.
"If we really were going to do it, it had to scare him in the same way the first one did. It had to feel audacious," he said.
This year's festival has been awash in Hollywood pizzazz, with a long roster of A-listers taking a twirl on the red carpet, from Daniel Craig and Angelina Jolie to Nicole Kidman and Michael Keaton.
X.Karnes--AMWN