Assistant, I'm looking for a good drama with a solid lead character. I like darker themes.
The four movies I can recommend are Joker, Gemini Man, Downtown Abbey, and Ad Astra.
Are any of these movies also considered thrillers?
Joker and Gemini Man are dramas/thrillers.
Good. I like darker-themed dramas. Who is the lead character in each film?
Joaquin Phoenix stars in Joker and Will Smith stars in Gemini Man.
I like both of them. What are the reviews like for each film?
Joker has a 90% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Gemini Man has a 84% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What about Ad Astra? I heard that was good. It's a drama but not a thriller?
It is considered a drama/fantasy.
Who is the lead in Ad Astra?
Brad Pitt stars in Ad Astra.
I don't think Will Smith can play a villain like Joaquin Phoenix. It's not as believable when a comedic actor crosses over into dark drama. Brad Pitt...I don't really care for him. Which movie is doing better at the box office?
This past weekend, according to Rotten Tomatoes, Joker brought in $55 million while Gemini Man brought in $20.6 million.
I like seeing more popular movies so I can discuss them with my friends so maybe Joker is my better bet. Has Phoenix received positive reviews for his job in Joker?
Yes, he has. Here is one review from Jeffrey M. Anderson of Common Sense Media, "Led by Phoenix's ferocious, feral performance, this especially dark, gritty comic book movie is a character drama that's drawn more toward real-world troubles than to capes and crusading".
That sounds exactly like what I want to see. It's settled. I'm going to see Joker. Thanks Assistant.
You're welcome.