From 'Joker' to 'Hustlers' to 'Parasite,' filmmakers explore the gap between the haves and have-nots
On the face of it, the gritty comic-book blockbuster "Joker," the hit female-led crime drama "Hustlers," the darkly comic Korean-language thriller "Parasite" and the upcoming Agatha Christie-style whodunit "Knives Out" would appear to have little in common beyond the fact that they're all, well, movies.
Scratch beneath the surface of genre, though, and you'll find that these films share a common preoccupation. In different ways, each tackles issues of economic disparity, exploring the gulf between society's haves and have-nots that has widened dramatically since the 2008 financial crisis. While steering clear of overt partisan politics, their depiction of individuals, families and entire societies buffeted and warped by the impacts of wealth inequality wouldn't be out of place in a stump speech on the 2020
