“You don't
listen, do you? You just ask the same questions every week. How's you job? Are
you having any negative thoughts? All I have are negative thoughts.”
I’ve been a lifelong fan of DC, particularly
Batman and the wide range of villains that try to wreak havoc on Gotham. The
villains make Batman and a majority of them are quite interesting. The Joker
definitely being one of those interesting characters. So when it was announced
that Joaquin Phoenix was going to be playing the Joker, the film became one of
my most anticipated films of 2019. I’ve always wanted to see a film focusing on
just the Joker. It even won the coveted Golden Lion at the Venice Film
Festival. So my hype for the film was off the roof. It’s safe to say now after
seeing the film that it was worthy of all the hype it has received. Essentially
it’s about a damaged man being brought down so many times that he finally snaps.
The film centers on Arthur Fleck. He’s a
hired clown performer by day and a failed stand up comedian by night. He
struggles to keep the apartment for he and his mother to live in. Arthur is an
outsider who suffers from a disorder caused by severe head trauma that triggers
him to laugh uncontrollably at the most inappropriate time. When he’s hurting
or upset and wants to cry, he laughs. His powerlessness to control his emotions
repeatedly causes him harm. He’s trying to get as much work as possible during
the economic decline of Gotham. Arthur has been so badly mistreated in the city
that he is given a gun to protect himself. At first he declines, but caves in
knowing he does need to protect himself. When he’s ambushed and being pushed
over the edge, Arthur finally defends himself by shooting the men hurting him.
Instead of feeling remorse for killing them, he feels nothing. It’s at this
moment where he descends into madness becoming the Joker. Also creating
Gotham’s working class to rise up all by shooting those three men. Bringing
crime and chaos to Gotham.
I think the critics have lost their way. We
have hardly any more good critics anymore. Most of them are paid off and don’t
even know what a good movie is. As Roger Ebert wannabe Glenn Kenny stated,
“Joker is pernicious garbage”. Then again that guy seems not to enjoy any film.
If you don’t love movies why even be a film critic. The critics are doing the
same thing they did to Alita. Giving the film a bad score, while the audience
score is way higher. Just look at the difference in ratings.
There’s been a lot of controversy
surrounding the film due to the film’s depiction of violence. The film doesn’t
endorse or romanticize violence in my opinion. The Joker has always been a
violent criminal who commits monstrous crimes. Just read the Killing Joke. It’s
who his character is. There’s been a whole lot more films more violent that
also romanticize the violence.
The acting is great especially from Phoenix.
He’s one of my favorite actors working today (check out You Were Never Really
Here). He brought his own flare to the Joker and has gifted moviegoers with a
performance of a lifetime. He might even get an Oscar nomination and win. I
forgot I was even watching Joaquin Phoenix on the screen, to me I was watching
Arthur Fleck becoming the Joker. He truly lost himself in the character. He even captured the Joker's laugh spot on. I will
go on to say that he is the best Joker to date.
There were times in the film when he was being hurt, abused, and how he
was reacting to things that I discovered myself wanting to help him when no one
else would. That’s great acting and directing. The rest of the cast fit in the
film perfectly.
Gotham City is a shady, gritty, and filthy
place in Joker. Its atmosphere fits the film well. There’s smog, graffiti, and
garbage everywhere. It’s the way Gotham City should look like, not cartoony
like the Schumacher films. Gotham City in the film is like the perfect blend of
Burton and Nolan set in the 80s. It’s more realistic because that’s how I’d
imagine Gotham City would actually look like. You can tell the Joker is a
byproduct of his environment. This Gotham could turn the nicest person into
something despicable. So not only does the film have the best Joker portrayal,
but also the best portrayal of Gotham City.
Phillips and Phoenix have created a
beautifully dark beautiful film. It’s a dark origin story that makes us feel
sympathy for the Joker. The film feels like it could exist in the Nolan-verse.
The film is many things: it’s an in depth character study, how society forms
individuals and should society be held responsible for their actions, how
prescribing people too much medication may cause more harm than good, and how
society is corrupt.
The direction is good, the score is
remarkable, the cinematography is great along with the set decoration, and
phenomenal acting from the cast. The
story and depiction of the Joker is convincingly intense and psychologically
scary. I’m glad that the film took a lot of risks. I kind of wish more films
took risks like Joker, but sadly I know they won’t. I personally believe that
the film will be talked about for years to come. It’s hands down a masterpiece.
The film definitely isn’t for everyone, but I do recommend that you to see it. I can’t
wait for more future ‘DC BLACK’ films.
5 out of 5
