Read Logan's review of Joker.
Director Todd Phillips “Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fracturedsociety. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night…but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.
Joker is in theaters on October 4th, 2019.
Joker is the story of what can happen if someone struggling with mental illness gets
pushed over the edge and believes that’s where they’ve belonged all along. DC is back bringing
you its least DC movie yet, with the dramatic, character study of Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin
Phoenix. Fleck lives in the rough city of Gotham, where he works as a clown for hire, while
trying to take care of his sick mother, and all of his own problems too.
Arthur suffers from a condition that forces laughter when he is in uncomfortable
situations, causing him to be an outcast, and on occasion, a victim of violence. Phoenix delivers
his own version of the “Joker” laugh, and I love the unique choice he’s made. His laughter
delivers a subliminal message for the film, telling the audience that laughter doesn’t always
portray happiness. Arthur’s laugh is uncontrollable, and at times painful, just like this movie is.
If I used one word to describe Joker, it would be uncomfortable. We follow a character
that goes through so much, which makes the audience feel sympathetic for just long enough to
make you terrified that you actually felt sorry for someone so dark and twisted. This film is a
very slow burn, with pulses of excitement every so often, until the third act begins, and they
blow the roof off of the place.
My biggest complaint with Joker is that we didn’t get as much “Joker” as I wanted.
When Arthur makes his decision to become the Joker we all know and sadistically love, he
controls every frame he’s in, and your eyes are glued to the screen. It’s sadly only about the last
30 minutes of the film, and it leaves you only wanting more, which we’ll never get. But this is
the origin of the Joker, and it’s told in a unique way, while taking influences from movies such
as Taxi Driver and King of Comedy.
Overall, I really enjoyed Joker. I think Joaquin Phoenix is a lock for a best actor
nomination, he absolutely gave his all to this character and it shows. Joker will feel relevant
without trying to, and make you think twice about how you treat the next stranger you see on
the street. It’s a movie that somehow makes the audience its protagonist, forcing them to ask if
we as a society are the cause for someone like Arthur to decide to become the Joker. Check this
one out in theaters and be prepared to feel uncomfortable in all the right ways, I don’t think
you’ll regret it.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
Logan (Senior Contributor) is a Texas native and a massive fan of all genres of film. You can find him talking about movies on YouTube or in line for the latest Star Wars/Comic Book film.Click Here to check out Logan's Articles.