Well, this is a brilliant movie. Before walking into the theater I was sure that it was just over hyped. The trailers were disturbing, but I wasn't sure it was enough to hold up an entire movie. I was wrong. This movie is just one long punch to the gut.
Joker is directed and written by Todd Phillips. Up until now, his most famous directing job was directing the Hangover movies. Talk about a change in direction. He did a brilliant job. There are so many moments in the movie that you think to yourself, not only does this movie have a brilliant script, but it is also crafted beautifully and powerfully.
I guess have already heard that Joaquin Phoenix did an amazing job in this movie. But I'll say it again, Joaquin Phoenix is brilliant in this movie. He basically carries the entire movie on his frail shoulders. All the other actors' parts can be considered as cameos. They did a splendid job, but their roles are very small. This movie is the Joaquin Phoenix show. Even Robert De Niro who was more prominent in the trailer has a really small role in this movie. So yeah, Joaquin Phoenix should win an Oscar for his performance, but as I will explain later, I don't think that he will.
The movie follows Arthur Fleck played fantastically by Joaquin Phoenix. Fleck has a neurological problem that causes him to laugh uncontrollably when he is uncomfortable in a manner that is sometimes unappropriated to the situation that he is in. He is also a resident of the less fortunate side of Gotham city. He is poor and he lives with his mentally ill mother. He does his best to take care of her and himself. He works as a clown for a living. His life is basically miserable. The people that he works with mostly dislike him and people around him either dislike him and or they ignore him or they treat him badly in many different ways.
Sure, this is a Joker origin story which makes it technically a comic book movie. But it is mainly a social commentary movie. This movie is pointing a finger at our society and accuses us of treating people with mental disabilities, physical disabilities and poor people terribly. And also casts a terrible light on the phenomena of people always standing in the sideline and not stepping forward to help others who are in need of their help. Even the media is getting blamed in this movie for their support for the more fortunate people. Which is why I think this movie won't get any Oscar nominations, the media won't respect those who criticize it. With all the fingers being pointed at different directions this movie just keeps you feeling terrible from the beginning until the unavoidable ending.
In The Killing Joke by Alan Moore, the Joker famously says: "All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. Just one bad day." The Joker in this movie has a lot of bad things happening to him and he is not so sane from the start. So yeah, you can understand him, even though the movie doesn't represent any of the events in a positive light; not what happens to the Fleck, but also not what the Fleck does once he becomes the Joker. However, in my opinion, the movie manages to convey that the Joker can stand for anyone. Anyone can end up in his place. That is so terrible and powerful at the same time.
Despite all of what I have written and everything that we know about the Joker from comics and previous iterations on the big screen, this movie is full of surprises. There are moments in this movie that will leave you shocked and the twists will leave your mouth hanging open. This movie is so good that it is hard to believe that it's a DC movie.
So yeah, I know that no one asked for this movie, because the Joker shouldn't have an origin story. But this is not exactly an origin movie as you will find out from watching. But you must watch it. Even you are not a fan of comic book movies, this movie is different and is a totally must see.
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