Joker Review: No Laughing Matter
- naterichard98
- Oct 6, 2019
- 3 min read
DIRECTED BY: TODD PHILLIPS STARRING: JOAQUIN PHOENIX, ROBERT DeNIRO, & ZAZIE BEETZ RATED R FOR STRONG BLOODY VIOLENCE, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, LANGUAGE AND BRIEF SEXUAL IMAGES
LENGTH: 121 MINUTES
There was a lot of skepticism in the air when it was revealed that Todd Phillips, the director known for raunchy comedies such as The Hangover trilogy, Due Date, and Old School, was going to be directing a gritty R-rated Scorsese style take on the Batman's arch-nemesis the Joker. That skepticism turned to curiosity and excitement when it was announced that 3-time Academy Award nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix had signed on to take on the role of the Clown Prince of Crime, especially after he infamously turned down roles for Marvel heroes Hulk and Doctor Strange as he didn't want to associate himself with franchise films. Though within the past couple of months the film has been in the face of controversy left and right, some feared that the film could spark copycat killers others thought that the film was insensitive especially with the high-rates of mass shootings in America.
Joker follows Arthur Fleck, a man suffering from severe mental illness as well as a condition that causes him to randomly break into hysterical, painful laughter. Arthur's career as a clown-for-hire is getting worse and worse, his attempt at stand-up fails miserably, and he lives in a rundown apartment taking care of his ailing mother. All of this leads to Arthur's derailment into madness and his transformation into the criminal mastermind known as Joker.
Instead of taking pages from other interpretations of the character, Joker instead is influenced by the early work of Martin Scorsese particularly his films Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Rather than being filled with action set-pieces left and right, Joker is more interested in being an in-depth character study, which in order to work the film needs an actor who can pull off a compelling performance. Luckily, the film is led by Joaquin Phoenix, who gives a tremendous performance, he's not trying to imitate what Heath Ledger and Jack Nicholson did before him, he instead is focused on giving a performance that is haunting, unhinged, and disturbing. While there has been much controversy on whether or not the film is making Phoenix's Arthur into a sympathetic character, it's Phoenix's performance that assures audiences that this is not someone you want to take pity for.
The supporting cast surrounding Phoenix is fairly solid, albeit underused. The film is basically a one man show starring Phoenix as Arthur Fleck, he's in nearly every single scene of the film and shines in them all. Zazie Beetz gives a fine performance but she's not given a whole lot to do as Arthur's neighbor Sophie. Frances Conroy and Robert DeNiro also give adequate performances as Arthur's mother Penny and Murray Franklin.
Todd Phillips is able to prove his worth beyond directing raunchy R-rated comedies as he masterfully transports the audiences to Gotham City in the year 1981. The tone Phillips creates is heavy, it's disturbing, dread-inducing, and beyond anything else uncomfortable. The film is far from an easy watch and despite it's lead character being a clown, the film is no laughing matter. The film is void of any optimism and flourishes in it's bleakness and while many kids might know who the Joker is, this is not one to take them to.
Lawrence Sher's cinematography and Hildur Guðnadóttir's score help add to the tone of the film. Sher's cinematography is able to make Gotham's trash-filled streets look aesthetically pleasing and Guðnadóttir's score is almost as haunting as the titular character. Aside from a few issues with the script, the film is near perfection.
Joker is certainly not a movie for everyone, it's the exact opposite of a feel-good movie and by the time the credits roll, it feels as if you've been punched in the gut. That being said, this is easily one of the most well-made movies of the year and for those interested this is certainly worth checking out.
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