Trailer Review | Joker 2019

I think the DC department at Warner Bros. are on a huge winning streak.

Joker seems to be telling an interpreted origin story of the iconic Batman villain. And what we have got so far seems to be pretty spectacular.

It is inevitable that whoever takes on the role of the Joker after the absolutely transformative performance by Heath Ledger in 2008's The Dark Knight, there will be instant comparisons. I can confidently say, however, that my strong dislike of Jared Leto's Joker in Suicide Squad was not a result of comparing Leto to Ledger. I just thought it was bad.

I hope Joaquin Phoenix does not share Leto's fate... and I doubt he will, because from this 'teaser' trailer alone, he seems to be delivering something absolutely spectacular and I am ten times more eager to see this new film. There was an incredibly wide demonstration of his range in this trailer, and I feel like we have already been taken through a roller coaster of the Joker's life, without giving anything away about the plot of this film. The music choice is perfect - it really builds up anticipation and climax's with a triumphant, cathartic conclusion. Phoenix seems to be doing an amazing job.

However, the most impressive aspect of this trailer, in my opinion, is the direction of Todd Phillips. I have not actually seen any of his previous work, but from what I have heard, he is rather hit or miss. But, from what we have seen so far in this trailer, he seems to be establishing a very 70s-esque New York environment, a homage to Martin Scorsese, more specifically Taxi Driver (I am coincidentally listening to Bernard Hermann's theme as we speak). This is so exciting to me since Taxi Driver sits at the top-end of my favourite films of all time, and the match of Phoenix's Joker with the tone of Scorsese's masterpiece truly seems like a match made in Heaven.

I've said this many times before, but what a year this is going to be.