Film Review | Joker

Joker is directed by Todd Phillips and stars Joaquin Phoenix.

Drama/Thriller/Crime. Released 2019.

Joker is the story of Arthur Fleck years before he came face-to-face with the Dark Knight; the story of his descent into madness and how he became the greatest villain in comic book history.

With Joaquin Phoenix at the center of this project, especially after his masterful performance in The Master, I had no trouble believing that his portrayal of this character would be far better than Jared Leto and at least worthy of Heath Ledger's. And, even though there seemed to be a very strong directorial flavour teased in the initial trailers, Todd Phillips was still a question mark. Then it won the Golden Lion at Venice International Film Festival and it exploded from there on out. 

And deservedly so. Joker was one of the most unique cinematic experiences I have ever had. Perhaps the most unique. And certainly the most disturbing, which is almost certainly the intended effect, for which I have nothing but respect. To use this character as a way to comment on the society we live in, and the idea that we as a society play a significant role in creating monsters like Arthur is a very admirable artistic choice, and the realisation of the truth that Phillips,  Phoenix, and co. are communicating is the most impactful and disturbing aspect of the film. It really is a very dark mirror that is held up in the form of a cinema screen.

Joaquin Phoenix proves that this character is a wonderful opportunity for any actor. I believe that in a few decades, it will be among the likes of Shakespeare's Iago and Hamlet as an actor's complete and utter dream, because of the endless possibilities that the character brings. He inhabits him with perfection and delivers a lead performance for the ages, and I would argue that his job in Joker was more demanding than that of Heath Ledger's, with all due respect given. Although Arthur is somewhat damaged when we meet him, Phoenix has to portray the gradual obsession building within him and the way he responds to it over the course of the film. When reflecting on the start of the film just as it comes to a close, it is almost as though he becomes an entirely different person internally, and that demonstrates tremendous skill and talent. I will be interested to see how many gold statues he sweeps; if it weren't for Adam Driver in Marriage Story I would say that he should and could sweep every single one.

Todd Phillips walks the fine line between a homage and a rip-off, with many references to Scorsese's classics The King Of Comedy and of course, Taxi Driver. With Taxi Driver being my favourite film of all time, it was exhilarating to feel the flavour of the twisted and distinctive world of Travis Bickle - the most compelling anti-hero ever put on screen. Some references are overt, but they never took me out of the film; I was completely engrossed in Arthur's world, and a Taxi Driver reference never distracted me, when, in any other film, it would. This is a testament to Phoenix and Phillips' ability to create a world - inspired by, but - as compelling and disturbed as Scorsese's masterpiece. Not to mention the role of DeNiro himself.

I believe that the score in Joker by Hildur Guõnadòttir is the greatest of the year. It is beautiful, sinister and devastating. The best scenes in the film - Bathroom Dance, Meeting Bruce Wayne and the climactic scene on top of the police car - all are not nearly as impactful without the score; it almost is a character in itself and is accentuates every dramatic moment to the point of perfection. If it goes through awards season without a nomination, there is a problem.

Joker disturbed, amazed, traumatised and stunned me. It is set in the 80s but is a film for our current times. It has a lot on its mind, and communicates these sentiments in a deeply disturbing way, as intended. Phoenix is staggering, and so was the entire experience. Joker has not only made this character even more iconic than it already was, but it has revolutionised the comic-book genre, following in the footsteps of Logan. It is a thing of sheer beauty.

A+