Wanna know how I got these scars?

Rating: 7/10 (12 October 2019)

Joker is, technically, a very good film.
Todd Phillips' direction is evocative and at times, simply beautiful. Every scene, creating a strong mood. Usually one of unease and tension. Top job.
Joaquin Phoenix is, as he always is.....just brilliant. That man is a gifted actor indeed. In the moments when he is experiencing his maniacal rage, all he needs to convey this, is his eyes. You see every bit of rage and hatred in those eyes. They tell everything.
Not many actors are so completely riveting as to just capture you, hook line and sinker, just with their eyes. He's a powerhouse of the art of acting.
As for comparing Heath Ledger's Joker to Joaquin's, one review I read on here said it was "unacceptable" to do so.
I will go one further and say, it is not even possible.
These two characters, these two Joker's, are so far removed from the other, that one could not even think them the same character at all. Not even if they were from parallel universes.
That's how different the two portrayals are.
Simple as that.
As indicated by my username, I am a fan of Heath's Joker. In fact, I'm a big fan. The only tattoo I have (and will ever have, cos damn that hurt) is a portrait of Heath as Joker, with the WSS catchphrase underneath.
This does not mean, however, that I don't ever want to see the Joker on screens anymore because Heath has passed.
And it does not mean that I have ridiculously high standards for post-Heath portrayals of the Clown Price either.
I've been a Joker fan all my life, through many of his iterations. I grew up with Cesar Romero. I was a teenager when Jack dazzled us with Burton's re-invention.
I'm not so fussy who plays Joker, just as long as it is Joker.
So this brings me to the only issue I had with this incarnation.
Todd and Joaquin's Joker, just didn't "feel" like Joker to me.
There was one scene, about half hour from the end, when I looked at Joaquin and thought, "Wow....there's Joker." but it was brief and his character then reverted back, after that one scene.
I think the main reason I never "saw Joker", was because Fleck was portrayed as rather imbecilic. Of below average intelligence. Joker is meant to be the Crown Prince of crime. A criminal mastermind.
Joaquin's Joker was more like a homicidal maniacal Forrest Gump.
Even his laugh, didn't hit home for me. Just a personal thing, I guess.
Don't get me wrong, as I've stated, Joaquin was brilliant and it was hard to take my eyes off his riveting performance, but for me personally, it wasn't really Joker.
It was as if Fleck was the guy the real Joker was going to be inspired by. Be mentored by, even perhaps.
And yes, I know characters can evolve, grow, etc, but it was really difficult to try and imagine Fleck ever becoming any sort of mastermind, period. Not unless he done a Lawnmower Man trick or something.
Anyway, I know it's kind of a big gripe, but that is my only one. The movie is still solid entertainment, a decent character study and totally watchable, by fans and non-fans alike, simply for Joaquin's brilliant performance.