Engaging from start to finish

Rating: 10/10 (23 October 2019)

This film was engaging from the very first moment to the very last. That is not to say every moment was a blockbuster high action event, but the acting, pacing, and staging of every scene was so dynamic and carefully crafted that one feels engaged at all times, regardless of energy level. Joaquin Pheonix is truly a master of acting, and his ability to completely transform into Arthur is astounding. The piece that truly sells his role as Joker are his eyes: he truly has a madness in his eyes and they pierce through the screen. This film does not seem to fit into any one genre (horror, action/adventure, comedy) but rather is more like a character study and artistic demonstration on the formation of Joker in Gotham City. This is a modern, self-aware, psychologically relevant perspective on a traditionally outlandish, wild, and inexplicably wild villain from DC cannon. This sets a new standard for DC films, and puts the previous flops to even greater shame.