Beautiful take on the villain

Rating: 9/10 (2 October 2019)

To be honest I was not a fan of this solo Joker movie because I knew that if it were to be a success then people will start relating the Joker to Arthur Fleck.
In my opinion the Clown Prince of Crime should not get a proper back story. That uncertainty behind his past is one of the things that makes this character so interesting.
But whatever they have done here in this movie is amazing. The reason for Joker's grudge against the bat was something that we have all wondered about. They have explained the reasons here beautifully. The theater response was pretty positive during that reveal. So bat fans need not worry.
Joaquin Phoenix begins as a semi lunatic and initially I did not very much like the character. However by the end he becomes a full blown psycho and the acting goes up by some notches once he puts the Joker make up on. The final 30 minutes are a must watch.
Orchestra deserves special mention. Spine chilling music at crucial moments.
Overall it's a dark toned film where we see someone who despises the society (especially bcoz of what it does to him) and loses his 'life' and mind in the process. It's also interesting that the film reminded me about Taxi Driver which is one of my favorite films. Robert De Niro who nailed that role plays a pretty decent part in this film too.
Verdict: Slightly sadistic but beautifully crafted movie. Oscar contender for sure.