A Masterpiece of Cinema

Rating: 10/10 (7 October 2019)

Joker was the film I was most looking forward to this year! To be honest after the high point of Avengers Endgame, I was kind of feeling tired of all these superhero films. Even DC's Shazam (although a fun film) still felt very safe. However, DC had one more film up their sleeves that left me intrigued. No rhyme intended! JOKER! A film starring Joaquin Phoenix as the titular clown prince of crime. I'd always liked the character of the Joker, a phydistic clown who goes around causing mayhem.
To me, there had been no definitive version of the Joker. I liked pretty much every interpretation of the Joker each had their own style. From Heath Ledgers mysterious crazed terrorist. Too Cesar Romero's clumsy clown. Heck, I even like Jared Leto's portrayal. That's why I was looking forward to see what Joaquin Phoenix could bring to the table.
When the first trailer was released early this year, I was very pleased too see that this film was going for a dark gritty mature tone. It was a chance for DC to develop their most beloved villain with no restrictions. The Joker is insane and having us be able to see his violent crime would impact the general audience even more than any prior incarnation.
The news that this was also going to be a standalone film with no connections to the DCEU excited me even more as the film could be itself without having to connect to a larger universe. At this point my hype was through the roof and it Id had to wait a few more months until I could see it.
On October 5th I sat down to watch a film that promised to be an achievement in film. So after the film came to its conclusion I was left in me seat stunned. What a masterpiece!
The film is an interesting intense depressing journey into the mind of the man who was going to become the Joker. It's about a man rejected by society and his revenge against. To me it felt refreshing to have comic book fill that felt nothing like a traditional comic book film. It felt like a psychological thriller. It felt refreshing. Not entirely new though. It took a lot of inspiration from Taxi Driver and King of Comedy and it is so obvious but this isn't necessarily a bad thing as it takes the best aspects of those films and greats a film which is shocking and thought provoking. The film is shot amazingly. Every shot has a purpose and it adds to the overall tone of the movie. Joaquin Phoenix is great as Joker and Arthur Fleck. You may be wondering why I refer to the Joker and Arthur Fleck as two different characters as to me these two sides of the same person are very different. And yesI'll say it again he deserves an Oscar for his performance. Robert De Niro is also an amazing addition to the cast he plays a late night talk show host called Murray Franklin and encompasses everything about a talk show host is about. He plays quite a significant role in Arthur's story and helps him become Joker. The supporting cast is also good but don't steal the show like Phoenix which is good because it's he movie.
If your going into Joker thinking this is going to be your typical superhero action film your going to be very disappointed. Also, if you want to watch a film where the Joker commits crimes and antagonises the caped crusader this isn't the film for you. The Joker isn't even in the film to the very end of the film but boy is it good when he emerges. But I digress this film is about how the man becomes the Joker not about the Joker. Yes it's misleading to call the film joker but that's the point. However Joker is a marvellous piece of cinema and deserves to be given a chance. That's why I give it the highest rating of 10/10