Scattered Pieces of Our Insanity Sometime require Focus, and Violence provides it

Rating: 9/10 (8 October 2019)

Once an American writer Phillip K. Dick said, 'it is sometimes an appropriate response to reality to go insane.' What would be the nature of that grim reality which compels one towards insanity? It is nothing but our misjudgment of actual situation which makes us to believe that world needs sympathy more than empathy. Living in a credulous state of mind in which we assume that we have fulfilled our responsibility by sympathizing one with some genuine problem without understanding the psychological trauma of that very individual actually creates suffocation in which violence makes lots of sense.
In today world of cinema, no film explains this situation better than Todd Phillips' "Joker" which in my opinion the most important movie of the decade. Todd Phillips who is better known for his films like "Road Trip" and "The Hangover" has not only directed but also written the "Joker" along with Scott Silver. Even though "Joker" is a known DC character but the kind of treatment Todd Phillips has given to this film is nothing but jaw dropping. Realism and dark narrative in comic based films were started with Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" but Todd Phillips dark tale of "Joker" twitches issues like mental health and depleting level of societal sensitivity which give "Joker" an exclusive status in cinematic history reserved only for all time classic films like "Citizen Kane" and "The Godfather". With his writing and directing "Joker" Todd Phillips has alleviated the standard of comic based films to the level which has been a dream of every filmmaker of all the genres.
There are many actors who have played the role of Joker previously but what Joaquin Phoenix has done with it is work of a genius and makes us believe that there is always a step by step method to the madness. If Joaquin Phoenix does not win the Best Actor trophy in next year's Oscar on his performance in "Joker" then one will ask what kind of perfection in acting Academy is looking for? Robert De Niro as Murray Franklin the host of late night TV show is satisfactory but he has completely been overshadowed by Joaquin Phoenix which is understandable because this film solely belongs to Phoenix. Cinematography by Lawrence Sher is a major contributor in creating such a cinematic atmosphere which gives audience same feeling of suffocating grief whenever character of Joaquin Phoenix appears on screen.
On the whole, Todd Phillips' classic re-creation of "Joker" is a kind of film which will remain a focal point of many film critics from several angles, who have already started a positive controversy by identifying heavy influence on it from Martin Scorsese's films like "Taxi Driver" and "King of Comedy" but the fact remains "Joker" has its own standalone individuality. Few critics have also warned about the level of violence shown in "Joker" but they should know that scattered pieces of our insanity sometime require focus, and violence provides it. Violence in any form and situation cannot be justified but in some grey areas of insensitive societies it does find its justification and audience's applaud in penultimate stages of the film proves it vividly.