Wow. Just wow. Such terrifying Art.

Rating: 9/10 (6 October 2019)

My friend Shelley saw this yesterday with her hubby, and her review was, "Wow". That's it, just "Wow". After just watching it myself, I understand the full breadth and depth of "Wow". IMDb gave it a 9.2. There was a cop positioned inside and outside the theater. Specifically because of this movie. I am not a fan of superhero movies. Ledger's Joker was the greatest villain of all time. And Joaquin Phoenix's interpretation takes Ledger's best moments in Dark Knight and runs them through the whole movie. This is maybe one of the most terrifying pieces of art I've ever seen, for one reason; it removes the barrier, the buffer of emotional safety created by garish, comical, superhero, antic, zingers that create our suspension of disbelief. It's gone. I watched two hours of a man's break from reality, one plausible, painful, crushing, brutal event at a time. Things that you and I experienced versions of one or two, or know someone who experienced them. If even a single one of the pins pulled in all the grenades that figuratively went off in this story had been put back in place, we would have no Joker. But they all got pulled...
There's an argument brewing in the back of my mind about "mental health and violence", "glorifying" or "shaming", and I wouldn't begrudge anyone their feelings about "Joker". But look around. You should be terrified.
Again, imdb 9.2. Joaquin Phoenix better get some golden paperweights, as well as writing, and directing. Because - wow.