Joker

Rating: 9/10 (15 October 2019)

From the likes of Caesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto and Zach Galifianakis, the iconic Batman/CD Comics character remains a highly distinctive and challenging role, and this stand-alone (not part of the DC Extended Universe, and no sequel planned, yet) explores his origins, from Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated director Todd Phillips (Road Trip, The Hangover, War Dogs). Basically, set in 1981, Gotham City, socially inept and mentally troubled Arthur Fleck (Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe winning Joaquin Phoenix) works as a clown-for-hire for a company called Ha-Ha's. He aspires to be a stand-up comedian, like his television hero, comic and talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro). Arthur lives with his mother, Penny (Frances Conroy) in a place rife with crime and unemployment, with much of the population disenfranchised and impoverished. Arthur suffers from a disorder that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times, he depends on social services for medication, and he is disregarded and mistreated by society. After being attacked in an alley by a gang Arthur's co-worker, Randall (Glenn Fleshler), lends him a gun. Arthur invites his neighbour, single mother Sophie Dumond (Zazie Beetz), to his debut stand-up comedy performance, and they begin dating. While entertaining at a children's hospital, Arthur's gun falls out of his pocket. Randall lies that Arthur bought the gun himself and Arthur is fired. On the subway, still in clown makeup, Arthur is beaten by three drunken Wayne Enterprises businessmen. He takes out the gun and shoots two of the men in self-defence and executes the third. The murders are condemned by billionaire Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen), a candidate to become mayor of the city. He labels those envious of more successful people as "clowns". Demonstrations against Gotham's rich begin, with protesters donning clown masks. The social service program is hit by funding cuts, leaving Arthur without medication. Arthur's comedy show goes poorly; he laughs uncontrollably and has difficulty delivering his jokes. Murray Franklin mocks Arthur by showing clips from the routine on his show. Arthur berates his mother when she reveals the truth, as seen written in a letter to Thomas Wayne, alleging that he may be Thomas' illegitimate son. At Wayne Manor, Arthur talks to Thomas' young son, Bruce (Dante Pereira-Olson), but gets into a scuffle with family butler Alfred Pennyworth (Douglas Hodge) and flees. Following a visit from Gotham Police Detective Burke (Shea Whigham) and Detective Garrity (Bill Camp) who are investigating Arthur's involvement in the train murders, Penny suffers a stroke and is taken to hospital. At a public event, Arthur confronts Thomas, who tells him that Penny is delusional and not his biological mother. In denial, Arthur visits Arkham State Hospital and steals Penny's case file; it reveals that he was adopted as a baby and Penny allowed her abusive boyfriend to harm them both. Penny alleged that Thomas used his influence to fabricate the adoption and commit her to the asylum to hide their affair. Distraught, Arthur goes to the hospital and kills Penny, smothering her with a pillow. He enters Sophie's apartment unannounced; a frightened Sophie tells him to leave; their previous encounters were Arthur's delusions. Arthur is surprised to receive an invitation to appear on Murray's show due to the unexpected popularity of his routine clips. As he prepares, Arthur is visited by Randall and fellow ex-colleague Gary (Celebrity Juice's Leigh Gill). Arthur murders Randall in retaliation for getting him fired but allows Gary to leave unharmed for treating him well in the past. Arthur dyes his hair green, paints his face, and dons a new red suit ready for his performance. On the way to the studio, he is pursued by the two detectives onto a train filled with clown protesters. One accidentally shoots a protester and incites a riot, allowing Arthur to escape in the chaos. Before the show goes live, Arthur requests that Murray introduce him as Joker, a reference to Murray's previous mockery. Arthur walks out to a warm reception but tells morbid jokes. With nothing to lose, he admits that he killed the men on the train, and rants about how society abandons the disenfranchised and how Murray mocked him. Arthur kills Murray and is arrested as riots break out across Gotham. One rioter follows the Wayne family into an alley and murders Thomas and his wife Martha (Carrie Louise Putrello), sparing a traumatized Bruce. Rioters in an ambulance crash into the police car carrying Arthur and free him. He dances to the cheers of the crowd, satisfied that his dedication has finally been achieved. At Arkham, Arthur laughs to himself and tells his psychiatrist she would not understand the joke. He runs from orderlies, leaving a trail of bloody footprints. Also starring Brian Tyree Henry as Carl the Arkham Clerk and Hannah Gross as Young Penny. Phoenix delivers a chilling and compelling as the man who slowly loses his sanity and turns to a life of crime, and De Niro does well with his time onscreen as the man the luckless loner admires and one of the men (along Wayne) he obsesses over. This works well as a character study showing how monsters are made, an origins story about the Dark Knight's arch-nemesis, and a nod to the Martin Scorsese film The King of Comedy (and not just casting De Niro), and it makes room to take a swipe against at healthcare cuts and poverty. It is very controversial and very dark, with its crime elements, moments of violence and brutality, and featuring the song "Rock and Roll Part 2" by Gary Glitter (with what we know about the singer, it may be wrong to find this song catchy, but I don't care), and it is at times depressing and uncomfortable, but what else would you expect (?), a gritty and great psychological thriller. It won the Oscar for Best Music (Original Score) for Hildur GuÃ°nadÃ³ttir, and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Adapted Screenplay for Todd Phillips and Scott Silver, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Sound Editing, it won the BAFTAs for Original Music, and Best Casting, and it was nominated for Best Film, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Production Design, Best Make Up/Hair, and Best Sound, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score, and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Very good!