''Joker (2019) Review

Rating: 8/10 (26 October 2019)

''Joker (2019)
Review
Walking out of Joker I knew I had seen a well-crafted film, but was unsure of my feelings regarding the direction the film had taken. I was surprised to find out that Todd Philips and his collaborator Scott Silver had written a film far more concerned with studying the titular character as an ordinary man troubled by mental illness than any previous cinematic incarnation up to that point. The decision to make the film a character driven study of the iconic character offers viewers a welcome fresh perspective.
From the opening scenes, the film establishes Gotham as an oppressively bleak, grimy city, nosily chugging along despite itself. The way Todd Philips and Cinematographer Lawrence Sher film the city evokes the many rat-infested alleyways of late 70's crime films; an era from which the film derives quite a lot of inspiration. In many ways, Gotham's depiction also reminded me of the City from Se7en. Both are dauntingly bleak and offer no glimpse of sunshine amongst their vast skylines. Had I not been reminded of the fact that the city on display was Gotham, I would have been completely content with the setting being a timeless unnamed metropolitan. While maybe a fitting setting for a cautionary tale tackling universal themes, the way Todd Phillips weaves comic book mythology so seamlessly with his distinct vision makes for some of the most captivating aspects of Joker.
While the city may be a character in and of itself, it plays a supporting role to Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Arthur Fleck. His performance allows the viewers to simultaneously sympathize with the character's struggles as well as dread his eventual transformation. While I found certain aspects of the social commentary direct and underdeveloped, much like the mob of protestors swarming the police vehicle, it ultimately acts as a stage for the character's transformation into the iconic villain.