A milestone in the supervillian genre

Rating: 10/10 (5 October 2019)

Very few hyped-up films succeed in delivering beyond expectation-"The Joker" is one of them. Right from the opening shot, I was hooked into the character of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) who would later become the Joker. He possesses an unsettling charm that exceeds some of the great anti-heroes in film: most notably Travis Bickle. Nothing is certain in what Fleck does and says-his addicting laughter (which is closer to a clown than any of the previous Jokers) sets him apart from society. His descent into villainy is closer to a vigilante (a lÃ¡ Travis Bickle) than a super villain. His ultimate dream to be in a talk show with his idol (ironically played by Robert De Niro)-a nod to "The King of Comedy" (1982). There is also a subplot revolving Arthur's mother and her alleged relationship with Thomas Wayne- which is handled very well. Joaquin Phoenix gives a tour de force, creating a new Joker that rivals Heath Ledger's portrayal in "The Dark Knight" (2008). Making this Joker into a comedian was a great idea-the aesthetic and the moral dilemmas are portrayed very well. Every scene is built up with a punchline that gives the film my praise for being the best film of this year.