Probably the best DC film since 'The Dark Knight', but...

Rating: 8/10 (6 October 2019)

Good film, but I've got mixed feelings about it.
Joaquin Phoenix deserves an Oscar. No question about that.
Let's just say that the film is a very self-contained story, intimate, and emotionally driven. The cinematography, editing, and music are spectacular.
It doesn't feel like a 2-hour film thanks to Joaquin Phoenix mesmerizing performance. But I think the film does suffer a bit of the old artsy style-over-substance syndrome. Having said that, the style is superb. Not original ('Taxy Driver'), but superb.
My only issue is that the plot itself is a bit bland. I would've liked Arthur Fleck's transformation to have been slower and longer, and it's climax more shocking and brutal.
Overall, 'Joker' is probably the best film based on a DC character since 'The Dark Knight'.