Joaquin Phoenix elevates this bleak film

Rating: 7/10 (14 October 2019)

When I saw the first trailer it was very clear the Hangover director Todd Phillips was not intending to direct a traditional origin story to a comic book character. While I have heard this movie was controversial for its shameless copying of Martin Scorsese's early films like Taxi Driver and King of Comedy (both films I have unfortunately not seen so I have no context on), cynical nature, and dangerous messaging it might send to the wrong person, I still found it to be fascinating and compelling to watch while still being disturbed by it. This is a very dark, and cynical film Todd Philips has made. It felt very far removed from the fantastical elements of the Batman mythology even compared to Christopher Nolan's grounded Dark Knight trilogy.
Joaquin Phoenix carries the movie even when the film seems itself is dragging on for no reason. While Heath Ledger will still be my favourite incarnation of the Joker, Phoenix gives a performance that is more layered and complex. Starting as Arthur Fleck struggling to live in a poor 1970's Gotham, Phoenix makes his character feel human but also broken in the way he moves and how he quietly speaks. From his bone-skinny physique to the uncontrolled laughter as part of his mental condition, you can feel that Arthur is suffering inside but is trying to hide it to look normal and to fit in. When a moment comes that gains Arthur some attention as a mysterious vigilante dressed as a clown, the boost in ego and attention gives him purpose in his meaningless existence. There Phoenix embraces the darker nature of this character as his sanity melts away and he begin to see his reality as some twisted joke that has tormented him. He strikes a good balance of making him terrifying and disturbing while still showing a sense of sadness in him he carries.
What also surprised me was the quality of the score and cinematography. Despite Joker being a dark and disturbing film, Lawrence Sher makes every shot stunning and beautiful with the way it puts Arthur at centre of the frame. Hildur GuÃ°nadÃ³ttir's score uses accordions to reflect how Arthur's views of comedy and tragedy intertwine before it going deep and twisted.
The movie's tackling of social politics is both its strength and weakness. The movie does feel very socially relevant with today's politics on how the Wayne family stand in to reflect the Trump administration. And Arthur's plight makes for an interesting case of how the mentally-ill are not provided with proper care needed and are discarded without thinking of what consequences could be. Unfortunately Phillips as the film's director and co-writer does not make it subtle when it comes to how the social commentary is delivered on screen. A lot of dialogue felt very blunt and forced in how the film was trying to say its messaging.
As the movie goes on through most of its runtime, it did feel like it was dragging on without anything that is pivotal happening. There were many moments where I as wondering if some scenes were really necessary for the purpose of the plot or story. But once it reaches its climatic third act as Arthur finishes his transformation into the Joker, Phoenix goes all out with his performance in one scene that will for sure become on of the most talked-about scenes this year.
This movie felt very much it reflected on the director Todd Philips's comment about pc culture is killing comedy. While I don't agree with his pathetic comment, I can see how his tastes and dark sense of humor is maybe the best way to make a movie like this especially with exploring the bleak backstory of DC's most iconic villain. Joker may not be the movie everyone enjoys but it is at least fascinating to watch for the Joaquin Phoenix alone.