Phenomenal

Rating: 7/10 (6 October 2019)

As if there were any doubt that Joaquin Phoenix is one of the best actors of his generation. He absolutely knocks it out of the park in this one, with the help of great directing, cinematography, score, writing, supporting cast, etc. Everything in this movie is extremely well done.
My favorite thing about this whole movie is how it can make you understand a little bit better how someone would turn into the Joker. I've heard about the controversy this movie has faced and it's no surprise, I mean every movie in 2019 has to be controversial due to outrage culture. I won't go into the obvious argument that video games and movies are not to blame for whatever horrible, violent acts people commit. It just seems that we've been having this discussion and at this point it's almost like beating a dead horse. I will say this, though. At several points in the movie I UNDERSTOOD why Arthur turned to a life of crime. The movie does a fantastic job at putting the viewer in the shoes of this man, and honestly, I did feel pretty bad for him at several times during the film, which is a big reason why you UNDERSTAND where he's coming from. The first three guys he kills in the subway, I get why did it and at some level I can almost say they maybe even deserved it and besides you could almost say that it was in self-defense and he did not want to kill them. However, when he did, he enjoyed it, and there's when the trouble starts. Besides him killing to PROTECT HIMSELF, I will say at no other point in the movie did I CONDONE his actions. So the point I'm trying to make here, is just because a film makes you UNDERSTAND how someone would turn into a psycho, doesn't mean you are going to become one yourself and it certainly doesn't mean you think this behavior is acceptable. This is not the first film to do it and it will not be the last. As a matter of fact, I think this film's biggest and clearest inspiration, Taxi Driver, is a much more brutal, violent movie than this. I will say this is the biggest one of two things I didn't love about the movie, that it just seems to similar in the way the story progresses to Taxi Driver, especially during the first few minutes of the film. The word "garbage" is extensively used and there are also giant rats in Gotham, which just gives the movie that feeling of a dirty, violent city with an alienated protagonist who continues on this path of isolation until he does some pretty extreme stuff.
The other little thing I didn't love is really a nitpick, but I think the ending should have just cut to black after he says "You wouldn't get it" after picturing Bruce Wayne standing above his dead parents. I think that ending would have fit more accordingly with the dark themes and overall feel of the film, rather than playing some Frank Sinatra music. But, like I said, this is just a nitpick. This is a fantastic movie, featuring one of the best performances I have seen in a long time. Joaquin Phoenix knocks it out of the park, De Niro is also really great, his final scene in the movie, as Arthur reveals to him that he killed those people in the subway, his voice and the look on his face start to have some subtle changes, as if you can tell he's affected by these facts, but he still has to put on a show for the audience. Wonderful movie, go watch it and make up your own mind about it.
UPDATE: Upon re watching, I still think this movie is pretty good, but I enjoyed it a lot less. I realized the things I like about this movie, Taxi Driver does all of them better. So, this is weird because I kind of really like this movie, but I can't think of a time when I would rather watch this than Taxi Driver if I'm looking for this type of story.