A downward spiral that grips your attention and does not let go.

Rating: 8/10 (27 November 2019)

Todd Phillip's Joker does not possess the dramatic arc of most films. The arc during which things grow worse and worse until one day something happens following which the situations improve. In fact anyone who knows anything about the Batman Joker character is already aware that a happy ending here would be impossible. This is, after all, a prequel to all future Batman encounters with the villainous Joker.
I liked this film a great deal. I was thoroughly absorbed. I found Jaoquin Phoenix's portrayal of Arthur Fleck to be as riveting as any I've seen on film. He evokes fear (of his character), he evokes sadness (for his character), he evokes joy (within his character). The site of him in Joker get-up, dancing down a long flight of steps, dancing lightly down a long flight of steps, just one of many examples of the actor's range, his talent, his absolute possession of the screen. It can be said that the viewer of this film might very well find himself / herself rooting for the villainous Arthur as he descends further into his villainous madness In fact there were reviewers who thought this reason enough to pan the film, to see it as 'dangerous', to see it as a political statement to be avoided. Nonsense. Absolute nonsense. There are factors which contribute to Arthur Fleck's fate. Some genetic. Others, not. Much like all of us. And I found it fascinating.
On the downside we have Robert De Niro's portrayal as talk-show-host hosting the mad Arthur Fleck. A cute turn on De Niro's playing the madman to Jerry Lewis' TV host in Scorcese's King of Comedy. I imagine the casting in this film was intended as an ironic twist on that Scorcese film.
Whatever the reason, it was a bad, very bad, decision. De Niro is truly horrible.