Disturbingly Realistic and Intense

Rating: 10/10 (12 January 2020)

Wow. Joker is easily the best movie I've seen in a long time. I started watching it on my TV yesterday and was so disturbed by it I turned it off, not sure whether I'd finish watching it. Of course I did, today.
What made it so intense for me, besides what makes it so intense for everyone, is that I worked in state mental hospitals for many years and personally knew criminally insane people. Also, I lived in Manhattan during the 70's and the mood, background and vibe portrayed in the film was spot on. When I read afterward that it was supposed to be '81, I was surprised because it appeared and felt so much like the 70's. Besides the shabby condition of the city back then, the whole political thread replete with looting and rioting suggested the great blackout of '77 and its aftermath, not to mention that iconic 70's film, Taxi Driver.
As for Joaquin Phoenix's performance well, there's nothing original to say here. His portrayal of a psychotic man was phenomenal. In fact, I had a boyfriend in the '70's who looked like Arthur and while he was crazy, he was the picture of sanity compared to Arthur/Joker.
Joaquin had a great script to work with. As a would-be screenplay writer myself, I have a great deal of admiration for Todd Phillips and Scott Silver. In particular the pacing of the script was fantastic, especially the way the details of the past were revealed well into the film. I experienced a sense of ah, now I understand, learning that Arthur's compulsive laughing arose from brain damage sustained during a beating from mom's boyfriend, also that he had a very painful and abusive childhood which explained a lot. There was an amazing sense of development and growing intensity of the character and his madness. Yes, it was somewhat predictable that something big and violent would happen at the end, but who cared? Even the ending was perfect, in my opinion.
There were two things that I questioned: one was that Arthur did not use drugs or alcohol. That was certainly different, for the times and for a person with his extreme problems. The other was that the actress who plays Sophie I thought might have been too pretty and "clean" looking, meaning also not into drinking or drugs; her skin and eyes too clear, her weight just right, neither too thin nor too fat. It was a little difficult to buy that she would have been involved with Arthur and I was relieved when her attitude toward him changed.
Joker is an awesome film and I think it will be days before I can stop thinking about it. It deserves every possible award it can get.