Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (13 October 2019)

What I love as much as anything about this film is the trailer. It's brilliantly put together and unlike almost every trailer out there, it doesn't ruin the movie for you. The trailer ends as Arthur transforms from an average Joe with some mental struggles to the most iconic comic book villain of all time. It leaves you wanting to know what happens. And it gives you no clue as to the brutality and shock of what is to come.
The film is hauntingly beautiful and Pheonix's performance is 100% Oscar worthy. He plays a different timeline in Joker's life than the genius that is Heath Ledger, so it's hard to compare and although Ledger's chilling performance is simply impossible to improve on, it's a close second.
The film has many fairly violent and horrific scenes but why should that be surprising? This is a character study about a phsycotic serial killer.
Arguably the film of the year.