Fantastically Made in Every Aspect, Joker Stands Out in a Crowded Genre Landscape

Rating: 9/10 (12 October 2019)

There has been a vocal split from the critics about whether this movie is a dark masterpiece or a deliberately problematic film that elicits sympathy for those who shouldn't get it. I get where the critics are coming from with Joker being a disruptive and atypical superhero movie but I just don't agree. I never saw Arthur as the hero of this movie and I think if you look hard enough, the movie doesn't present it that way either. We spend so much time with him that you can't help but feel sorry for him but his actions are still despicable and he's locked up in the end for good reason. He's a sympathetic villain at best and while Joker definitely shows a fresh perspective for a comic book movie, I don't think there's some sinister motivation to incite hate. Todd Phillips (the writer/director here) tends to lean towards darker characters, darker humour and darker motivations and this movie seems like an evolution of his work. It was interesting to get the superhero story from the other perspective, the villain who has been ignored and beaten up by society and who was sick but couldn't get the help he needed. It was an inspired decision to tell the story this way and I was enthralled when I watched Joker without being tricked into thinking he was some tragic hero in disguise. Could this movie be interpreted that way? Yes but that's dependent on the viewer and I can't penalize the movie for that.
When a movie is set in the crappy part of town, a city ghetto or even a post-apocalyptic world, you don't expect to be impressed by cinematography or editing or costuming but this movie was impressive in all those areas. It's beautifully shot and the editing is seamless. It really helps blur the lines between what is actually happening to Arthur and what he's imagining but its done in a very artistic way. The movie feels authentic because of how grimy and dismal the setting is and I liked that they went back to a more conventional look for the Joker as opposed to Suicide Squad which really swung for the fences but missed the mark. The makeup even plays an important roll in how Arthur acts and that was well done. This movie looks great and with all the hype surrounding it, I was looking for pitfalls when I saw this in the theatre. But Joker was up to the task, I also enjoyed the score minus one song which felt like someone accidentally hit the shuffle button in iTunes. The score is largely comprised of songs previous to or from that era and then in a montage there's some arena rock. Luckily its cuts off quickly and this is only a minor complaint.
Joker is centred around Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) who will eventually become the Joker. I loved how well developed he was as a character. Its not always the classic Joker origin you may or may not be familiar with. I've talked a little bit already about how's he not a hero but I saw this as a story of someone who had some well earned (through little to no fault of his own) psychotic tendencies and when he really needed help, he was cast aside or just ignored by both those in power and those few individuals in his life. He tries to keep going but it becomes too much and once his switch is flipped, there's just no going back for Arthur. Almost all of his relationships with those around him (minus Sophie which has BIG issues in a different way) are flawed and toxic. I also liked how his motivations evolved pretty naturally as the movie went on. This is not a justification of his thought process but the movie illustrates how he moved from A) to B) to C) and it never seemed too implausible for this genre. Inorganic character motivations drive me nuts and I was pleasantly surprised at how all the events in Joker added up.
The part of the Joker comes with a stigma after Heath Ledger and while Jared Leto is a great actor, his portrayal of the iconic character was definitely polarizing. Phoenix has a reputation of being a gifted actor, entirely committing to his roles and being an oddball for a leading man. His portrayal of Arthur is right up there with Ledger for me. I wouldn't say better or worse but Phoenix lives up to the legacy. He's got strong material to work with but he makes Arthur both sympathetic yet frightening. His story is tragic but he could explode at any moment. He shaped his body for the part and from the first moments past the opening credits, its very clear he's in 100%. He'll get awards recognition and its deserved. I haven't seen a performance this year that I would say is better.
The supporting cast is definitely there in service of Arthur but they feature some excellent work too. I was surprised Robert DeNiro was in this so much as Murray Franklin but he fit in this movie pretty well. He's not hammy yet he carries his part and he was legitimately good in this. Zazie Beetz was a solid choice for Sophie. Her relationship with Arthur is problematic (it was also my biggest gripe with the movie but they answered my questions pretty definitively by the end) but that's her character, not her. She's beautiful and its easy to see why she's on her way up. Frances Conroy is also doing great work, her character is essential to who Arthur is and her role in this is also pretty tragic. I would also credit Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne, he's a pretty ambiguous character through Arthur's eyes and his performance is in tune with this movie
This is a GREAT movie that hopefully represents a shift in the comic book genre. Whether you love this movie completely or hate its guts, its a changeup for the genre and I would argue that it was needed. We need more bold ideas like this for the superhero movie to continue to dominate. Is the Joker an uncomfortable movie? Absolutely! I was uneasy the entire time and I shifted in my seat a lot during the squeamish parts. Is it a fun movie to watch? I would also say no, its methodically paced and with all the uncomfortable bits, its thoroughly unpleasant. But when it comes to the quality of the movie, this is a TRIUMPH! The acting is fantastic, its masterfully shot and tightly written and the ending packs a real gut-punch. Its one of the few times that I thought about the ending after and realized that I don't know if anything else would have been true to the story and the character. I would love a sequel but I don't think Joker has to have one. The arc of the story opens and closes artfully and the creative team might be better served by leaving it alone. Fantastic work from Phoenix, Phillips, the creative team and the supporting players make this a must-see. It will end up in my 2019 top 5. If you haven't already, check this out and see where you weigh in.