A character study of a broken man who finally decides to embrace his insanity, that just so happens to be based on a popular comic book character.

Rating: 10/10 (3 October 2019)

'Joker' is not a comic book movie about the origin of a supervillain. Instead, it is a character study of a broken man who finally decides to embrace his insanity, that just so happens to be produced by a recognisable brand. And oh man, how I wish more mainstream films were like this.
Joaquin Phoenix delivers a career-defining powerhouse performance as the lead that also arguably redefines the Joker. Whereas the character has previously been portrayed as a criminal mastermind that poses an unstoppable foil to Batman, or in Jared Leto's case, just a joke, Phoenix achieves something I previously thought unfathomable; he makes the character sympathetic.
This Joker, or more precisely, Arthur Fleck, is just an ordinary individual you could easily encounter in the street, who's constantly laughing from the pain of his mere existence. This guy can't catch a break, as he is continuously pushed around and mentally tormented by the world around him, and I could not help but feel pity and remorse for the guy. Even the most subtle nuances Phoenix imposes, such as his changing tone of voice or the way he walks makes his portrayal feel all the more real. When Fleck finally snaps back at the world, I didn't necessarily barrack for him, as his actions are violent and gruesome. However, I was deeply fascinated by how Fleck finally accepts himself as a sociopathic maniac and seeks his own personal justice through the persona of the Joker.
The rest of the supporting cast does a serviceable job, especially Robert De Niro, who hasn't given a performance this lively in years. But Phoenix is the main attraction, and rightfully so. To make the comparison to Heath Ledger's Joker and argue who's better would be pointless. This is a very different portrayal, and I believe the best of both worlds should be embraced.
Apart from my ravings about Phoenix, I was very impressed with Todd Phillips' direction, especially considering his previous filmography comprises of sex comedies. Without going too far into spoiler territory, I found the way Phillips chose to tell this story pleasantly surprising. It takes a similar route to something like 'Fight Club' or 'American Psycho', wherein you're unsure whether all the events unfolding on-screen are actually happening in reality or merely the character's imagination. I believe it could be an entirely plausible origin for the Joker in the comics.
Under Phillips' guidance, the majority of the stylistic features are efficiently executed. The muted colour palette and handheld cinematography compliment the film's gritty, realistic tone very well. Hildur GuÃ°nadÃ³ttir's score, which is mainly comprised of cellos and other stringed instruments, is hauntingly beautiful. It subtly underscores the Joker's deeper delving into crime and insanity until it crescendos into an anxiety-inducing orchestra when full-on chaos unfolds.
My only issue with the film is despite its aims to be a standalone character study, it still dares to shoehorn in tributes and references to the comics. This is only done to a minor extent but it just felt jarring because it did not contribute to the story being told whatsoever.
Although I had optimistic hopes for this film, I was still blown away by it. Overall, it was just nice to see a comic book movie that isn't part of a greater cinematic universe that has to set up multiple sequels. Despite all the controversy and criticism swirling around the film's release, I have no doubt over time it will be considered one of the great films of this decade. It is not the perfect comic book movie, but it is rather, the most personal comic book movie I've ever seen.