I guess we're way past the point of a faithful Joker's representation in a live action movie.

Rating: 5/10 (12 November 2019)

There were many actors that tried to portray the role of Joker on the big screen through the years. Here's my take on trying to find out who made the best job at making the most enjoyable and faithful to the books.
The first one that comes to mind is Cesar Romero that played Joker in TV series and a feature film. I imagine this one is less popular of all. His Joker was goofy, his character was taken too lightly. But don't forget that It came straight for the kiddy's comic book, and it was made in the 60's. So it couldn't be any different than like that.
Next one is Jack Nicholson. It could be the best one. But it was too much inspired by the Cesar Romero portrayal. Jack Nicholson was already too old for this kind of role. His fans were pleased as he had another chance to play Jack Torrance once again. His acting was as always decent, but still it was half-assed as he didn't add nothing new than some regular Jack Nicholson personality.
Now the all time favorite for many fans of Batman saga - Hit Ledger's. Probably out of all Joker's his impersonation is my least favorite. Don't get me wrong. Hit Ledger was a good actor, but he didn't play Joker. He played a frustrated bum with sadistic intentions that doesn't have any reason to act the way he acts. He don't seem to enjoy the killing. He didn't have any charisma or personality. He looked and felt like more like a puppet from "Saw". It could probably work, but only if it wasn't a Batman movie.
Now Jared Leto at the same time felt like more close to a real Joker. He had a great make up, his acting was decent. But it was absolutely flat and didn't have much of a flavor. It was good, but felt like a commercial.
So now the only one that left is Joaquim Phoenix. He is one my favorite actors. He performance was great. It was disturbing, dramatic and engaging. But prior to screening of the movie and even till almost the very end of the movie I wasn't even sure that it's a DC related Joker. The movie didn't feel leke à Frank Miller's, Tim Burton's or even Christopher Nolan's adaptation which already felt more like a Michael Bay movie. Here we have a crime drama about the sick person that some how happen to be in the same universe as Bruce Wayne. At some point it even had a Christine Chubbuck vibe. I have very mixed up feelings about this one. It doesn't give enough reasons to dislike it. But at the same time I can't find any reasons to like it.
I guess the best one for me will be always the animated portrayal of Joker which was voiced by Mark Hamill. His Joker is manical, but cheerful and classy. Crazy, but still reasonable by his logic. His charisma is over the roof. His laugh is deranged, but still contagious. He never reveals the true reason of his criminal nature, but we don't need that to like him, while Joaquin Phoenix is begging to pity him.
This movie is OK, but there's no need for it to pretend to be a DC movie.