An unexpected and mezmorizing journey.

Rating: 10/10 (4 October 2019)

"Joker" comes in with a packaging that neither interested me or convinced me it was a smart project. The idea of a Joker origin story movie centered only on him seemed like merely an experiment that wouldn't mean anything but a disposable two hours in the theater. I've never been so happy to be wrong.
From start to finish, "Joker" was captivating. Every scene an absolute treasure to behold. From the beginning, the story grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go. As the story progresses and depicts a character that is both fascinating and heartbreaking, we see his descent into madness that is chilling, yet completely justified.
Joaquin Phoenix turns in a performance for the ages. It may be one of the most honest and layered performances I've seen an actor give onto the screen and it's a role I think he was perfect for.
Technically, the film is brilliant. With a minor gripe with a song mixing decision that felt rough, I could see this film getting nominations for pretty much every technical award. Cinematography is rich and lush with surprisingly shallow depth of field, helping us isolate our focus to the character and his state of mind.
Another major highlight is the musical score which is haunting and penetrating. I couldn't imagine the music being any different because it always feels reflective of what's happening visually.
"Joker" is a phenomenal experience. It's a powerful and meaningful film with important things to say. I don't know how this fits into a possible universe or sequel but as a stand alone film, "Joker" is an incredible achievement and definitely one of the best films I've seen in a long time.