A masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (3 November 2019)

I saw the movie without having read anything (I had watched all the Batman movies though, but no graphic novels). I did all the reading afterwards and I tend to disagree with many of the "expert" opinions that are mentioned in the wiki article about it.
This movie is singular in its concept and gives a humanised, down-to-earth version of the Joker and how it came to be. No silly "fell in acid" resolutions, no magical tricks, no plastic surgeries... just a real human in a collapsing world, who finds a perverted way to rise, as a result of mental illness and abuse by everyone.
It blends nicely with the Batman beginnings, also adds an interesting twist, and you know what? As Batman is not a hero with superforces, but a high-tech gadgeted superhero, so should the Joker be. A simple human who turns villain (or may turn villain) because of need and condition.
I liked Heath Ledger's Joker. But this one is so different, so realistic. Joaquin Phoenix is amazing. He makes you feel for the Joker, and through the fantastic storyline (with some elements from the novels, but mostly - i think - invented) build up the climax on how a disfunctional comedian-to-be came to be the Joker.
The only sort-of-negative remark that I have is that in this film, the Joker does not appear to be this high-intelligence individual that could become an archvillain for Batman. Apparently, this ambiguity was intended, although I think it was the result of an incompatibility with the character development chosen as the core of this film.