Hear me out before thumbs down

Rating: 5/10 (11 October 2019)

A question before you read below. What are you reviewing when you say 10/10? A performance by an actor or the storyline?
The best part of the movie first of all... Phoenix PLAYED the Joker literally, the best character performance I've seen from ANY actor. Hats off and 10/10 for performance. I am not discrediting his performance whatsoever.
Now here is the reason for 5 stars. The film was long drawn out, long winded, and I kept looking at my watch... if this was any other movie, people would be agreeing with me, jumping on my band-wagon and saying the same thing. You could easily create this storyline within 20 minutes, half an hour at a BIG push, I mean... Do we really want to know E-V-E-R-Ything about him?
The movie isn't a villian based movie nor superhero movie I was/am aware of that, however the movie is a 'Halloween' meets 'IT' movie where a Physcotic Mental Escapee decides to kill at will. Sounds like a storyline I've seen before.... Michael Myers would be proud.
Everyone is saying "Brilliant movie" but is it because you love Pheonix's performance or love the actual storyline? Because most reviews I've read are 10/10 based on the characters performance.. that is not how reviews of movies ought to be.
So, please review the actual storyline, rather than the actual characters performance. Based on character performance, I've said 10/10. Based on the long winded drawn out process of a storyline, 5/10.
This is how the movie should receive it's reviews.