Nothing New Here

Rating: 5/10 (6 October 2019)

There's a moment in the movie when Joker says that he is not creating chaos for any political or deeper meaning; he is only unleashing his rage upon the world because he finds life utterly hopeless.
That could be the description of the movie. For all of the conversation and controversy surrounding the film, Joker doesn't add anything new. The movie simply has higher production value than its predecessors Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy, American Psycho, and arguably Fight Club.
What is somewhat thought-provoking though is how it validates the concerns of people who were reluctant to support its release. Critics were afraid it would empower men who identify as incels to commit mass shootings. I believe those critics were right to be afraid because Joker definitely assures men who believe that the world has wronged them that they will be praised if they rid the world of evil (anything in their way).
Phoenix gives everything to his performance, but this movie is truly nothing spectacular otherwise.