Joker Begins

Rating: 8/10 (2 October 2019)

An anarchist, his falling apart life and a city on edge -- what else you need to make a gritty, dark and violent biography of one of the greatest villain of cinematic history.
Todd Phillip's Joker ticks all the box when it comes to making an edgy and dark film like this. Splashing blood, outrageous deaths and a world which is crumbling apart. This film has everything. But the soul of this film is Joker himself. This rendition of Joker, very skillfully takes inspiration from all the past presentations and yet able to put a breath of fresh air on this legendary character.
Joaquin Phoenix's performance is not just breathtaking but strangely satisfying. Playing Joker on screen is perhaps one of the toughest jobs an actor can have. People have high hopes. And after Ledger's performance, Phoenix had a big shoe to fill in. But he shines in this film. The ease with which Phoenix carries out the role, speaks volume about his acting callibre.
About the other aspects of the film, the cinematography is on point. It very craftily captures the city from Joker's eyes. It shows his struggle and his making. The audience was very much used to watching Gotham from Batman's eyes, but perhaps for the first time, we as an audience has access to the other side of the narrative.
Speaking of the other side, this film very successfully shows the class struggle we humans have to endure. Moreover it shows the cycle of hate and crime, which effects the Gotham City and also eventually the life of our own Bruce Wayne.
This film is a must watch. Although it might not be the best DC film ever to come, but it certainly is a living tribute to probably the greatest and most nuanced character humans have ever created.