POPCORN EMPIRE: Joker - Movie Review

Rating: 10/10 (12 October 2019)

"(Joker is) a masterpiece, and easily one of the best films of the year." 10/10
Joker is a DC comics film adaptation co-written and directed by Todd Phillips (The Hangover Trilogy) and starring Joaquin Phoenix (Her, Gladiator). The film tells the story of a mentally ill man named Arthur Fleck as he transforms into Batman's most iconic villain, the Joker.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Joker borrows some of the main elements from previous versions of the character, such as him starting out as a stand-up comedian and generally being a social outcast. But the film does away with the vat of acid and instead aims for a more grounded, gradual transformation from a damaged man to the Clown Prince of Crime. For those who might worry that revealing the Joker's origins might undermine the character, ridding him of his mysterious nature, rest assured that this film does the Joker justice and then some.
The film focuses almost exclusively on Arthur Fleck. He's in nearly every frame of the movie. Arthur suffers from a number of mental illnesses (they are never specified, but it is mentioned that he takes 7 different medications). Living with his mother, and working a low-income job as a clown-for-hire, Arthur feels lonely, neglected, and unseen. He gets hit with one turn of bad luck after another, from losing his job to having funding cut for his therapy and medication. Things begin to take a turn when he is attacked on a subway by three Wayne Enterprise employees. Using a gun given to him by a co-worker, he guns down the three men in self-defense (albeit a bit excessively). Things quickly spiral out of control, and Arthur soon becomes the anonymous symbol of an anarchic revolution in Gotham.
It can't be stressed enough how incredible Joaquin Phoenix's performance is as Arthur Fleck. He transforms himself both physically and mentally, disappearing into the character. Arthur is an unsettling, strange, and broken man, and Phoenix embodies the character perfectly, elevating the material.
The film offers plenty of other cinematic delights as well, from its gorgeous, moody photography to its haunting score. One highlight is the "bathroom dance", with a chorus of strings hitting mostly on a small handful of notes, creating a tense yet oddly beautiful melody.
The film has a relentless, bleak tone, but the uniqueness of Arthur's character carries you through the story and keeps you locked in your seat. You can't help but be fascinated with this character, wondering where the story will go next. While the movie does use some familiar tropes (guy down on his luck, losing his job, getting attacked in the street) they're well executed and don't feel derivative. A subplot concerning Arthur's mother and the Wayne family also adds some unexpected complexity and weight to Arthur's character development.
Joker is a haunting yet beautiful character study, crafted with ingenuity and an admirable attention to detail. Paying homage to inspirations such as "Taxi Driver" and "The Killing Joke" graphic novel, Joker still manages to stand on its own. It's a masterpiece, and easily one of the best films of the year. It's not only the best DC film, but it's also a fantastic, character driven crime drama all its own.
10/10