Simply outstanding

Rating: 9/10 (29 October 2019)

So many aspects of this film were just superb. The score, the constant feeling of depression in Gotham, the subtle introduction of the Wayne family, the very real mental breakdown of Arthur, the reasons why and the sadness that went with that, the final thirty minutes which I thought were very well done.
The only negative (and it is a very tiny negative) was they could have maybe had the occasional flashback into Arthur's childhood (him being chained to the radiator etc) which would have added to the tension in the build up to killing his adoptive mother.
More than anything else though Phoenix is simply brilliant. You know what he is going to turn into, you know he has deep rooted issues that will turn him into a psychopathic killer, rapist and armed robber to name but a few but you simply cannot help but feel for him. It reminded me somewhat of Revenge of the Sith in the sense. Phoenix displayed so many different emotions and skills throughout this movie that you could argue this is a career defining performance.
This movie is depressing and full of sadness yet simply outstanding.