An important film

Rating: 9/10 (13 October 2019)

Firstly, for anyone expecting to go into this to see superhero antics will be let down. This isn't a film that's beholden strictly to the origins of its source material. The context of the Gotham universe it takes place in is simply a pretense to afford the witnessing of a man's descent into the depths of mental illness and insanity. This is a wholly distinct adaptation from all before it, it is very grounded in its fiction, and to humor the full realization of Joker's nemesis in this universe (even though a child Bruce Wayne appears) is completely unrealistic.
This movie is nothing but a brilliantly, tightly focused character study of the consequences of mental illness and anguish left to run rampant. Phoenix's performance is remarkable in showing this, and I hope he gets the Oscar. It is a masterclass of acting and he is fully enveloped in this role, not only psychologically, but the physical lengths he's taken to compliment his conveyance of a man who is gradually spiraling into a hopeless pit of self-destruction, nihilism, and eventual violence. His body represents just as much a character as his behavior does, often contorted and always skeletal, showing his agony on the outside just as much as the obvious immense turmoil he's enduring on the inside. This is an extremely dark and somber film, brutally violent at times, and I can fully understand why it's one that's been mired in controversy. People claim it irresponsible and dangerous, but I think such a superficial dismissal is to miss the point. Joker isn't a validation of hate, disenfranchisement, incels, or mass shootings. It's a glimpse into the life and circumstances of a very mentally disturbed individual that can lead someone to such feelings that are conducive to the most horrific of outcomes.
I suppose I love this movie so much because as someone who's battled mental illness all my life, I find it captures exceptionally well the overall feeling of sickness in the head that depression brings, and the dangerous spiral it can quickly bring. And while I can understand how others can view this film as minimizing, glorifying, and even romanticizing such a serious issue as mental illness due to it taking place in the context of a comic book universe and character traditionally known for being more of a mean spirited prankster, what many don't understand who aren't mentally ill is how this is how such illness in its most severe manifestation can skew perception. Joker takes place from the perspective of Arthur, and as he states at the end, his life "is a comedy". He's insane.
I think it's great that a film finally comes along that confronts us with mental illness, which is what this film is about. Perhaps choosing Joker to do this was a miscalculation, but regardless, this is a film that's needed. What message does it send? What message does it need to, aside to demonstrate the evil, insidiousness, mental decrepitude that destroys and leads people into utter delusional madness?