One. Bad. Day!

Rating: 9/10 (12 November 2019)

There is a trend of comic book movies finally trying to make amends with the fans. I don't get why so many movies were made that were downright disrespectful to their source material. In the past DC has suffered from it, Dark Horse has suffered from it, we all know how much Marvel has suffered from it, but these last couple of years it finally looks like directors in Hollywood have learned this lesson.
Comic books, especially DC, aren't to be taken lightly. This is something that of all the people, Todd Phillips, the director of The Hangover, understood very well. The actors in this are amazing, the characters are more than the same old two-dimensional, awful one-liners that serve just as an excuse to make poorly conceived product placement (I'm looking at you, Zack Snyder) and definitely way more than the attempt of Christopher Nolan to give an obscure, deeper look on Gotham that sadly didn't have much to do with what makes these characters so great in the first place.
Heavy Scorsese influence, almost on the nose, but doesn't ruin the film or seem out of place. Stellar performance from Phoenix. Good script. And most important of all - respect for the source material. Phoenix wasn't playing just someone's version of the Joker. Phoenix transforms himself throughout the plot in THE IDEA of the Clown Prince of Crime. Many references to other portrayals, nods to other movies, perhaps even a critique on the film industry. And last, but certainly not least - relevant and self-aware.
This movie exceeds expectations gracefully. It keeps you guessing and invested in the story. Not a boring moment in it. And for once the themes explored weren't shallow and repetitive, but something that seemed crafted with the sole purpose of earning the viewer's approval, instead of being a formulaic popcorn movie. It's a rare gem.