A Provocative Powerhouse

Rating: 9/10 (23 October 2019)

Joker is a phenomenal symphony of film leading up to a breathtaking crescendo.
Joaquin Phoenix absolutely outdoes himself. I didn't see him in "Her" or "The Master", but knew he was special after "Gladiator" and "Walk The Line" - and his 2010 year-long performance-art piece "I'm Still Here" cemented him as a modern acting great. He was just as spellbinding with this interpretation of the most famous comic book villain of all time. Arguably his best work to date.
But an actor can't be great without great material. And what (surprisingly) Todd Phillips has done with Joker is nothing short of genius. Not only has Phillips achieved what so few comedy film-makers do by crossing over into the provocative dramatic genre, he has produced a true masterpiece of movie material.
Not for the faint hearted. It is disturbing at times. A result Phillips and his team set out to achieve, citing that violence has become too socially accepted in our media. We shrug it off and accept it as part of our entertainment, but with Joker he has made what violence is: Disturbing. Deeply uncomfortable. Painful. He makes the audience feel. An outcome very few mainstream film-makers achieve these days.
The film is aptly titled. It is about absolutely no-one else other than its subject. Every character is simply crafted to present the film's focus: Joker. A deeply injured member of society who succumbs to his pain.
Masterful film-making in a world drowning in a sea of meaningless media. Todd Phillips selected the best of the best to paint his picture. The strangely haunting score (which fit perfectly into Phillips' world), the perfectly presented cinematography, the costume and set design, the acting, the editing (sound and film!), all masterfully mixed into one of the pieces of the year.
While it's unlikely Joker will walk away with Best Picture, don't be surprised if it gets a nomination. Plus a host of other category noms.
It's not for everyone. But for this sociological ponderer, it was almost perfect.