Excellent, refreshing take on a classic Batman villain

Rating: 9/10 (7 October 2019)

The film is filled with awkward, intense, cringeworthy moments where you don't know whether to laugh or be horrified - and I loved every second of it. Director Todd Phillips take on the Joker was as good as it was due to Jauquin Phoenix's incredible take on such a storied character. To me, this movie was a much more modern and "real" take on how Aurther Fleck became the joker. Make no mistake, this is not a polished DC style movie with CGI and crazy effects. This is a gritty, dark drama that explores a man who feels alone, as if society has forgotten about him all together. His response is something the viewer can understand and even empathize with to some degree. The focus on mental health brings a move like this home and makes it feel far more down to earth than any other super hero movie. The different perspective on Thomas Wayne, Alfred, and other key characters in the Batman story provide an interesting counter point to the perfect benevolent super hero's were used to seeing.
I can't seem to understand the negative reviews for this movie as this was easily one of the better movies I've seen this year.