Movie Review

Rating: Null/10 (22 January 2020)

Imagine finding yourself abandoned by society, trapped alone by yourself. People laugh at the only way to express yourself, through stand up comedy, and not because it's funny, but because you're weird. You're mother lied to you about who your father is, the doctors cut off your medication for mental health, and you get jumped on the streets. You slowly start to descend into madness. Welcome to Todd Phillips "Joker". A brilliant spectacle of the human mind and a transformation of a comic book character to a big screen villain.
When Joker had first gotten into theaters, it had its critics. The media constantly bashing the movie complaining about how it glorifies killing people as a way to take out frustration, forgetting that this is The Joker we are talking about here, not some made up anti hero. The Joker as a character has been around for decades in DC movies as the viewer gets to see him take on Batman. However it's the first time we get a stand alone take on the "Why" of the character. Why is he the way he is? Why does he loathe the Wayne's? What is his real name? Questions that have been asked forever but are now finally answered. Joker finally has a name, Arthur Fleck. Though this movie is a stand alone movie, not connected to any previous Batman's or DC movies, it is hard to picture anyone else other than Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker. The acting of Phoenix is deserving of all praise. He can go from a mentally ill family man taking care of his mother to a dancing psychopath shooting innocent talk show hosts. But out of all the phenomenal acting in the film, one scene stands out the most. That is his confrontation with Murray Franklin. He goes on a rant to Murray and finally admits to killing 3 young men. But he gives his reasons. Society treats him like crap, he is abandoned, and he is lied too. He fatally shoots Murray and is arrested. The film ends with Arthur thinking of a joke in a mental hospital. One nurse asks him what it is and he replies with, "you wouldn't get it". The film ends with Arthur running out of the hospital with blood on his feet, looking for freedom. The film overall is a beautiful and brilliant spectacle of the origins of the character of The Joker. The cinematography throughout the whole film is breathtaking and gives of a 70's, rustic filter type feel. Many components of the film are reminiscent of Taxi Driver and King of Comedy.
The film is a must see and easily an instant classic and Phoenix's take on The Joker will not be beaten for a while. (Unless they do a sequel).
With regards to the media's concern about the film creating a motive for people like Arthur Fleck in the real world, that's not how it's going to play out. Everybody understands what this movie is, and who it's about because the character has exited for over 60 years now. If anything, it makes people understand what people with mental illnesses have to go through, and why they should take their medicine and be looked after. It also teaches the audience not to abandon certain people because of the way they look. Anyways, the media couldn't stop Joker (it made over a billion) and you shouldn't let the media stop you from watching it. It is one of the few greats in front of our eyes and I could watch it 10x over.