Riveting

Rating: 8/10 (5 October 2019)

I went into "Joker" expecting little: I didn't think that a Batman movie without Batman would work, or that the filmmakers could possibly do something original with a villain whose story has already been told countless times. But I'm glad to say that seeing "Joker" proved me wrong: this is a riveting drama that uses a familiar character to craft a compelling origin story that serves as a parable for our divided times. Many have accused "Joker" of trivializing or glorifying violence. I disagree: the movie shows how a rotten environment creates crime, violence, and chaos by taking disturbed people and pushing them over the edge. Arthur Fleck, played so well by Joaquin Phoenix, is not a sympathetic character. We understand why he becomes a villain, but we also understand why he's a monster. As a character study "Joker" gets an A: buoyed by Phoenix's standout performance, Arthur Fleck is a complex and engaging character who we both pity and fear in equal measure.
Although "Joker" is set in 1981, the movie parallels modern America by dramatizing the division, hatred, violence, and social strife that has come to define our contemporary experience. Like many viewers, I don't think it's clear what exactly "Joker" is trying to say about these things. Perhaps it's trying to serve as a cautionary tale about a society that turns to an immoral demagogue in an era of confusion and despair. Maybe the film has no message at all. Regardless, by tapping into these themes "Joker" makes an old character relevant for our times.
On an aesthetic level "Joker" is excellent: the direction is stellar, so many visuals say in my mind as either haunting or beautiful. The entirety of the cast gives it their all, especially Phoenix as the title character and Robert De Niro as a smug talk show host. I loved De Niro's performance, but here is where the movie falters. "Joker" is not only inspired by "Taxi Driver" and "The King of Comedy," it's so derivative of those films that you can point of specific shots and plot points taking straight from Martin Scorsese. Further, certain scenes feel out of place in a serious drama and for the most part the comedic elements didn't work for me. (Then again, maybe they weren't supposed to). As a warning to other viewers: while I liked the dark tone, this movie is one of the very darkest I've ever seen - to the point of being depressing. If you don't like gritty, downbeat films "Joker" isn't for you. But if you want to see an engrossing drama with great performances, you should definitely check it out. 8/10.