Not bad, but doesn't live up to the considerable hype

Rating: 7/10 (6 October 2019)

High marks for the acting all around, and the story is believable. That said, I can't appreciate it as a comic book adaptation. It's not a BATMAN story and not really a Joker story either. The Joker has always been a chemicals expert and an over-the-top manic; this movie doesn't even touch on the science background and Phoenix's portrayal of Joker's personality is the most subdued I can remember seeing. I consider this a better-than-average re-imagining. If at some point after the movie events the Joker does morph into a cackling, narcissistic showman, we aren't shown any clues of how he arrives there.
I remember the movie trailer saying it was rated R for "strong, bloody violence"; I have to say I've seen FAR worse in that respect. As far as the FBI's concern of it spawning violence, I'm not seeing any greater danger of that from this movie than any other crime drama.