"Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?"

Rating: 10/10 (29 October 2019)

I've gotta say that I was hesitant when a new Joker movie was announced. DCEU movies have so far been hit or miss (I'm lookin at you mr. leto). When I heard the dude from the Hangover series was going to direct it, my emotions were confused. I couldn't help think who could possibly fill the big shoes left behind by the late great Heath Ledger?
A filthy analysis
~Joaquin Phoenix transforms into a malnourished, misunderstood loner who suffers from involuntary laughter and a truly pitiful life in general. Arthur Fleck's lanky figure, wicked dance moves and brooding facial expressions accurately overtly reflect the mental roller-coaster this man undergoes everyday.
~Thing is, no one around him seems to care. His delusional mother clings to her suspicious past and is seemingly unaware of Arthur's deteriorating condition. His boss at work and his supposed friends treat him like a joke(r). Hell, he's even getting beat up by children that stole his spinning sign. Is this commentary on bullying and mental health stigma in the current sociopolitical landscape? The media warned of disenfranchised teens becoming inspired by the movie to carry out acts of terror. Is this kind of fear rationalized and if so, if the mental health crisis has really reached a tipping point where a movie can become frighteningly real, what's stopping the Joker from becoming a reality?
~Now his condition was somewhat explained in the movie but it exists in real life as Involuntary Emotional Expression Disorder, and is often caused by traumatic brain injury. We see this type of injury is common in those suffering from pathological It's revealed that Arthur was physically abused by his mother's boyfriend, which could potentially be the determining factor in birth of Joker?
~The driver of this transformation from Arthur to Joker is the discontinuation of his prescriptions and his visitation to a social worker. His delusions of grandeur on Murray's stage are amplified to the point where his fantasies include a relationship with the beautiful Zazie Beetz. I know Arthur, me too man.
~The film includes shots of Arthur banging his head against the wall of his cell, crawling into his refrigerator, and institutionalized in a mental facility. "All I have are bad thoughts" he says as he recounts his origin story in his mind. The film ends with his time in the facility, and blood on his shoes. It's heavily implied that he killed his therapist, which directly contradicts Arthur's own record of targeting those who've wronged him (at least loosely). Can we rely on Arthur Fleck to accurately recount the details of his origins, when we aren't sure what he considers injustice? Can we assess a character's traits and moral values if we don't even know who he truly is?
The cinematography of the film accurately reflects the psychological burden that Arthur Fleck endures. The bleak, poverty-stricken landscape of Gotham from Arthur's perspective is different from what we're used to, a billionaires perspective. The film utilizes call-backs and jarring transitions to build and feel the tension Arthur's feeling his life is in a downward spiral.
And finally the acting, while everyone across the board brought strong performances to the table, the most gripping performance is by none other than Joaquin Phoenix. This man singlehandedly brought seat-gripping tension with just his facial expressions and jaw-dropping climactic conclusions (deaths) to many, many unfortunate characters. The academy would be absolutely bonkers if he does not get nominated.
Every now and then there's a film that changes the landscape of cinema, while also reminding me of why I love to watch movies. The Joker proves that high budget, CGI-infested blockbusters isn't the only formula for a successful movie. The deep social commentary from the perspective of a mentally ill patient is a fresh breath of air from how it's normally portrayed in media. It would be easy for us to dismiss a character like Arthur as pathological serial killer, and no one would blame you for that. Each of us at the individual level contain a little bit of the pain that Joker carries around, and a whole lot more compassion to offer others in their time of need.
Go watch this movie and give someone a hug and tell them you love them, 10/10.