A psychological case study of a man falling apart.

Rating: 10/10 (26 October 2019)

So I've seen Joker at the theater twice now. I've been holding off making a review as this film just has so many spinning wheels to process. I will say, I completely understand why someone would not enjoy Joker. It's dark, disturbing, and hits way to close to home with our current social political system. That being said I love the film! I absolutely think it is a work of art and easily the best DC film to date.
Anyone familiar with the joker origin story from The Killing Joke knows the Joker is an unreliable narrator. This tradition continues in this Joker origin story that is so outside the traditional genre it's hard to even call it a comic book film. Arthur Fleck is a struggling clown for hire attempting to live his dream of being a comedian. All the while he is forced to live with a rare neurological disorder that makes him laugh uncomfortably and suffers from extreme depression and anxiety. As the film unfolds we witness the slow falling apart of a man pushed to the brink of madness and what happens when society as a whole gives up on him and falls apart.
Joker certainly owes quite a bit of its storytelling to Scorsese with strong themes coming from both Taxi Driver and King of Comedy. Here we examine a case study of a man feeling alienated and alone all the while examining quite a bit of social commentary on some of the darker side of our society. The film exams so many real issues like the failures in mental health, class conflict, social alienation, and the political system it's hard not to feel uncomfortable while watching a film that both reflects and distort reality to make a dark and entertaining film that will leave a lasting impression.
I also have to say how much I enjoyed the overall director's choices made in the film. Despite the overall length I didn't have an issue with the pacing at all. I was on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next as the film constantly inched the tension forward as you wait for Joker to explode. The dialogue was sharp and somehow manage to be both funny and psychologically jarring at the same time. The film had so many moments that made you want to cry with just how dark the content was, but also threw in intense scenes to add elements of horror and suspense all the while having a few genuinely laugh out loud moments.
The screenwriting was so all over the place but in a absolutely fantastic way. It is hard not to compare the film to Scorsese and so many flattering ways. I must also mention how great the score was for the film. Both haunting and memorable and worked incredibly well with the gritty realistic setting of the film. On top of that the film has many moments that are open to interpretation and will leave many with a completely different viewing experience. Joker will stay with you for days at a time and is an absolutely perfect movie to try and dissect the hidden subtext of a movie that is trying to say so much about our society.
With all that being said even if this film was terrible it would be a must-see entirely for Joaquin Phoenix's performance. He is an absolutely phenomenal actor and one of the best of his generation at throwing himself at a role. That being said this may be a career best. His performance was absolutely amazing and was on a level few actors can reach. Not only did he physically transform himself completely, but every aspect of his persona melted into becoming the Joker. The laugh was so perfect, but more so it was his depiction of the character's psychological trauma that really made a stunning performance. If he does not get recognition from the Oscars the system is truly broken.
So I loved Joker. Still no film is perfect and Joker is no exception. Anyone looking for any semblance of a DC comic book film will be disappointed. There is almost zero mythos from the comics left intact in this film. The film could have been completely unrelated to DC and it only would have changed a few cameo appearances. On top of that while I enjoyed the pacing there were a few scenes that could have been omitted to shorten the time of the film. There is also the question of should this movie exist in the first place? It's constantly bleak and depressing that some may left feeling sickened instead of entertained. This may not be the film we need with so much darkness in our world, but it just may be the film we deserve. If you can push past the knee-jerk reaction to feel disgusted the film is truly a unique experience.
Joker was my most anticipated film of the year. For me it was an utter masterpiece that demands to be seen. The film takes a refreshingly unorthodox look at the Joker character but also applies some truly stunning social commentary to make the film relevant. On top of that the acting and screenwriting were phenomenal and easily some of the best of 2019. Joker is certainly not a film for everyone. That being said it is one of my favorites for 2019 and is sure to go down as one of the greatest comic book adaptations of all time. A 9.5 out of 10.