A little original, a little derivative, a lot disturbing, and TOTALLY well done

Rating: 7/10 (8 November 2019)

One could argue this film is original (because it finds new perspectives on the most familiar of characters and stories) or one could argue this movie is derivative (because it basically just mashed up a Batman villain and Taxi Driver). Personally, I think most art mixes up familiar elements to make something new, from DJs to filmmakers. And the new thing that Phillips creates here is incredibly well done and evocative. It is not easy to make something that is so familiar and so new all at once. It is not easy to make a film that both comments on mental illness in society and re-tells Batman's origins for the umpteenth time. Not that long ago Logan reminded audiences that comics could still make great art when freed from the burdens of franchise/universe building...but I'm still glad that Joker reminded us again.