Following an abundance of pre-release controversy and potential Oscar buzz, “Joker” is finally here. Directed by Todd Phillips (“War Dogs”) and starring Joaquin Phoenix (“The Sisters Brothers”) as the Clown Prince of Crime, “Joker” is Warner Brothers first DC film since 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises” to not be connected to a cinematic universe. While some fans bemoaned an origin story for Batman’s mysterious arch nemesis, others were fascinated by a movie that could possibly peel back the layers of madness surrounding the enduring villain. The film also raised concerns of inspiring real-world violence such as the recent tragic events in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. Despite these concerns, “Joker” is an excellent character study that offers unique commentary on our society.
Our story begins in the early 1980s. Gotham City is ripe with crime and corruption while the downtrodden scavenge for employment. One of those individuals is Arthur Fleck, a struggling clown who suffers from a neurological disorder that causes uncontrollable laughter. Fleck spends his days taking care of his frail mother Penny (Frances Conroy, “Mountain Rest”), awkwardly interacting with his neighbor and love interest Sophie (Zazie Beetz, “High Flying Bird”) and fantasizing of becoming a famous comedian like talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro, “The Comedian”). After a series of unfortunate events, Fleck’s life descends into a downward spiral that transforms him into the Joker we all know.
Despite Conroy, Beetz and De Niro offering commendable performances, Phoenix absolutely steals the show. His performance is not only Oscar-worthy but a testament to Phoenix’s ability as an actor. Phoenix’s laugh in “Joker” is based on a real-life condition and the performance onscreen reflects that. Whenever Phoenix laughs it looks painful, forced and uncomfortable. He is a man who society puts down and rejects and his descent into madness is indicative of that. While the audience could feel sympathy for Fleck, it does not mean others should condone or imitate his actions. “Joker” is a movie about a man who has reached his breaking point not due to him refusing help, but for the help being taken away from him. Fleck’s transformation can be compared to Travis Bickle in “Taxi Driver” and his obsession with performing is heavily inspired by Rupert Pupkin in “The King of Comedy.”
On a technical level, “Joker” is beautifully shot with favorable costuming and makeup to boot. This is not your standard comic book fare with glossy visuals and cookie cutter editing, but something more sustainable and auteur-driven. The tone and look of the movie are heavily inspired by the Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”) films “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy,” with Gotham City being portrayed with this sense of gloom and despair. Streets are full of steam and garbage, citizens wander around with glazed looks of uncertainty. Even so, “Joker” finds itself a little lost in its own identity when it pays homage to those films. Sometimes it is hard to separate “Joker” from its inspirations that it almost feels like a combined remake of both Scorsese classics. If it were not for the connection to DC, that would probably be the case.
After two months of salient releases, “Joker” is finally here to remind us how powerful cinema can be. The most important message the movie conveys is our backhanded treatment of people with mental illnesses and the less fortunate. In real life, we mock these people, bully them and move onto the next target to degrade. We stress the need for better mental health awareness but ultimately cut social services funding or judge others who need treatment the most. If anything, “Joker” gives reasons why people go off the deep end and even offers solutions on how to stop a “Joker,” from becoming a reality.
“Joker” is dark, cold, disturbing and absolutely necessary in today’s age. Not only does the movie provide excellent performances and a great story but its social commentary is unparalleled compared to your typical comic book movie like “Captain Marvel” or “Aquaman.” It may not be for everyone, but seeing as this is the “Joker,” you should know what you are getting into.
Image from Warner Bros. Pictures via YouTube
