Joker-A Movie Review
In Gotham City, mentally troubled comedian Arthur Fleck is disregarded and mistreated by society. He then embarks on a downward spiral of revolution and bloody crime. This path brings him face-to-face with his alter-ego: the Joker. Joker centers around an origin of the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Todd Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a man disregarded by society is not only a gritty character study but also a broader cautionary tale.
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Writing Credits: Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
Based on Characters by: Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Jerry Robinson
Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller; Motion Picture Rating (MPAA): Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images: Release Date: 4 October 2019; Runtime: 122 min.
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham, Bill Camp, Glenn Fleshler, Leigh Gill, Josh Pais, Rocco Luna, Marc Maron, Sondra James, Murphy Guyer, Douglas Hodge, Dante Pereira-Olson
We kept meaning to see this movie at the theater but just never got to it, so we watched it last Saturday evening on Amazon. It was an outstanding film in nearly every way.
It was a perfect portrait of a decline to insanity and Joaquin Phoenix portrays this flawlessly in a performance of a lifetime. The screenplay is remarkable. The cinematography is only complimented by the superb soundtrack and acting.
Someone had to step out of the safe game played by Superhero movies and Joker does just. The movie is gritty, real, insanely dark and sometimes quite disturbing. It can be especially disturbing if one understands how people have such a difficult time getting adequate and competent mental healthcare. I’m not sure I’d call it movie of the year, though I’m not sure what other movies might top it, it is certainly at the top of my list, and Phoenix was nothing short of amazing. The soundtrack was also outstanding.
We saw an interview of Phoenix Sunday (CBS Sunday Morning or 60 Minutes, not sure which), and he talked about it being a Rorschach test, and I couldn’t agree more. It could be a study of mental illness, a tragic tale of a failing and dysfunctional society, or (and this is my view) a condemnation of society’s care for the mentally ill. Whatever you see in the inkblots, you’ll like this movie. I give it an 8. Tell us what you’d give it.
(1 votes, average: 8.00 out of 10)
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