Joker (2019)

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Clown performer and wannabe comedian Arthur Fleck, is mentally-troubled and begins an unavoidable downward spiral into criminal activity and violence, after a series of situations trigger his choices. Eventually he is consumed by his alter-ego clown character, ‘Joker’.

MG – “Just brilliant! There is simply nothing to flaw with this film. It was so satisfying. I viewed this at the Astor Theatre with it’s 90mm projection version of the film. That just added to what I’ve been describing to others as a ‘Taxi Driver’-esque styling. The camera framing is great. The colour grade throughout is great. It all felt right for a vintage telling of the Joker’s origin story. Very period correct.

I now have two favourite Joker’s on my list. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a fresh, unique and very realistic incarnation of the Batman villain. Heath Ledger played an amazing Joker for the Christian Bale trilogy in it’s own right. But this is so different with what Joaquin Phoenix brings to the table. A gritty, realistic human character, with the fanciful superhero/villian guise removed.  

Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a mentally-troubled man, who begins to unavoidably downward spiral into crazy, as the city decides to shutdown the mental health system. All still set in Batman’s city of Gotham, yet our hero Batman is still to evolve into a hero character, as in the film he’s still only a very young Bruce Wayne. Arthur becomes for attuned in violent and criminal activity and is eventually consumed as his alter-ego clown character, Joker. 

You wouldn’t believe how skinny Joaquin is in the role. Reminiscent of Christian Bale in The Fighter, he’s just skin and bones. And his creepy laugh is just fantastic. Robert Deniro’s role suited really well also, as the talk show host everyone loves. A lot of stylistic grabs from great films circa late 60’s-early 70’s and a tip of the hat to Scorcese’s vibe, as with the mentioned Taxi Driver film, also starring Deniro. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this origin story of how Joker came-to-be, turning the gritty Gotham city into riotous chaos. A film masterpiece.”

MG 10/10