Film: Joker
Critic's Rating: 4.5/5
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix
Director: Todd Phillips
Written By: Todd Phillips; Scott Silver
Music: Hildur Guðnadóttir
Duration: 2 hours 3 minutes
Language: English
Review:
Joker claims 'Comedy is subjective', in front of a live TV show audience while trying to convince them of his perspective, much like the makers trying to convenience us about their perspective of our society. Joker has been around for 80 years and people have talked in his defense and against him. The 2019 release is just about his story, it tells it like it is, no excuses, no explanations with added foreshadowing of the real world. Todd Phillips brings forth the Gotham City as a dark place where everyone in need for a hero and Joaquin Phoenix's Joker gives them one.
In 1980s Arthur Fleck was working hard to become a stand-up comedian. Despite all failures, he kept himself chirpy just as his mother had taught him 'always live with a smile on his face', which he did, even if he had to paint it on. Arthur faced some issues, he had a pathological laughing condition that he carried a card for, any emotional disturbance would cause him to laugh uncontrollably. Even after getting beaten up and cursed at by people around him Aurthur found happiness in small things. Things like having a neighbour talk to him, or daydreaming about being on the Murry Show, he kept going until that one moment when he lets go of the expectations and restriction he put on himself and it sets him free.
'Joker' follows Arthur Fleck as he brings colour to the bleak story of a DC villain. While the colour is mainly a grim bloody red we also see a need for change, humanity, fear, and absence of it. Numerous times we have seen a mugger kill Bruce Wayne's parents in Batman's origin story now we see what went on that led to the incident. Joaquin Phoenix as the titular role has such a strong presence it is hard to take your eyes off him even as he is bashing someone's head into a wall. While there are other exemplary actors in the picture like Frances Conroy, Robert De Niro, and Brett Cullen, Joaquin makes you forget about them almost instantly.
The screenplay of the film keeps it slow-paced while the music to draw in the audience and increase the intensity. More than anything the background score by Hildur Guðnadóttir is used to express Joker's emotions and the change in his behaviour. The film is a technical marvel, from the character's development to its interpretation in every scene, all of it works together to bring a psychological thriller that will disturb you. The film is meant to make you want to take your eyes away, to cringe and to feel bad. It will make you question, Do I laugh at the irony? or do I question my sanity?
Verdict: Joker is a statement on society and perspective. It claims everyone has their side of the story. Truth is the one you chose to believe in.
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 "'Joker' Review: Comedy is subjective and nobody's laughing during Joaquin Phoenix's film by Todd Phillips")
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