Joker
/“Is it just me, or is it getting crazier out there?”
Filmology Rating: 2.83 out of 4
Joker is the latest film to be upset about. It's directed by Todd Phillips who directed 'The Hangover' and stars Joaquin Phoenix.
Two days before his wedding, Doug and three friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis) drive to Las Vegas for a wild party. In fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can't remember a thing and they can't find Doug. With a ticking clock, the three friends must find Doug before his wedding!
It's best to measure your expectations before going into this film because it's exactly what I thought it would be and it's not what you think it is. This is not a comic book film. This film could have been called 'Crazy Man' and there would be no difference.
Joaquin Phoenix handed this entire film to Todd Phillips and Warner Brothers. Without him, this film would not be as magnetically gripping as it is. Just the physicality of his performance is so utterly brilliant. As a whole, he is frightening. And the most important aspect to note is that he doesn't try to one-up Heath Ledger. Instead, he cracks his own interpretation of the character and gives us something truly horrifying and disturbing by the end of the film.
You better settle-in because this is a slow burner. I loved the pacing of this film. Which was the most surprising because Todd Phillips usually isn't that good at pacing a film. It would also be very tempting to put Joker in every scene of this film, but ninety percent of it is the story of Arthur Fleck- a tragedy turned comedy.
The middle act does drag through some still water. Not a lot happens and scenes begin to become repetitive which boils into an unfocused middle chunk. And this film shares all too much similarity to 'Taxi Driver.' Perhaps the reason De Niro is in the film. Which, by the way, he looks to be having a blast.
What this film succeeds at the most is challenging the audience. In that, this is a "film." Not a piece of popcorn entertainment. Near the end, there was some very heavy social and political commentary. In a film like 'Black Panther', sure they dipped their toe in the social commentary pool. But in 'Joker', Warner Brothers nose-dives into that pool trying to create as much wake as heavenly possible. It was glorious. This film centers on The Joker. What did you expect?
And does this film promote violence? Not in the slightest. People need to understand that just because a film depicts violence, doesn't mean it promotes it. If that's the case, let's go attack films like 'Robocop.' Compared to 'Robocop', 'Joker' is fairly tamed.
The final scene of this film is horrifying. Not just in the literal aspect of what's being depicted, but rather what it suggests and what it makes you think. Intellectually challenging the audience is a true testament of a great film.
It's shocking that Warner Brothers went through with this project and took a big chance. Marvel looks like a joke now compared to this film. 'Joker' has stepped up the game in terms of what a "comic book film" can be.
There is a lousy second act where nothing seems to go anywhere and too much reliant on Scorsese's branded formula. However, this film has a brilliant performance in its center, a chilling score, and wonderful cinematography.
Rating: See It
-Nolan
We have always been fascinated by the darker sides of humanity, whether it be knowing about fictional characters like Darth Vader or learning about the latest serial killer frenzy on Netflix. Many films have given us a more gleeful look at some of the world’s greatest villains but with Todd Phillips’ Joker we are treated to one of the most sadistic origin stories to a pop culture character ever told.
Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, cannot seem to find his place in the world. He is struggling to keep his day job, works tirelessly as a failing comedian, and seems to only have his mother as his one and only friend. Everything changes for Arthur when riding on the subway one night when he decides to act out against those who are taking their aggression out on him. Once the train comes to a halt Arthur emerges from the train not as his former self but as the new dancing murderous clown, Joker.
Any movie that begs you to sympathize with a psychopathic sadist needs to be questioned, not only should the intentions of the filmmakers be called into question but also all members of the studio. This is not a matter that should be taken lightly. We live in a society that has already had a mass shooting with the murderer dressed like the Joker and claiming to be an agent of chaos, we live in a society with the leader of the free world tweeting threatening messages towards those who criticize him; it would seem that we live in a world full of uncertainty, and where chaos could break out at any moment. This does not mean that the art is the problem, this just means that the art is the influencer on those who already seek ill on society. I, nor would I believe any critic, wish to discourage art being made in any form but all that I wish is for those making the art to have a clear and cohesive vision for the story that they are making.
Time to get personal, as someone who suffers from mental illness, Joker is beyond offensive. The screenwriters, Todd Phillips and Scott Silver, try to justify the actions that Fleck is taking by saying that he has been abused by not only society but by his own family. While that is indeed tragic, the actions that a person takes should only be placed at his/her feet. We live in a society that tries to normalize those with mental illness and wants the audience to sympathize with them from Tony Award shows like “Dear Evan Hansen”, to thrillers like Spilt; this is a dangerous slope for our entertainment to be telling us. Now this isn’t me saying that everyone needs to worry about us who have mental health issues, it's just me saying that our faults shouldn’t be the entertainment for the world. Some people have serious issues and need to be helped, they need mediation to help them have some sense of normality and hope to grasp onto some of the simplistic issues that humanity seems to take for granted. Yes, this is an incredibly personal issue and I understand that most people don’t want to read reviews to hear personal issues, and I know those who are on the more sensitive side of life will call me a special snowflake but to those people I say it's time to grow up and realize that this world was not made personally for you. Basically, what I’m attempting to say is that Joker will never be the poster child for those who suffer from mental illness.
Many people have called me a fanboy that needs all aspects of these superhero films to fit the mythology and canon of the comics. Obviously this is utterly false; a good story will always triumph over a story that stays to the source material like glue. Keep in mind Avengers: Endgame wasn’t based off of any previous source material and that offered some of the most cinematic and emotionally moving moments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The biggest glaring issue that Joker has is that Arthur Fleck is psychopathic and a wreckloss from frame one. He really doesn’t have a character arc due to this, while he does sink deeper into madness it never feels earned in the film. A scene in which Fleck finally embraces his madness is comedically out of place in this film, it haunts the film to a standstill instead of taking time to actually reflect on what has occurred. Perhaps that’s the point, Fleck rather just dance himself into submission of his more sinister thoughts but I would rather see someone reach out a hand to help him.
If the screenwriters are having a hard time making the characters in the film feel actual human and dimensional then I would argue that they should go to some “Batman” source material since there is nearly eighty years of Joker stories to mine from. The most obvious source material to pull from would be “Batman: The Killing Joke” by Alan Moore and Brian Bolland. For those who haven’t read it that basic thesis is that the Joker became the Joker after having one terrible day that drove him crazy and he believes that one horrible day can drive anyone crazy. While to many fans this would be a predictable route to take but the majority of people seeing the film would never have read the comic so it would seem new to them and one cannot deny the genius of Alan Moore. There's a reason why “The Killing Joke” is considered to be the quintessential Joker story, and it’s because it makes us all question our own humanity. The best villain stories come from those who have the best intentions and fall from grace. Those are the stories that have moved generations for ages and a story like that would have made Joker not only more engrossing but simply a better film.
Being completely honest, this film could have worked a lot better if it was a character study of just a random person rather than the man who would grow into being the Clown Prince of Crime. It feels like many DC universe elements are shoved into the film just to make it feel like it could be an important comic book film. Joker will never be remembered as one of the most important comic book films ever put on the silver screen, don’t let yourself believe any of the hype that tells you otherwise. Seriously, how many more times do we need to visit Arkham or see the Waynes get brutally gunned down. It’s insulting to try and tell me that this is all new, especially when it feels like such a chore to watch. The film would have been a thousand times better if it was an original concept film and it could have easily been that, it just wouldn’t get the box office draw. For a film that criticizes the system, this film desperately wants to be a part of the capitalistic system that it claims to hate.
While I find aspects mainly from the story aspects of the film to be a mess, I find the craft behind the film to be near phenomenal. The acting and cinematography the heroes of the film and should help drive people to the film, even if they are concerned about the story like I am. While I personally never empathized with Arthur Fleck, the performance the Joaquin Phoenix delivers makes your mesmerized by him. You cannot help but feel revoked but wanting to know more about him, keep in mind Joker features a script that pounds every beat with a fifty pound hammer yet Phoenix manages to play every beat with such ease that it makes you question his own sanity. Phoenix has proven after many performances that he is one of the best thespians working and this performance helps cement his as one of the greatest actors of his generation. It’s always surprising and good to see cinematographers step out of their comfort zone and deliver some stunning imagery. Lawrence Sher, who has worked on other Todd Philips projects like The Hangover and War Dogs, has easily provided the best work of her career with Joker. While the film feels reminiscent of other gritty films like Fight Club and Taxi Driver, it still manages to have it’s own tone that often feels more grandiose than it probably should. One of the final images of the film will leave you not only frightened but afraid to trust your own neighbors, it will leave you in a complete state of disarray which for this might be what this psychological drama is aiming for.
Joker keeps tossing and turning in my brain like a parasite that has overtaken my every thought. I cannot escape the phenomenal performance given by Joaquin Phoenix and the sudden, intense acts of violence that occur. If the purpose of Joker is to drive you to the edge of your own sanity then I would like to congratulate the film for achieving a task that no other film has ever accomplished It must be stressed that Joker should only be seen by those who are of sound mind, if anyone has ever called you a radical or extremist then this film could provide a dangerous rhetoric that could ignite a dangerous fuse.
Rating: Rent It
-Jonny G