Weekly Movie Review: Joker (2019)

Preface: no spoilers here.

I can see why this film was so divisive. A lot of people saw the DC label and thought it was gonna be that run of the mill bullshit that both Marvel and DC have been putting out: Action packed, explosions, no plot, shallow characters with shallow lines, trite and cliche garbage. This film was the antithesis that I feel that genre of films so desperately needed.

Many people are inclined to believe that this is strictly a film about mental health awareness/a person suffering from mental illness, and while I adamantly believe that there is still a massive stigma towards mental illness and those suffering, it would be doing this film a disservice to lump it one-dimensionally into that regard. Yes, it is partly a commentary on the lack of funding and accessibility to mental health services, but it is so much more than that.

This film is incredibly dark, visceral, gruesome, and gut-wrenching. And not just in a violent way, though that is part of it. It is a much needed prequel to how this character came to be - a deep-dive into the human psyche that is complete with all the sadness and struggle and pain and heartache that comes with a troubled existence. Phoenix does a masterful job at really capturing the essence of this character from multiple dimensions. And while I’m not going into a comparison of Phoenix’s rendition vs Ledger’s, I do feel that as a whole human character, Phoenix grasped the role in an all-encompassing fashion that was relatable from an everyday, human being standpoint as opposed to just a looney supervillain.

Phoenix’s rendition had depth and substance and heartbreak and soul and brought me to tears. For my money, it’s one of the better acting performances I have seen in my lifetime, and despite his extraordinary repertoire, this is right up there with his role in The Master. While some may argue that acting “crazy” is an easy thing to do, it’s not as easy to show the restraint and perform without it being over the top as Phoenix is able to do. This is where Joaquin shines, striking that balance and walking the tightrope between sane and insane with delicate aplomb. It’s all the horrible things that he does and yet you wonder why you’re still rooting for and championing him.

I highly recommend this film. It’s shot beautifully and cast perfectly. Joaquin Phoenix deserves an Oscar, hands down. This film is incredibly hard to watch and even more difficult to digest. It sticks with you after the credits roll and while you’re lying in bed. This is cinema at its finest.

9.5/10