Joker - Review

Release Date:  October 4, 2019​​​​​​​​​

It Left A Smile on My Face

The DCEU, or whatever Warner Bros. wanted to call it, has been officially dead for some time now. With Marvel dominating at the box office, the allure of a cinematic universe is still everpresent. The temptation to make a ton of money won out, as the universe is being rebooted with The Batman (2021). So how does the most famous foil have their origin movie before the hero? Joker proves that as long as there is something to say, it doesn't matter.

When finishing the film, it took me a while to compile my thoughts. I knew right away that it was not to be taken lightly, that it wasn't for the faint of heart. Joker asks its viewers to take a look at the world it presents and wonder if they notice any similarities to their own. It slowly builds, pushing the character and you closer to the edge of realization: even though the movie takes place in 1981—it's about right now.

There are a plethora of films that tackle topical subjects or timeless themes. With varying degrees of success, they can either say a lot or be too general. Joker makes

a distinction about 2019, how we got here, and what's in store for our future. It focuses hard on a character, taking us through their day to day life and asks if it's acceptable. There is no fantasy to bail you out and no over the top elements to distort the message. The bleak reality of the situation is handled with care and pristinely presented.

It's a one-man show, Joaquin Pheonix is front and center for every single second. There is never an instance where you get a different point of view, Matt Damon in The Martian has nothing on this. His portrayal of a man, contorted by society and always being put down, is hypnotic as evolution happens right in front of you. No big event happens that causes the change, it's a slow burn that boils over. 

This is a character study, something that is said a lot about this film. That choice can be attributed to Todd Philips, co-writer and director of this depiction. He said he wanted to make a small and important film, but blow up its attention by putting it in a big property. It's this approach that takes Joker from just being a comic book movie to being a straight-up drama. It crosses over to traditional film in ways only a few have. It grounds itself in such reality that Nolan's trilogy looks light.

Sadly, with so much to say, most are not listening. People are declaring that there is too much violence portrayed, that it creates a sympathetic murderer. These complaints are like being angry about a documentary showing off murders and their lives. Joker aims to depict and the blatant reality of the situation scares people. Aiming only to inform does not create the acts more dangerous, you see way more violence in a Deadpool or Marvel movies than you will see here. 

Joker is not a perfect film, there were quite a few leaps in logic toward the end. It does, however, get a pass from me since there is so much more it is trying to say. There are sequences in this movie that honestly had me glued to the screen. The attention to detail in color, framing, and excellent use of music pushed this over the top. It's the best thing I've seen this year, which isn't saying much but still holds quite a bit of weight.

8/10
​"I wonder how sheltered the people must be, who don't understand what this movie is trying to say"