Joker
Released 10/4/19
Full disclosure. I was extremely ambivalent about this project until maybe the week before the film's release. I had no doubts that Joaquin Phoenix was up for the role of the Clown Prince of Crime. But, knowing this movie would be a strictly standalone movie not connected to the DC Extended Universe gave me pause. It's not because I believe the DCEU has been anything special for most of its existence. But, there is a connection of story that I wasn't sure why Warner Brothers was anxious to move away from. Especially since two of the last three efforts cinematically were well received critically and financially.
It was also going to be a movie without the main character's chief nemesis, Batman. How can this be? Joker without Batman. It would be like 2018's Venom without the inclusion of Spider-Man. Now Venom wasn't an awful film, but, it was by no stretch fabulous in any way. So, is Joker going to be as average as this? Joker deserves better. So did Venom for that matter.
It was going to be an origin story. Ordinarily, this wouldn't be a problem. But, there are some characters that have been so shrouded in mystery for so long that the mystery is just part of who that character is. There has never been a definitive origin of the Joker. Could you even do it justice? Will it be plausible? How do you engage an audience who really hasn't been concerned about this issue for decades? Marvel did it this millennium with Wolverine. It worked out fairly well. Could it happen again?
Finally, Todd Phillips would be taking the reins in the director's chair. Judging from his previous work, he seemed an odd choice. Phillips forte is raucous comedy. Look at his resume. Old School. Road Trip. The Hangover Trilogy. Did he have the chops to tell this kind of story of a completely deranged and sinister individual?
So many questions going in. And...Joker spiked every last one. And, did an end zone dance. Todd Phillips has delivered a film that works on just about every level imaginable.
This rendition of the Clown Prince introduces us to Arthur Fleck, an impoverished party clown/stand-up comedian living with his mother in 1981's Gotham City. Several factors pull at Arthur's fragile psyche humiliating him at every turn. Slowly losing his tentative sanity, Arthur eventually dives body and soul into the inevitable. It's a dive that will haunt the world at large for years to come.
As I was watching Joker, I was amazed at how many other films I was reminded of as the events transpired. I'm not sure if Phillips meant to invoke these recollections in the audience or if it's pure coincidence. But, it's truly an eclectic mix of cinema that's brought to mind.
For one, Joker very clearly invokes the image of Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver. In a world of cruelty, both real and perceived, Arthur's disillusionment with society accelerates his downward spiral. It's part Death Wish as vigilante justice is delivered swiftly and violently on a subway. It's part Memento. Anyone familiar with the Christopher Nolan thriller will remember that events in that film are never quite what they appear to be.
Joker also adds a fair deal of political commentary on two fronts. One, how society tends to ignore and disregard the mentally ill until undesired consequences force us all to pay attention. There's also a social commentary on how the elites in our culture can look down on the masses creating a violent retaliation. Strangely enough, those masses find an unlikely anti-hero in the film. Not that the Joker is striving to be anyone's hero mind you.
And, of course, I couldn't end this review without commenting on Joaquin Phoenix's performance. What can you say? Phoenix takes us all on a step-by-step descent into the mouth of madness. Sometimes it's gleeful. It's always disturbing. And, Phoenix is a little too good at it. Personal issues, maybe? Who knows? Not only does he mentally nail the role, but, he physically transforms himself as well. His emaciated appearance is grotesque which I think Phillips purposefully filmed this way. It feels like an outward projection of the turmoil and ugliness rolling through Arthur's addled mind.
Now let's address the elephant in the room. You know what's on everyone's mind. How does this performance from Joaquin Phoenix compare to Heath Ledger's definitive portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight? This may sound like a cop out on my part, but, it's a tough comparison to make because the two films are very different. Ledger's Joker was already a fully developed character the minute he stepped on camera. He could full tilt rock out on the role from second one. And, he did stealing every scene he appeared in. Phoenix's Joker, while having a loose grip on sanity at the start, has to grow into what Ledger already was. He had to subtly ease into that type of deranged psychosis. While Ledger had a prominent role in TDK, he wasn't the protagonist. He didn't have to carry the film (he did anyway). It's not an exaggeration that Phoenix was never off screen a significant portion of time and had to carry Joker himself. There are so many nuances to both performances which have inherent strengths and weaknesses that it's hard to determine which actor has the upper hand. What I will say is Ledger received a well deserved Oscar for his performance. It would be a crime against humanity if Phoenix doesn't receive at least a nomination at award time.
Joker is really a comic book movie in name only. If you're expecting capes and frame-to-frame action sequences, this isn't the film you're looking for. It's a psychological thriller through and through. Watching Joker I couldn't help but think that this is how Anakin Skywalker's turn to the dark side should have been portrayed throughout the prequel trilogy; a series of events sadly and steadily moving toward the endgame. It's all carried by a magnificent turn by Joaquin Phoenix who smolders through three quarters of the runtime until his violent eruption.
Even with Joker not being your classic superhero movie with no appearance by Batman at all, the Wayne family is still in the background. Phillips does something masterful with this dynamic. By the end, you will see how two arch-nemeses' destinies are forged and intricately tangled.
If this film does become the definitive origin of the character, I could partially go along with the Joker aspect of it (see previous paragraph). As an alternate universe Elseworlds type of story, this definitely works on multiple levels. In any case, this is an entertaining piece of cinema and easily one of the best pieces I've seen in 2019 so far.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
****1/4 stars
0*= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look. Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good
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