Ever since we had our first glimpse of Joaquin Phoenix as the new clown prince of crime, when the trailer for The Joker was first released, this movie has been heavily criticised. Partly because Heath Ledger’s boots are hard to fill, partly because recent DC comic-based movies have crashed and burned, and partly because this Joker is a seriously bleak portrayal which could prove disturbing for the faint-hearted.
But…..
After sitting and watching for two hours and more, all I could say was “Wow what a movie!”. Despite what’s been said in The New Yorker (“Such is the strenuous effort of Phoenix’s performance that it becomes exhausting to behold”), I believe that Joaquin Phoenix gives an amazingly engaging performance in the lead role. He keeps the audience constantly on its toes (even while sitting down). He makes you feel sorry for the character but keeps a dark look, reminding us that this is still the Joker, a murdering psychopath.
I’ll stick my neck out and say that his performance is as at least as good as Heath Ledger’s!
Slant says “The film is one that might have been dreamed up by one of the cynical douche bros from the Hangover during a blacked-out stupor.” But this is to underestimate the film. I believe that the director, Todd Phillips, went for the style of Taxi Driver (dir. Martin Scorsese), supported by cinematography that is both artistic and fantastic. Some of the scenes are just mesmerising. It doesn’t feel like a comic book film. It feels like drama. Most comic book movies focus on the action, forgetting that sometimes the best bit of a comic book is the drama – exactly what Todd Phillips has brought to this movie
Without giving too much away, it’s all about a man scorned by society who is slowly being pushed towards violence. It really made me think. As a society, what role do we all play in creating someone like the Joker? Might we have said something or done something to someone which could have contributed to them turning to violence subsequently? It also made me think about people suffering from mental illness who have no support.
In short, I hope that DC takes this thought-provoking film and makes it the standard for their future movies.
The Joker made me sad, angry, and excited. It also made me laugh. For that I will be giving it 10/10 with a badass seal of approval!
