Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker — Warner Bros
Once in a blue moon a film comes out that is so great that it leaves you with absolutely nothing negative to say about it. Todd Phillips’ Joker is one of those films, taking movie-goers on a phenomenal film experience.
Joker is a breath of fresh air, especially because a new comic book movie is presented every few months. Phillips’ reimagining of the Joker villain is something that was long overdue. Phillips could have easily just rehashed the same villain we have come to know from the past “Batman” installments, however he chooses to rework the villain from the ground up.
Taking place in the fictional Gotham City during 1981, we are introduced to Arthur Fleck (played by the wonderful Joaquin Phoenix). Fleck is a mentally ill, down on his luck clown who is an aspiring comedian. Through a long string of events that I won’t spoil for you, he ultimately goes from a frustrated individual to the villain Joker who rises to power.
The thing that makes this film so great is that we are a part of this journey, something we haven’t really seen when it comes to comic villains. There are a million comic book superhero films that will give the origin of that respective hero, but very few that do that with villians. It was a truly refreshing experience to see how a regular person was turned into one of the most iconic villains of all time.
The shining light throughout all of the film is the performance by Joaquin Phoenix. It is hands down one of the best performances done by any actor this year, and definitely worthy of at least a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. Phoenix’s portrayal as someone who is battling mental illness but still aspiring for something greater is something that will create an emotional connection with movie-goers.
When we watch him transition from Arthur into the Joker, we get some of the creepiest acting I have seen. Creepy dance scenes that make the viewer uncomfortable, unhinged violence and one of the most menacing laughs that will almost definitely be iconic for many years to come. Phoenix gives a performance that will without any doubt in my mind go down as one of the best in his whole career.
Another element of the film that I really enjoyed was the relation of New York City. Gotham City is supposed to be a fictionalized and exaggerated New York. New York City during the 70’s and 80’s was at a low point so it was nice to see how many of the details were carried over into the film’s Gotham City. The streets are filled with trash, the subways are dangerous, homeless people are at every corner, these elements help keep the setting grounded and connected to real world NY. It’s this level of detail is what helped to put the film above and beyond to me.
Overall, Joker is a must see film of the year. It will take you on an incredible journey that will leave an emotional impact on you in some way. From the spectacular acting to the great detail in the setting this film has something every movie enthusiast can appreciate. This is easily one of those movies that we will be talking about for years to come.
