Logan Sork Film Reviews
Joker
When it was announced that Warner Bros. was going to be making a film centered around the origins of the iconic Batman villain Joker, my reaction to this was not good. The idea of having the Joker without Batman is like having the Ying but not the Yang, as the two simply could not exist without one another. My concerns weren’t helped by the fact that Todd Phillips was directed, seeing as his best films beforehand were okay at best. But once Joaquin Phoenix came on board and we got a look at what he was supposed to look like, my hopes were raised. As the film neared, however, it was hit with a slew of articles from news outlets bringing into question the film’s portrayal of violence and the idea that it could inspire people to be like the Joker. Having seen the film myself, I have two things to say. One, those articles couldn’t be more wrong and two, this film is absolutely phenomenal.
Joker is co-written and directed by Todd Phillips and is based on the DC Comics character of the same name. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Robert DeNiro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, and Bret Cullen. The story follows Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), a mentally ill loner who lives with his mother in the slums of Gotham city and works as a clown who dreams of one day being a standup comedian. After a series of mishaps cause trouble in Arthur’s personal life, a series of revelations about who he is coupled with a few chance encounters cause his already unstable mental psych to crumble, transforming him into the terrifying Joker.
One thing that truly elevates Joker above your typical comic book adaptation is the mesmerizing performance from Joaquin Phoenix. Phoenix truly transforms both mentally and physically before your very eyes as a series of increasingly unfortunate events push him further and further towards insanity. You can tell that everything about the character of Arthur, from the way he carries himself, to why he laughs the way he does and the subtle changes he goes through throughout the film, was carefully researched and planned by Phoenix and the results are simply beautiful. Any other actor in this role probably would’ve gone the route of playing the character in a traditional over the top way, but Phoenix manages to find subtle ways to explore the character’s long-gestating madness before letting loose in the final moments of the film in a truly breathtaking performance.
Phoenix, however, is not the only one who evolves as a result of this film, as writer-director Todd Phillips steps up his game as a filmmaker. Many of the films that he had worked on beforehand were quite disposable, choosing to focus more on crude humor than artistic merit. This film, however, is unlike anything Phillips has done before, as he showcases his command for visual storytelling in a way not commonly found in modern films. By utilizing strong cinematography and set design that show off the horrible conditions Arthur lives in, Phillips creates a visually disturbing and cruel reflection of our own messed up world. It is through these elements that we come to understand why Arthur acts the way he does and why he eventually veers towards insanity. Phillips also paces the film very well, using a slow burn approach to engage the audience as they are pushed into many uncomfortable scenarios with our lead character. Those more accustomed to quick plot-driven narratives may find this somewhat boring, but those who give it a chance are ultimately rewarded, as the last thirty minutes of the film are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Along with Phoenix’s fantastic performance, Phillips’ direction is what makes this film work so well.
Neither one, however, would have nothing to work with if the script, which is the foundation of all films, had not been strong. Thankfully, the script is not only well written, but it also gives a lot of insight into issues many others feel uncomfortable about addressing. The mystery that Phillips and co-writer Scott Silver craft concerning the back story of our character is not only intriguing but also full of twists and turns as it has some interesting takes on the traditional Batman mythos. The way the story connects to the overarching Batman story we all know and love is creative and fantastic at the same time, giving the clown prince of crime an origin story that parallels the dark knight’s own. But what works best about the script is just how unapologetic it is about pointing out what is wrong with our world and the consequences it brings when we don’t pay attention to concerning issues. The film tackles a lot of hot button issues such as mental health, class wars, the media and the role we ourselves play in creating people like the joker. By taking a strong stance on these issues, the film raises a lot of moral questions about society and builds a solid and well-crafted story surrounding these issues.
Lastly, there’s been a lot of controversy surrounding the film leading up to its release concerning the level of violence in the film and the idea that it might spark copycat impersonations. In my opinion, the idea that this film has a positive outlook on violence is completely false. Not only is the film not that violent when compared to other films in the past, but it portrays the violence as something that feels disturbing, unsettling and above all, wrong. This film does not act as a promotion of violence but rather a warning of what will come if the issues the film deals with aren’t dealt with in some way, shape or form. And the fact that there are so many people concerned about the violence that this could spark gives you an indication that a lot of problems prevalent in this film are a lot more common than people are willing to admit.
Joker is one of those films that is hard to find these days as it fires on all cylinders to produce not only a fantastic origin story to an iconic character but also works to raise a lot of moral questions about our society. Through Joaquin Phoenix’s brilliant performance as the lead character, Todd Phillips’ assured guidance and a hard-hitting script, the film serves as an idea of what comic book films can become. They can be films that cause people to talk, and not about how cool they were to watch, but about serious social issues that not many people pay much mind to. Joker is not just a great film, it’s an important one and easily one of the best comic book films ever made.
10/10