Joker
by Robbo
Posted on 18 April 2021
Rating -
Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed and produced by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. The film, based on DC Comics characters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker and provides an alternative origin story for the character.
Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, and Marc Maron appear in supporting roles.
It’s 1981 Gotham City, rife with crime and unemployment leaving many of the population impoversished and diesenfranchised.
Party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian, Arthur Fleck (Joaquim Phoenix) lives with his mother and suffers from a medical condition that causes him to burst into laughter at inappropriate times. He becomes infatuated with his neighbour Sophie Dumond, a single mother and fantasises about her.
Arthur is attacked in an alleyway so his co-worker Randall gives him a gun for protection. Whilst entertaining children at a local hospital the gun falls out of Arthur’s pocket prompting the hospital to complain to Arthur’s employer. Randall denies all knowledge of the gun and claims Arthur bought it himslef which results in Arthur losing his job.
On the subway and still wearing his clown costume, Arthur is attacked by three drunken employees of Wayne Enterprises. He shoots two in self defense and wounds the third before pursuing him off the train and executing him.
The killings are condemned by billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, who calls those envious of more successful people “clowns” which promtps demonstrations against Gotham’s elite, with riots breaking out across the city and protesters donning clown masks in Arthur’s image.
This is an alternate version of the Jokers origin story, which is both chilling and brilliant.
The whole film has a dark, bleak, retro feel, capturing the style and excesses off the early 1980’s but somehow shining a light on the modern world we live in, acting as a cautionary tale.
Joaquin Phoenix deserved the Academy Award for Best Actor in his haunting, unforgettable portrayal of Arthur Fleck and his slow descent into madness. The performance is nuanced, initially feeling empathy for Fleck but then being repulsed and horrified by him.
I really enjoyed this film and I would urge anyone to watch it.
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