Joker

JOKER

Director : Todd Phillips
Year : 2019
Genre : Psychological drama
Rating : ****1/2

It's hard to recall another film released in the past few years that has fuelled as much moral consternation and tabloid hysterics than 'Joker', Todd Phillips' brutal retelling of the creation of one of the most iconic villains in all of media. Starring Joaquin Phoenix in his greatest role since 'Her', 'Joker' is a bold, upsetting, violent and truly unforgettable viewing experience that has divided critics and audiences alike, with some calling one of the best movies of the year while others proclaim it to be a needlessly grotesque ode to the alt-right whose scenes of mob violence are sure to incite crime, mass shootings and worldwide anarchy. So, which is it? Well, as is obvious, it's most certainly not the latter and based on Phoenix's extraordinary central performance, it could very well be the former.

Having been portrayed in various incarnations by such varied actors as Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto and Mark Hamill, it would be easy to presume that there would be little room for development or invention when it comes to playing Gotham's clown Prince of crime. However, Phoenix and Phillips have conjured a Joker who is almost entirely different than anything that has come before. In a story that bears more than a few resemblances both narratively and visually to Martin Scorsese's superb 1985 classic 'The King of Comedy' as well as his seminal 1976 masterpiece 'Taxi Driver', Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a down-on-his-luck clown and wannabe comedian who continually finds himself crushed under the sole of society's cruel boot. Afflicted with involuntary and often painful fits of laughter and a nervous disposition that makes him an outcast amongst his few acquaintances, Fleck spends his time looking after his mentally-ill mother, stalking his neighbour (Zazie Beetz) and watching his favourite talk show host (Robert De Niro in fine form) whom he idolises and whose television programme he regularly fantasises about appearing on. However, as his sanity begins to spiral increasingly out of control and his already loose grip on reality begins to weaken, Fleck begins to seek solace in committing random acts of violence in the streets of Gotham City and it's not too long before the shy and reserved Arthur is superseded by his scheming and sadistic alter-ego.

Much has already been written about Phoenix's riveting and truly transformative performance and I too echo the praise and admiration bestowed upon him. Rather than being the crazy, out of control Joker we have come to know and love, his is a far more damaged and sympathetic character whose descent into unbridled chaos seems more realistic and therefore heartbreaking. As is expected, his acts of on - screen violence are truly horrific and praise should be given to Phillips for not holding back like so many other so-called "darker" comic-book movies have done in the past such as last year's tepid and disappointing 'Venom'. However, beyond the already iconic face-paint and the all-important laugh, what differentiates Phoenix from his enjoyably bonkers contemporaries is the overarching air of melancholy and tragedy that permeates the film like a sickness. Rather than being a creature of malevolence and gleeful abandon like those before him, Arthur Fleck is a sad and pitiful victim whose battles both internal and external eventually force his hand to murder and mayhem and for me, that is far more chilling and upsetting than any Joker that has preceded him. In fact, despite its title, 'Joker' could be equally viewed as a hard-hitting portrait of mental health and burgeoning sociopathy as well as a twisted origin story for Batman's arch-nemesis. 

While it may be hard to pin-point the exact reasons for the movies existence - it isn't part of a continuing franchise or cinematic universe - it cannot be denied that 'Joker' is a wonderfully macabre and often deeply moving drama that is sure to earn Joaquin Phoenix a much deserved Academy Award nomination as well as a truckload of other prizes and plaudits. Yes it's dark subject matter, it's on-screen violence and somewhat on-the-nose narrative may not be to everyone's taste but I personally found it to be a profoundly emotive and experience the likes of which rarely come around in mainstream blockbuster entertainment and whose nuances have yet to leave my mind. Beautifully shot by cinematographer Lawrence Sher, moodily underscored with haunting simplicity by Icelandic cellist Hildur Ingveldar Guðnadóttir and thoughtfully and intelligently written by Scott Silver and director Phillips, 'Joker' is a well-crafted and, most importantly, well-intended journey into the darkest recesses of the human psyche and hopefully it will add further credence to the increasingly tiresome debate about whether comic book movies can be art.