R l 2h 2min l Crime, Drama, Thriller
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I have spent the last few days relaying my impressions of Todd Phillips’ “Joker” to several friends that have asked about my initial thoughts on the villain-based stand-alone film. I have paused repeatedly every time someone inquired if it was good, waiting to find the right words to preface my comments before I dove into my assessment. It was always a clunky response for me, until a friend of mine summed up what I was thinking perfectly by calling it “a miserable masterpiece.”
Yeah, that about sums it up.
For the sake of the cinematic experience I am going to practice a bit of brevity in this review and keep it as simple as possible as to not spoil the “fun.” There’s a lot to unpack in this film and it’s best to let the viewer experience it.
“Joker” is exceptional film making. Every shot is motivated. Every piece of production design is so on the mark that you feel dirty watching this version of Gotham City. Joaquin Phoenix is brilliant as expected, and I would bet good money at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe that he gets nominated for “Best Actor.” That won’t be the only award this film is nominated for either.
But the film is dark, dour, and doesn’t let off the gas for the entirety of its two hour run time. You won’t feel inspired or joyful leaving the theater, but it will certainly leave you with something to discuss and think about for a long time. This movie will be a topic of discussion well after we have stopped talking about “Ant-Man and the Wasp” or “Captain Marvel.” Those are comic book film roller coaster rides. “Joker” takes a comic book character and creates real cinema around him, thanks to some heavy Martin Scorsese inspiration from the likes of “Taxi Driver” (1976) and “The King of Comedy” (1982).
There has been a lot of talk about the controversies of the film, with many calling the violence in the movie (and yes, it is violent) irresponsible. I find that judgement to be rhetorical nonsense. Certainly this flick isn’t for everybody, but cinema has always been a medium that holds a mirror up to society and echoes what is happening around it. Class warfare, violence, mental illness, and the media’s responsibility (or lack thereof) are all themes “Joker” pulls from our own reality. Be offended by it if you want, but maybe the issues lie in the fact that audiences are looking into the mirror of “Joker” and not liking what is staring right back at them.
Understandably, some will not be interested in heady, violent and deranged material in a movie featuring Batman’s most famous rogue who has been entertaining audiences for 80 years now. I understand that. If you want a more “classic” take on the “Clown Prince of Crime,” I recommend putting on Jack Nicholson’s performance in “Batman” (1989) or Heath Ledger’s Oscar-winning turn in “The Dark Knight” (2008).
If you want a layered character study that pulls you into its burning world, “Joker” is wild.
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