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Comics, DC, film, Film Review, Joker, movie review, movies
Joker was directed by Todd Phillips and stars Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role of Joker. I saw this film opening night, and I have had a hard time writing about it. There is a lot to unpack with this film, so let me just jump right in.
The cinematography in this film is beautiful. Every frame looks fantastic and well put together. Something that compliments the cinematography is the use of colors. I’m not quite sure why Warner Bros. and DC have such a hard time putting colors in their films lately, but Joker really uses color well, which is something I’d love to see moving forward with DC films. The big question from this film is regarding Phoenix’s performance. After such great Joker portrayals from Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger and Mark Hamill (animated Joker) and a generally questionable one from Jared Leto, everyone wanted to know where Phoenix would end up with his interpretation. Don’t be worried though, because Phoenix is phenomenal. His portrayal is haunting, creepy, and unhinged. His performance helps put this film on a different level. There are a lot of themes and subtle undertones that are in this film as well. The desire to be recognized, the conversation about mental health, and very overt political undertones are all explored here in this film. There is a certain point in this film where the Joker character is born, and once that begins is where I started to really love the film. I won’t spoil anything here, but there is one sequence in Joker’s apartment that is haunting, unsettling and funny at the same time, which is a perfect combination for the Joker.
This movie takes inspiration from other Martin Scorsese films, and I think that is it’s biggest fault. If you have seen films like Taxi Driver or The King of Comedy, you will notice how much Joker takes from those films. Joker is still its own film and has its own personality, but there are times where it becomes obvious that it was inspired by these other films. There are some other small things about the Joker character in this film that I’m not sure whether I like or not. I appreciate the different take on the character, and I know that some people enjoy this twist on the character so if it works, it works.
Joker is a beautifully shot, and welcome addition to the DC universe. It may not be perfect, but it is a great adaptation of a super-villain origin story. If you are a fan of older 70’s films and character studies, you will love this film. I recommend going to see it if you’re a fan of the character as well. It’s a different take on one of the most recognizable characters in all of entertainment.
Joker – 9/10