Disclaimer: This movie review has spoilers and information the trailer does not cover.
Anyone who has peered into the DC comic universe knows of the feud between the infamous Joker and round-the-clock superhero Batman. “The Joker” now has his own supervillain spinoff which entails the life story of the bullied and criticized comedian, played by Joaquin Phoenix, and his rise to fame as a criminal leader and mastermind.
I would rate the movie a 9.5/10. This action thriller carries far more thought and plot surrounding Gotham City and the people who are in it, compared to previous films showing the city less in detail and the main characters more. The city in this film is falling apart and many people struggle to find work as the economy is spiraling down.
For the role, Phoenix had lost 52 pounds to fit the malnourished and deranged look wanted by director Todd Philipps.
Throughout the movie, many scenes develop the mental health of a young Joker and how little things from work to everyday life as an endeavoring human triggered his mental breakdown. Known as Arthur Fleck, the Joker suffers from neurological diseases such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and most notably the pseudobulbar affect, which caused his famous echoing laughter. The disease, which is very triggering, causes him to have uncontrollable laughing fits unexpectedly and at awkward timing.
The breaking point consisted of a group of Wayne enterprises businessmen that were drunk after a night out. Arthur is delusional after being fired from his job as a performance clown and starts laughing because of his condition. The men suckerpunched him and right as they were about to get off, Joker pulls a revolver out and starts shooting. He shot the three men who pummeled him, and unleashed all 6 shots from the cylinder. After this traumatizing scene, he realizes that killing wasn’t such a bad thing if he himself struggles to survive as well. This started a revolution into the cult following for Joker and his goons, since he killed rich elitists in a time of struggle and hardship.
Released to theaters Oct. 4, the film had a rating of 69 percent by Rotten Tomatoes critiques and an audience score of 93 percent.
The movie was fantastically shot and the emotion put into all the parts is deep cut. Very few things in the movie are shown poorly or shot wrong. The beginning dragged on for a bit, but it’s meant for viewers to soak in details and get familiar with characters.
The movie “has very little or nothing to do with the larger DC Extended Universe,” acclaimed Todd Phillips. Phillips is the director and a famous actor. He’s made appearances on The Hangover movie and others.
The film, is a part of the “new trend” of movies that cover supervillains and gives them a personal touch rather than just causing destruction and chaos alone.
Jacob Simmons, Staff Writer