It took me a minute to sift through my thoughts on this one but I'll try and toss in my two cents without it sounding like more of what you've probably already heard at this point. First and foremost, the film is deeply effective in portraying the downward spiral of a mentally disturbed man. I thought perhaps the Taxi Driver comparisons were a bit hyperbolic and I went in expecting more of a King of Comedy vibe but nope - Todd Phillips has truly established himself as a verified filmmaker with this film and not just the guy behind The Hangover and Old School. As much praise as Phoenix is getting for this film, Phillips is equally deserving.
The tone of the film is absolutely perfect. From the gritty 1980's New York City feel to the uncomfortable character study of a lost and lonely man trying to find his identity - the film resonates with an emotion we haven't seen in the comic book genre in some time, if ever. But this film doesn't even bother trying to align itself within the niche of comic book films. If anything, it completely redefines what a comic book film can be. Even more than Logan or Deadpool before it, Joker is an absolute game changer. The entire films buzzes with an uncomfortable tension that finally swirls completely out of control in a beautiful conclusion where the Joker is finally unleashed on the world.
Joaquin Phoenix is absolutely incredible in the role. It's heartbreaking to see him struggling as Arthur Fleck in the opening of the film and yet still somehow makes it even more horrifying watching him fully embrace the dark path he sets down when he's finally transformed into the Joker. I could watch him play this character until the end of time and somehow the odd sensation of watching a comic book character who isn't already committed to 3-4 follow up films in the next several years make the experience feel all the more precious.
But the film certainly isn't without it's faults. Most prominent of which being the script. You can pretty easily sniff out the scenes where Phoenix is just ad-libbing to stretch the material but honestly, the simplicity of it all just allows Phillips and Phoenix to shine even more. And while I've seen the film criticized fairly heavily for failing to make a political statement of any kind, I came away with the opposite feeling. The "joke" delivered moments before Arthur executes DeNiro on live television feels like a problematic conclusion to draw for the audience, as if the Joker and all villains are merely products of their environments. And worse yet, the only way Arthur finds happiness is when he finally indulges in his wildest impulses and stops taking his medication. It's a fairly reckless narrative to weave, even if we're supposed to keep in mind that Joker is a deranged narrator. So as much as we're meant to sympathize with him - he's still reacting in evil ways.
But societal messages aside, as a film it's hard to deny how powerful it's depiction of pain and despair are. The narrative may be a little confused but the work of Phoenix and Phillips will make this a hallmark for comic book cinema for years to come. It's a bold experiment that results in the most captivating film DC has made since Christian Bale hung up his cape and the most thought provoking blockbuster in years.
