Forever alone in a crowd, failed comedian Arthur Fleck seeks connection as he walks the streets of Gotham City. Arthur wears two masks -- the one he paints for his day job as a clown, and the guise he projects in a futile attempt to feel like he's part of the world around him. Isolated, bullied and disregarded by society, Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.
First post of the year, and what do you know it's another movie review.
For a film that's been praised by some as the best of 2019, even last decade, for mine it failed to live up to the massive hype. Let's start with the good: the performances. Joaquin Pheonix was a revolution in the role, he couldn't have done anything more, I applaud him for sensational performance and I expected nothing less from an actor of his calibre. Frances Conroy again delivers another great performance, she plays a basket case very well. It's great to see De Niro turn up and actually try (I'm yet to see the Irishman but I haven't seen him give two shits about a role since Heat)
The ambiguous and open to interpretation take away was done quite well marking Arthur's "descent" into delusion and madness. Colour pallet and cinematography was impressive, creating an overall bleak setting. Score was very good too, hitting the emotional arc of each scene.
Now for the bad: the screenplay. It felt like bits were cobbled together here and there, it shouldn't have been a joker movie, had this been about a random guy with a range of mental issues and a commentary on society I think it would have worked much better, but that's life.
For its few faults, it still beats the hell out of all of that of that kiddy family friendly superhero shit that seems to get churned out every week, the world needs more comic movies like this imo
7.5/10