The freshly
released "Joker" film, directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin
Phoenix, was surrounded by so much controversy that it was a must-see. With all
of the twists and turns and the wide range of emotions experienced, I rate this
film an 8.5/10.
A Brief Summary: -
The origin tale of the
Joker is told in "Joker." We follow Arthur Fleck's life, unaware that
he is the Joker until the very end of the film.
Fleck is a struggling
clown who gets frightened every day while attempting to acco
mplish his work as a sign holder on the streets. He struggles to make ends meet
since he must care for his ailing mother and strives to keep the low-paying job
he has.
We witness how most of
Gotham City is suffering from its crumbling economy throughout the film. Fleck is
dealing with his mental condition much like the rest of them, if not more so.
We follow Fleck as he
strives to earn a life as a comedian while simultaneously attempting to
understand his origins. The spectator gets to observe how his mental condition
impacts his daily life and how people interact with him in between all of the
major twists and turns.
Major Themes: -
"Joker" is a
divisive film because it allows audiences to sympathize with Fleck, despite the
fact that he commits heinous crimes.
We watch how Fleck
struggles with everyday life and is beaten up and ridiculed at throughout the
film. We can also see how the lower classes have been failed by society. Many
companies, such as those that treat individuals with mental disorders or
provide jobs to those who need them, are being impacted by the economy. Many
people, like Arthur Fleck, are affected by the closure of these institutions.
This sets him on a downward trajectory. As an audience, we are pulled back to
reality when our sympathy for him is put to the test by some of his acts.
Fleck kills three
affluent businessmen on a train at a pivotal juncture in the film. When the men
began to pick on him and taunt him, Fleck decided to take drastic steps.
Fleck assassinated them
to prove that they couldn't target him, but it also served as a warning to the
larger businesses that the lower class was fed up with their mismanagement of
the economy. This inspires the notion of initiating a revolt against the upper
class, which is exactly what Fleck does.
Fleck is an obscure hero
in the society due to his deeds of assassinating three affluent people, uniting
the lower class, and organizing rallies for reform around the city. It gives
him the impression that what he did was OK when it wasn't. The public's
reaction to him might have contributed to the situation's escalation.
Final Thoughts: -
There has been no
mention of this being a film collection, which may be a good thing. It provides
the viewer’s something to ponder about when they leave the theatre as a
stand-alone picture. When they display a preview of a young Bruce Wayne, it
makes the audience wonder what will happen next.
The film dealt with some
extremely serious subjects, and Joaquin Phoenix went to great pains to portray
the Joker. He had to lose 52 pounds merely to get into character for the part.
There have been many various portrayals of the Joker by many different actors,
so it'll be fascinating to see how this one compares.
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