Last weekend, I went to see the new JOKER movie, starring Joaquin Phoenix, with a friend. This Joker origin story was kind of what I expected it to be, but there were still things that surprised me and excited me and just left me totally hooked. I really enjoyed Joaquin's Joker. His portrayal was a very emotional one. His iconic Joker laugh was totally original and hard to imitate. And to be honest, it was kind of disturbing how skinny he was. This was a completely original take on the origin of the Joker, while still staying true to the core of the character. The Joker has many different origin stories and this is an addition that really hits hard.
Many others who have seen the movie will say that Arthur's transformation into the Joker was caused by his mental illness. They'll say that this movie promotes mental illness as the cause of all the violence happening now. And if that's the only part you focus on in the movie, that would be true. But the real cause for Arthur's transformation was society's indifference. Arthur was handling his illness in the best way he could. He did everything he could possibly do to live a normal life. He tried to integrate into society. But because of the way the people of Gotham viewed his illness, the way that he was shunned and stomped on, exacerbated his illness. He just wanted to be accepted, to be noticed, to just receive the help he needed. But society didn't care. And he lost all hope. So he just gave up. When hope is lost, chaos reigns supreme.
Joaquin Phoenix does a phenomenal job portraying the struggle Arthur goes through throughout the movie. In all of the scenes where Arthur's control slips, you can see the pain and tears in his eyes. He doesn't want to do the things he's doing. Even at the end, when he's fully embraced himself as the Joker, there are tears in his eyes even as he's putting a bloody smile on his face. So you have to ask, has he really had a complete snap in his sanity, or is he just putting on another mask to hide the pain he's in? Is he just putting on a face that some of those in society will accept?
People have great influence on each other. If we just took the time to notice those around us, maybe, just maybe, we could help save those who would otherwise be lost. If we could just offer the hopeless with even a small light to look to and follow, perhaps they could leave the darkness behind.
Am I saying that I condone the violence that the Joker unleashed? No. Violence of any kind is never okay. But you can sympathize with his struggle. Am I putting all the blame on society? Where it concerns the story in this movie, yes. But in the real world, no. The two go hand-in-hand. Society needs to be there to help, but those suffering also need to be willing to search for and accept that outstretched hand.
STARRING: Joaquin Phoenix
BASED ON: Characters by DC Comics
DIRECTOR: Todd Phillips
WRITERS: Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
PRODUCERS: Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper, Emma Tillinger
MUSIC: Hildur Guðnadóttir
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lawrence Sher
EDITOR: Jeff Groth
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: DC Films, Village Roadshow Pictures, Bron Creative, Joint Effort
DISTRIBUTION: Warner Bros. Pictures
RELEASE DATE: August 31, 2019 (Venice), October 4, 2019 (USA)
RUNNING TIME: 122 Minutes
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English
BUDGET: $55–64 Million
BOX OFFICE: $258.1 Million
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.
Many others who have seen the movie will say that Arthur's transformation into the Joker was caused by his mental illness. They'll say that this movie promotes mental illness as the cause of all the violence happening now. And if that's the only part you focus on in the movie, that would be true. But the real cause for Arthur's transformation was society's indifference. Arthur was handling his illness in the best way he could. He did everything he could possibly do to live a normal life. He tried to integrate into society. But because of the way the people of Gotham viewed his illness, the way that he was shunned and stomped on, exacerbated his illness. He just wanted to be accepted, to be noticed, to just receive the help he needed. But society didn't care. And he lost all hope. So he just gave up. When hope is lost, chaos reigns supreme.
Joaquin Phoenix does a phenomenal job portraying the struggle Arthur goes through throughout the movie. In all of the scenes where Arthur's control slips, you can see the pain and tears in his eyes. He doesn't want to do the things he's doing. Even at the end, when he's fully embraced himself as the Joker, there are tears in his eyes even as he's putting a bloody smile on his face. So you have to ask, has he really had a complete snap in his sanity, or is he just putting on another mask to hide the pain he's in? Is he just putting on a face that some of those in society will accept?
People have great influence on each other. If we just took the time to notice those around us, maybe, just maybe, we could help save those who would otherwise be lost. If we could just offer the hopeless with even a small light to look to and follow, perhaps they could leave the darkness behind.
Am I saying that I condone the violence that the Joker unleashed? No. Violence of any kind is never okay. But you can sympathize with his struggle. Am I putting all the blame on society? Where it concerns the story in this movie, yes. But in the real world, no. The two go hand-in-hand. Society needs to be there to help, but those suffering also need to be willing to search for and accept that outstretched hand.
BASED ON: Characters by DC Comics
DIRECTOR: Todd Phillips
WRITERS: Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
PRODUCERS: Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper, Emma Tillinger
MUSIC: Hildur Guðnadóttir
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Lawrence Sher
EDITOR: Jeff Groth
PRODUCTION COMPANIES: DC Films, Village Roadshow Pictures, Bron Creative, Joint Effort
DISTRIBUTION: Warner Bros. Pictures
RELEASE DATE: August 31, 2019 (Venice), October 4, 2019 (USA)
RUNNING TIME: 122 Minutes
COUNTRY: United States
LANGUAGE: English
BUDGET: $55–64 Million
BOX OFFICE: $258.1 Million
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.
