Joker

I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting another one of those comic book-inspired films that have become one big boring blur to me, unlike similarly themed series. Instead, I got a decent drama starring the excellent Joaquin Phoenix, and because we cripples have to stand up for each other, I’m adding an extra star. (02/03/2020)

Probably the only movie I had a real problem to finish. Fantastic portrayal of one of the most terrifying villains of all time. All aspects of the story and its execution work perfectly. Joaquin gives a chilling performance. Precision work, but I'll probably never watch the film again. (03/10/2019)

It's somewhat fateful that my 1000th review is about this film. I honestly don't know where to start with this write-up. The film, which I had eagerly anticipated day after day since its announcement, had high hopes placed on it from the very beginning, and every new piece of information about the project only deepened my excitement. And finally, the film has arrived in movie theaters... And it was definitely worth the wait! I’m in awe; this isn't a film you just have to see, it's a film you must simply and completely EXPERIENCE. I wouldn't have expected something so meticulously crafted down to the last detail from Todd Phillips, but on the other hand, Scorsese was involved as a producer, which eased my concerns somewhat. The film's style surprised me; I haven't seen an intimate social drama about the breakdown of a person rejected by society like this in a long time. Throughout its runtime, I was amazed at how the creators tackled this challenging material and transformed it into such an incredibly effective, pessimistic, and gritty experience that sent chills down my spine minute by minute (it wasn’t really the physical violence that bothered me, but the psychological aspects that provoked greater dread and discomfort). Joaquin Phoenix must have embedded the role of Joker into his DNA. The respect and fear emanating from his portrayal of the clown was enormous, so convincing and yet completely different from Ledger's rival portrayal of the Gotham antagonist... Hats off... an astonishing and breathtaking performance in every way. If he doesn’t win the Oscar, they might as well cancel the ceremony, seriously! The film stands and falls with him, but it also functions like a Swiss watch on other fronts; I must especially highlight the cold and melancholic soundtrack, which repeatedly dug its tones under my skin. And honestly, I don’t remember the last time I saw such a brilliantly escalating finale. Yes, everything was predictable based on the plot's progression, but Phillips still managed to engage the viewer with his sophisticatedly crafted script, which managed to shuffle the cards a few times. A cinematic treat, after which I was intoxicatedly absorbing everything that had happened on the screen during the past two hours. Bravo, bravo, and once again, bravo!!! For me, it’s the film of the year. 95%. P.S. And please... Don’t attempt to make a sequel. Following up on this perfectly closed masterpiece wouldn’t make much sense, in my opinion. And the Batman origin with the alley surprised me pleasantly; I certainly didn’t expect that. (05/10/2019)

I didn't experience very godly feelings with this film, but Todd Phillips wasn’t going for that in the slightest. In the purest sense of the word, Joker is a dirty, gritty, and very powerful film that doesn't worry too much about promoting violence. *SPOILER ALERT* If I were twenty years old and pissed off at the whole system, I'd probably take to the streets, too. *END SPOILER*. Phillips' Joker is a universal model of the boundless arrogance of the upper classes who regard Arthur Fleck and his ilk as inferior individuals. The demonic Joaquin Phoenix, in the least comic book portrayal of the Joker, then shows that the consequences of such arrogance and reckless superiority on the part of his "betters" can be pretty damn serious. Even if the film completely legitimizes the use of violence when a human being is treated as the ultimate non-entity, it still works very well on the level of a "journey into the depths of the Joker's soul", providing perhaps the deepest insight into the psyche of DC's ultimate bad guy to date. On the other hand, I'm glad the whole project stands apart from the comic book universe as a whole, because I can't imagine any connection or even a sequel, either within the DCEU or some "darker branch" of it. (06/10/2019)

I hardly ever watch comic book movies because they usually say nothing to me. I was only tempted by the Joker because the title role was played by Joaquin Phoenix, who has been one of my favorite actors for many years. I'm used to anything from him, yet I was literally shocked at the bravura of his delivery of the failed comedian Arthur Fleck. More than once my smile froze on my lips, the sight of his mentally disturbed clown. Fortunately, the movie is quite different from the classic comic book it is based on. I am pleasantly surprised that ultimately it is actually a psychological drama with strong social and societal implications. (85%) (22/04/2022)