The iconic villain of all time, the Joker, has always been portrayed as an agent of chaos and the master of evilness. The DC character has received a number of legendary and memorable performances starting from Cesar Romero to Jack Nicholson to Heath Ledger. Lover for each Joker characters and looks indicates that the film enthusiast still hasn’t had enough of the character. Once again, we encounter with the first ever solo film made on Joker (2019) starring Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Todd Philips.
At the 92nd Academy Awards, Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor and Hildur Guðnadóttir for Best Original Score. The film also got 11 nominations including Best Picture.
Joker is indeed an origin story but told from a very unique perspective. The plot is set in the early 1980s in Gotham, a fictional world based on New York and Chicago. We are introduced to Arthur Fleck, who is a clown in his forties trying to make a livelihood and support his mother (Frances Conroy). He is having a hard time due to his disability, which makes him socially awkward. When he is uncomfortable, stressed, or terrified, he bursts out laughing. Thus, he is trapped in the unending web of a complete non-existent social life.
Arthur wishes to pursue his goals of becoming a stand-up comedian despite being not funny. He frequently attempts to escape from reality by imagining himself in scenarios that don’t exist. His ultimate aim is to appear on “The Murray Franklin Show,” and meeting show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) and impressing him with his acting abilities.
Just like any human, Arthur wants to be accepted and loved for who he is. He doesn’t want to change himself for the society, instead want people to accept him with his flaws. Sadly, things don’t end up the way he wants.
The character loses control of his life as a result of constant stress, poverty, unemployment, crimes, and sadness. The audience has no other option but to observe his slow decline into insanity.
Joaquin’s brilliant acting brings the character into life making us understand the sadness of the Joker and what triggers him to become a villainous killer. He may be seen as a reflection of every man, failing to keep a pleasant or smiling face while the world around him falls apart.
Director has made the film that is both visually and emotionally stunning. The tensions in the film were intensified by everything from the camera angles to the lighting and colours employed.
I personally loved the shots of Victory dance, him trying to get into the character of clown by forcing to smile, his entry to the talk show, the beginning and ending shots of him inside a car, and the epic climax. There are also scenes in that are shot in such a way that you nearly feel as if you’re seeing the world alongside and through the Joker character.
In precise, the film is one of the best attempts by DC to do something new with the villainous character, the JOKER.
Image Courtesy IMDb
