‘JOKER’ REVIEW- A TANGIBLE DESCENT INTO MADNESS

By Josh Osman

I walked into Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker’ expecting to enjoy a phenomenal, profound character study, going deeper than ever before into one of the most notorious villains of all time. Walking out, I was shocked, disturbed and speechless: ‘Joker’ is anything but enjoyable, but it certainly is a masterpiece with a complex and relevant social commentary.

Without spoiling the film, the origin story details the transformation of a failing comedian, Arthur Fleck, into a figurehead for social change and riots in the unstable Gotham City. The plot itself is relatively simple, but it is the numerous sub-plots and complexities within them that make the film’s story so special. Not only does the film explore the downfall of Arthur Fleck, but it delves into the horrors of his past and the ever-growing social fracture in Gotham City – a fictional only in name version of New York. The most interesting part of this is that ‘Joker’ is not actually directly based on any of the Batman comics (although the creators did use ‘The Killing Joke’ as a point of reference for certain aspects), meaning that these extra layers provide a completely fresh perspective of the origin story of the Joker and the society that caused such a figure to grow. At times, the plot can be somewhat confusing and a little difficult to follow, but I felt that this only added to the experience of the film; the blurred lines between truth and delusion and the increasing lack of moral compass in many characters makes the film considerably more intense and uncomfortable, which certainly seems to be what the creators were aiming for.

Initially, I was taken aback by the scepticism in the media surrounding the sympathetic portrayal of Fleck and the possible links one could make between his story and real-life ‘incel violence’, the violence growing from the ‘involuntary celibate’ community (men who harbour resentment towards society as a result of their inability to find a partner). However, my worries were swept away as I watched the film: without giving anything away, it can certainly be said that the reaction to the character developed and changed throughout. Though it is not difficult to feel sympathy for Fleck as the events unfold, it becomes progressively more difficult to support him and his actions as he descends into the madness that leads to him becoming the ‘Joker’ that the audience was expecting to see. Fleck begins as a lonely, vulnerable man outcast by society and transforms into the face of the fight against oppression of the people, that the audience condemns yet still understands.

Though there are some fantastic supporting characters dealt with perfectly, with Robert De Niro’s talk show host being the one standing out the most, the star of the show is undoubtedly Joaquin Phoenix. Having already been pinned as a front-runner for the Academy Award for Best Actor, it goes without saying that he has absolutely embodied the Joker and made the character his own. Phoenix’s performance is compelling throughout, from when he garners sympathy for convincingly playing a rejected and depressed Arthur Fleck, to playing the violent, eerie and sadistic Joker. Not only did Phoenix make endless preparations for the role to look more convincing (specifically in weight loss), but he also portrays the struggle with mental health in a painfully heart-wrenching manner; his outstandingly believable and real performance is what makes the film significantly more disturbing and it becomes increasingly difficult to side with the cruel villain that Fleck becomes, despite the weakness and vulnerability that Phoenix brings across in his acting.

A major point of criticism for the film has been the general portrayal of mental health, specifically the fact that the film apparently insinuates that mental illness can cause people to spiral out of control in the way that Arthur Fleck does. This is a valid criticism, but one could argue that Fleck’s mental health is not what pushes him to do what he does, but rather the pressure placed on him by a broken society. Realistically, this comes down to the interpretation of each viewer, but is something worth noting before seeing the film.

Though some subject matter may be uncomfortable for some, ultimately, ‘Joker’ is an unforgettably heart-breaking and uncomfortable drama detailing the downfall of a man and the rise of a villain in his place, which is brought to new heights by the remarkably talented Joaquin Phoenix.