Writer and director Todd Phillips has created one of the most compelling dramas in the DC universe this side of Nolan’s trilogy.....
COVER STORY
The evolution of the comic book movie has been nothing short of magical. Even a little over a decade ago, it would’ve been hard to wager that superhero movies would soon be the world’s biggest blockbusters. Yet, just a few short years later, comic book adaptations have become the indisputable rulers of the box office, and one of them is even the highest grossing film of all time.
As superheroes have leapt out of the pages of graphic novels and taken over the silver screen, the Big Two of the comic book world – Marvel and DC – have found themselves battling it out for ultimate supremacy. So far, it’s Marvel that has come out on top, thanks to the unprecedented success of its Avengers collective. But even though building a connected universe hasn’t worked out quite as well for DC, they have still had their share of successes, most notably with Christopher Nolan’s terrific The Dark Knight trilogy.
It’s the world of Batman that has now provided DC with yet another triumph. But this time it’s not the Caped Crusader who is taking centre stage. Instead the spotlight has been turned to his biggest nemesis, the Joker.
The notorious character – one of pop culture’s best-known villains – has already had several cinematic outings, mostly as a baddie in Batman’s escapades, and has been portrayed by some enormously talented actors, including Jack Nicholson who played him in 1989’s Batman, Heath Ledger who essayed the role in 2008’s The Dark Knight, and Jared Leto who played the part in 2016’s Suicide Squad (and even Zach Galifianakis who voiced the character in 2017’s delightful The Lego Batman Movie).
Unlike all these iterations though, the new film chooses to focus on the character’s origin story, detailing how a struggling comedian ends up becoming the Clown Prince of Crime.
Joaquin Phoenix portrays the protagonist, Arthur Fleck, a man who works as a party clown but aspires to be a stand-up comedian. Arthur lives with his aging mother (who is forever waiting for her former employer, billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, to answer her letters). He suffers from mental health issues, including a condition that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times.
But an incident leads to him being fired from his clown job, making him even more desolate. This, combined with an episode of bullying, pushes him to his breaking point. He snaps. Violence ensues.
It’s all very dark and gritty, and it’s very thoroughly riveting.
Writer and director Todd Phillips has created one of the most compelling dramas in the DC universe this side of Nolan’s trilogy.
An intriguingly disturbing central character, engrossing story, absorbing atmosphere, terrific score and soundtrack, and, most significantly, a very powerful performance by Phoenix all come together to create a chilling portrait that redefines an infamous villain. Phoenix, in fact, is so deeply committed and astoundingly brilliant in the part that his portrayal even gives Ledger’s version of the villain a run for his money. The supporting players around him have also been brought to life by talented actors, including the legendary Robert De Niro (who appears as a talk show host who plays a part in Arthur’s unravelling), the lovely Zazie Beetz (Arthur’s love interest), and the ever-reliable Frances Conroy (Arthur’s mother).
While there are elements of the film that come off as a bit derivative and while its ultimate destination is obviously a foregone conclusion, Joker does manage to create an interesting tale and also holds up a mirror to society, deeming us responsibility for the plight of humanity.
But – and it’s a very significant but – Joker’s narrative is also undeniably problematic.
For starters, being mistreated by society does not and should not justify murder or make a character seem more sympathetic, like it’s meant to here. Plus equating mental health problems to crime just perpetuates the misconception that people with mental illnesses are bound to be violent. It’s always frustrating when someone associates mental issues with violence, even more so when a mass-consumed piece of entertainment chooses to reinforce this inaccurate stereotype. The stigma around mental problems is already troubling, and Joker’s negative depiction doesn’t do anyone any good. We need to do so much more for an already stigmatized group, not harm them further in the name of entertainment. The film could have easily avoided this pitfall and spun a tale with just as much impact without employing this toxic trope.
If you ignore the film’s take on mental illness though – and you really shouldn’t, because it certainly is an issue – then you have a dark, twisted tale powered by a terrific lead performance, one that will stay with you long after you’ve left the cinema. Joker is a very well made movie, an unsettling albeit fascinating watch, and one of DC’s most intriguing episodes; it’s just that it could have been a lot less problematic if it had been a little more tactful.
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, and Frances Conroy
Director: Todd Phillips
Written by: Todd Phillips and Scott Silver
Running time: 122 minutes
Music by: Hildur Guðnadóttir
Tagline: Put on a happy face.
