Joker Review
Joker – Film Review
This film was more than a good film, more
than a film I loved. The story was more meaningful. There were times within the
film where I genuinely forgot that the film was based on a superhero series and
that our ‘protagonist’ Arthur Fleck, was indeed the psychopath we know to be
the ‘Joker’. The cinematography was absolutely stunning and the soundtrack
accompaniment, written and performed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, was chilling,
dramatic and poetic. The contrast between this and the seventies and eighties
songs was something to be awed at.
What I found strange about the film was that, while never openly justifying the actions of Arthur, it made the audience feel bad for him and made them understand why he came to be the villain we know him as from the comics. You completely empathised with his story and in his darkest moments, you could truly understand where his anger towards society came to be.
When I heard from others who had watched Joker say that they thought that Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was as good as Heath Ledger, I laughed and wondered how that could be possible, but now I realise. It’s true, but the way in which the story works is different to how we would usually see him. Why Ledger was incredible was for an extremely different reason. While Ledger captures the insanity and the lack of care of the Joker, how he will rebel against anyone who doesn’t believe the same as him; Phoenix demonstrates the vulnerability, the trials and the heartbreak of the troubled character of Arthur Fleck. Ledger shows a side of the Joker that portrays him to be a psychopath, Phoenix manages to demonstrate the emotion of a man driven to insanity by both his childhood trauma and his current life, where he feels misunderstood by society and not cared about. Arthur explains how he has never felt happy in his life and during the middle of the film, it shows why, exactly why.
This story impacted me personally. Now, although I am not a gun-wielding murderer, I have had a traumatic past. I have felt excluded from society as a minority, especially when it comes to the funding of mental health services. I have been discriminated against, which has lead to extensive bullying and getting beaten up. These experiences can make it hard to know how to react in circumstances and have very strong opinions on society. While this is a much more fictitious, over-exaggerated example of how trauma can effect someone, it works and can be relatable. Plus, Arthur is an aspiring comedian, who laughs at inappropriate moments as a coping strategy, I relate.
Overall, this film is a cinematic visual masterpiece, including some spectacular uses of colour, with beautiful storytelling on both the directing and acting perspectives – not to mention the absolutely cracking soundtrack. I’d give this film a solid 5/5 stars.
What I found strange about the film was that, while never openly justifying the actions of Arthur, it made the audience feel bad for him and made them understand why he came to be the villain we know him as from the comics. You completely empathised with his story and in his darkest moments, you could truly understand where his anger towards society came to be.
When I heard from others who had watched Joker say that they thought that Joaquin Phoenix’s performance was as good as Heath Ledger, I laughed and wondered how that could be possible, but now I realise. It’s true, but the way in which the story works is different to how we would usually see him. Why Ledger was incredible was for an extremely different reason. While Ledger captures the insanity and the lack of care of the Joker, how he will rebel against anyone who doesn’t believe the same as him; Phoenix demonstrates the vulnerability, the trials and the heartbreak of the troubled character of Arthur Fleck. Ledger shows a side of the Joker that portrays him to be a psychopath, Phoenix manages to demonstrate the emotion of a man driven to insanity by both his childhood trauma and his current life, where he feels misunderstood by society and not cared about. Arthur explains how he has never felt happy in his life and during the middle of the film, it shows why, exactly why.
This story impacted me personally. Now, although I am not a gun-wielding murderer, I have had a traumatic past. I have felt excluded from society as a minority, especially when it comes to the funding of mental health services. I have been discriminated against, which has lead to extensive bullying and getting beaten up. These experiences can make it hard to know how to react in circumstances and have very strong opinions on society. While this is a much more fictitious, over-exaggerated example of how trauma can effect someone, it works and can be relatable. Plus, Arthur is an aspiring comedian, who laughs at inappropriate moments as a coping strategy, I relate.
Overall, this film is a cinematic visual masterpiece, including some spectacular uses of colour, with beautiful storytelling on both the directing and acting perspectives – not to mention the absolutely cracking soundtrack. I’d give this film a solid 5/5 stars.
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