Joker

Movie 🎥 Review: “Joker”.

Critics gave it a 69% the users a 88%.

Rated: R with a running time 2 hrs and 2 mins, and and an IMDb of 8.6/10

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Glenn Fleshler, Bill Camp, Shea Whigham, and Marc Maron.

Forever alone in a crowd, failed comedian Arthur Fleck seeks connection as he walks the streets of Gotham City. Arthur wears two masks; the one he paints for his day job as a clown, and the guise he projects in a futile attempt to feel like he's part of the world around him. Isolated, bullied and disregarded by society, Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.

Joker is a 2019 American psychological thriller film directed and produced by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. The film, based on DC Comics characters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker that provides a possible origin story for the character set in 1981.

Phillips conceived Joker in 2016 and wrote the script with Silver throughout 2017. The two were inspired by 1970s character studies and the films of Martin Scorsese (particularly Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy), who was initially attached to the project as a producer. Phoenix became attached in February 2018 and was cast that July, while the majority of the cast signed on by August. Principal photography took place in New York City, Jersey City, and Newark, from September to December 2018. Joker is the first live-action theatrical Batman film to receive an R-rating.

Joker premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it won the Golden Lion, and was released in the United States on October 4, 2019. The film polarized critics; while Phoenix's performance, musical score, cinematography and production values were praised, the dark tone, portrayal of mental illness, and handling of violence divided responses. Joker also generated concerns of inspiring real-world violence; the movie theater where the 2012 Aurora, Colorado mass shooting occurred during a screening of The Dark Knight Rises refused to show it. Despite this, the film became a major box office success, setting records for an October release. Joker has grossed over $1 billion, making it the first R-rated film to do so, the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2019, and the 33rd-highest-grossing film of all time.

Joker has received numerous accolades. At the 77th Golden Globe Awards, it won Best Original Score for Hildur Guðnadóttir and Best Actor – Drama for Phoenix. It also earned a leading 11 nominations at two ceremonies – the 73rd British Academy Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor for Phoenix; and the 92nd Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor for Phoenix and Best Director.

Let me start out by saying that, to me, Joaquin Phoenix gives the best performance of his career. He submerged himself in this role and was fearless and stunning in its emotional depth and physicality. I have to say (for those of you that can remember) it's impossible to talk about this without referencing Heath Ledger's Oscar-winning performance from The Dark Knight, widely considered the definitive live-action portrayal of the Joker. Everyone is going to be stunned by what Phoenix accomplishes, because it's what many thought impossible - a portrayal that matches and potentially exceeds that of The Dark Knight's Clown Prince of Crime.

This IS a very dark film. So dark that you’ll develop a love/hate relationship with the villain. It’s not just about the villain. Sad to say, this film brings to life real and devastating issues in society that are all too often overlooked.

I can see why the Oscar buzz is happening and I personally needed to see this before the Academy Awards. Really glad I watched it.