JOKER review: Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) doesn't feel good with his future. As part-time clown he tries to make money while sharing a rundown apartment with his ailing mom (Frances Conroy).But Arthur lives in a town that is hit by tough times, where good, honest life is hard to get through. He also suffers from a condition in which he bursts into uncontrollable laughter.None of these will discourage Arthur from dreaming high. He aspires to be a stand-up comic, and attempts in his diary to write jokes. Caught in between, Arthur starts gradually losing his hold on reality.
It's instantly clear this isn't your typical comic book fare. Todd Phillips is desperately building a man's tale at the edge of his wit while forced to his point of break. Phillips does not glorify mental illness but instead makes a convincing case of an adult who is profoundly depressed and trying to find a coping mechanism in the form of an unhinged alter ego.This also reflects in his gritty dream of Gotham City, a metropolis that got to its knees, where crime is just a way of life. Even the wealthy and greedy appear to be untouched by the mayhem – a notion important today.Set in the early 80's, this fictional city recalls that period with impeccable production and a time-relevant, yet disturbing soundtrack that evokes a constant sense of uneasiness.
The slow descent into madness of Arthur Fleck has a distant comparison to 'Taxi Driver,' which also features Robert De Niro, and the cinephile has a sense of joy in seeing him here. Yet, in the titular role, none of the cast holds a candle to Joaquin Phoenix captured by a committed, immersive performance.Watching Phoenix vanish into character makes one doubt the health of the performer, as he creates his own special villain image. At first his wiry, clumsy body stumbles to get from place to place, but as he finally transforms, he is graceful and resembles an agile dancer.It's hard to watch at the same time, and yet difficult to take away your eyes from him. If Joaquin Phoenix ends up receiving an Academy Award for this success, it would be difficult to argue against it. Disturbing and painful, but ultimately brilliant, this might very well become the Joker's definitive tale of origin.
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