Joker Review: Embracing the Insanity

The Joker has always been a character that audiences get very protective of. When Heath Ledger was cast in the role for The Dark Knight there was a good deal of backlash from fans. When Jared Leto took the role, there was backlash. When Caesar Romero took the role… well not many people argued to be honest but I’m sure people would have done if the internet had been around.

So how does Joaquin Phoenix’s interpretation of the infamous character differ from other versions of the character. Put simply, he’s probably the most human version of the character ever put to film. Obviously, as an origin story for the character, this is to be expected, but the journey to the film’s destination never feels rushed. Whilst the version of the joker we eventually see is captivating to watch, this is the story of the man behind the make-up.

The story follows Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a hired clown, becoming increasingly unhinged and alienated from society. Part of this alienation comes as a result of a mental condition which causes him to laugh uncontrollably, often when least convenient for him. As his life unravels around him, he begins to embrace the chaos. It’s hard to say much more about the plot, because to try to sum it up would be doing it a disservice.

Tonally, the film is very sure of its place as a gritty origin story, which doesn’t let up. You’re unlikely to find much humour in Joker, even if our main character does always manage to see the funny side. There is obviously a certain amount of violence, which at times may catch you off guard, and the film does not shy away from these moments. However, I think the reputation this film has gained for being incredibly dark may be somewhat exaggerated. The film is only age rated as a 15 in the UK, so whilst it does have edge, you shouldn’t be expecting something at the level of ‘Human Centipede’ (Which my colleague genuinely asked if it was similar to).

The stand out element of the film is certainly Phoenix’s performance, who embodies the character perfectly in everything from the way he walks to the character’s signature disturbing laugh. His physical transformation for the part is incredible. When we first see him topless he’s simply hunched over on his seat, attempting to untie a pair of his over-sized clown shoes, however he has the appearance of a praying mantis devouring a kill.

It’s a very refreshing take on the character who, at least initially, doesn’t quite have the outlandish confidence or bravado of other versions. Where Leto and Nicholson’s versions of the joker have backgrounds in organised crime, and Ledger’s joker reveled in his anonymity, this version of the character is a man struggling to achieve his ambitions in comedy.

This humanity and relatability opens up a whole new side to the character, which can somehow be even more unsettling to watch as we find ourselves rooting for him. For as long as the character has existed, audiences have secretly loved watching him carry out his villainy. Obviously everyone wants Batman to win in the end but seeing the crown prince of crime embrace chaos has always been nothing short of captivating.

Here though, I found myself at times fully rooting for the character, no matter how indefensible his actions. Some teenagers picking a fight with him? ‘Just kill them’ I would think. Police hunting for him? ‘Bash their brains in.’ I knew this was the wrong way to think but it’s so tempting and that’s what makes this film stand out. I found I was very quickly programmed to see things the way Arthur Fleck did. On my way home on the bus, I was made to wait while the bus driver stood on the pavement sucking on his vape and checking his phone. Meanwhile, I was fantasising about jumping behind the wheel and speeding off with a bus full of screaming passengers. And at its heart, that’s what the film is about. Taking back control. By the end, we see in the joker everything we would all secretly love to be.

I had some problems with the final act of the film which I have shared in a separate post, which you can find here, as it is difficult to discuss without risking spoiling the plot. All I’ll say is that towards the end, the story did seem to defy logic somewhat, in order to get us to our eventual destination, however for most this is unlikely to be an issue as the end result is worth the minor issues.

Overall, Joker is a film which sets itself apart from anything else in the comic book movie genre. Stylistically it is very unique and has a very defined sense of its own voice, and the way it feels this story should best be told. Joaquin Phoenix is by far the most stand-out aspect of the piece. Without his performance the film could easily have collapsed under the weight of its own ambition, but Phoenix carries us through in the most entertaining way. Joker embraces the chaos in our world and embodies the dark side of humanity in an incredibly effective way. Just don’t go see it if you’re having a bad day, or you could find yourself on the wrong side of the law shortly after.

Thanks for reading my first proper review. I would have liked to have seen a less well made film, to prove my merits as a critic, but sadly the film was just a bit too good. On the off chance you made it this far, feel free to let me know what you thought of the review. Any and all feedback is appreciated, except for negative feedback, which will make me cry.