Joker (2019)

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Written by: Todd Phillips and Scott Silver, based on the DC Comics characters

Starring:

Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck

Robert De Niro as Murray Franklin

Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond

Frances Conroy as Penny Fleck

Brett Cullen as Thomas Wayne

Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language, and brief sexual images

Runtime: 121 minutes

I’m a huge fan of the Batman canon – I make it a mission to watch anything involving that universe. When I heard that the Joker was going to have an origin movie, I was ecstatic. Then I found out that Joaquin Phoenix would be playing the Joker, and my excitement shot through the roof.

This performance is one of his best. Just like Heath Ledger did with his portrayal of the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008), I think Joaquin may strike Oscar gold for Joker (2019).

However, that is the only kudos I can give this film. Joker wasn’t satisfying enough for me to give it a positive review. I knew the film would be dark, gritty, and violent, but I think the film overstated its point. It could have easily been about twenty minutes shorter.

It’s rare for me to wish a film was over, but Joker managed to be that film. Not because it was terrible…but because I already got the message. I felt like I was trapped in The Joker’s mind and I wanted to leave – I felt like I was pounding the exit door before it finally opened. Hmm…was that possibly a directorial choice? Joker is trapped in his mind, so we have to experience how that feels?

Before he became The Joker, he was Arthur Fleck. Fleck is a loner and a societal outcast. He suffers from a condition where he laughs uncontrollably whenever he is sad or upset. He gives nearby concerned citizens a laminated card to explain it.

Fleck is also a person who means well. He lives with and takes care of, his mother. They have a loving relationship, not unlike the one Norman Bates had with his mother. This seems like an obvious reference.

This film also seemed like it could be a decent remake to Taxi Driver (1976) and The King of Comedy (1983), with the former also having a crazy protagonist and the latter with one that is trying to make it big. Arthur Fleck is both of those people. Robert De Niro played both of those characters, and he coincidentally also plays Murray Franklin, a late-night talk show host Arthur idolizes. I wonder if De Niro was the first choice for playing Franklin because his character in The King of Comedy stalked a talk show host played by Jerry Lewis. If so, I think it’s a clever casting move.

Franklin’s influence makes Fleck want to be a standup comedian – a spark of desire lit ablaze by his mother’s insistence that his mission in life is to spread joy and laughter. However, Fleck continues to feel like an outcast due to a lack of acceptance by society. He tries to make people laugh with his job as a clown-for-hire, but he tends to fall flat. The dream of being a comedian eludes Fleck, which contributes to his downward spiral into madness.

The Joker is not supposed to be a funny character. He is always in his own world and feels that whatever he says is hilarious. Jack Nicholson said that he loved his version of The Joker in Batman (1989) because his jokes were always tasteless. Fleck wants to be funny to others, but it never works out.

I was puzzled to learn that Todd Phillips co-wrote and directed this film because he’s the man responsible for The Hangover trilogy. The first film is one of the funniest I’ve seen. Phillips also directed some other decent comedies, such as Road Trip (2000) and Due Date (2010), all with gut-busting laughs. I don’t think I laughed once throughout this film, though. Maybe I’m just not sure why a comedy director would do a U-turn and direct a serious film that could have been funny. I can’t put my finger on a reason.

It’s hard to watch movies where the protagonist experiences constant rejection. It was especially hard in this case because we are supposed to empathize with the person who would eventually clash with Batman. The Joker is and always was an entertaining, but sympathetic character.

I think this is one of the problems with Joker. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but I kept going the other way. It made me feel ashamed of myself.

As far as the story structure, I felt the last act fell flat. Everything leading up to it was okay, but it turned after that. The last act was still well-performed, but it wasn’t well thought out. The moment when I thought the film would end, I felt pure relief – I was ready to leave, but the film cut to another scene that I felt had no purpose. I thought the film ending on that note was a true letdown.

I also didn’t care for how some of the characters in the Batman canon were portrayed, but to avoid spoilers, I won’t go into further detail. They are different here than in the other films.

In the end, the movie was only worthwhile because of Joaquin Phoenix. His performance made the film, but the other elements didn’t add up.

2/4 stars.