Project Films Presents- A Ben Donaldson II Review Long In The Making
‘Joker’ Review. November 20, 2019
A gang of criminals rob a Gotham City mob bank, murdering each other for a higher share of the money until only one remains- the Joker, who escapes with the stash.
This beginning to a film- The Dark Knight- was among all of cinemas best openings to a movie ever. It not only set the stage for how good the movie was going to be, but how good the movie was. We have had several fantastic actors play Joker over the years- Cesar Romero, Mark Hamill, Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger (note who was left out of the list). It was no secret that when a standalone film for the character was announced, the film industry needed another really good actor to play the role.
I’ll admit I was optimistic when this was announced, as The Dark Knight was my all time favorite movie, mainly because of Heath Ledger’s performance. But as many fans were, I was also nervous. What if the new actor was worse than Jared Leto? Could they be repeating DC’s Extended Universe all over again? Only time will tell..
And time it took for the announcement. Ever since 1989’s Batman film by Tim Burton was released, fans were clamoring for a Joker stand-alone origin story; but how in the name of Batman could Warner Bros. pull it off? He’s a very complex guy, the Clown Prince of Crime.
Development
During 2014-2016, Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator) expressed an interest in performing “a low budget character study for a comic book character similar to the character Joker.”
Also around this time, Todd Phillips (The Hangover Trilogy) also had expressed an interest in a comic book character that had ‘no definitive origin’ which allowed for creative control. Talks began with Warner Bros. Studio after the disappointing box-office for Justice League.
After intense negotiations with Warner Bros. Studio, it was officially announced on August 22, 2017; Phillips would be directing by himself, producing with Martin Scorsese (Cape Fear, The Departed) and co-writing with Scott Silver (8 Mile) on a “low-budget character study of a man disregarded by society” entitled Joker.
Jared Leto (The Suicide Squad) who played the character of the Joker in 2016 (he had sent his co-actors used condoms to “get into character” which makes him aforementioned) was very displeased with the studio for moving ahead with this project. Leto had repeatedly pushed for his own stand-alone film, tried to get this one canceled and fired his agents as a result of the announcement in 2017.
Music
The film’s score was composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir (The Departure) who had received backlash for using “Rock and Roll Part Two” and not paying Gary Glitter for use of the song.
Release
Before it’s release on October 4, Joker premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2019, where it received an eight-minute standing ovation and won the Golden Lion award for creativity. Security concerns later arose from the United States Army, citing issues with the incel community during this time. Star Joaquin Phoenix famously walked out of an interview by The Telegraph where Robbie Collin asked if this movie could inspire mass shooters. Phoenix later came back to the interview, but refused to answer the question.
As of November 20, 2019 the film has grossed $323.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $696.16 million in other territories for a worldwide total of $1.019 billion. Against a budget of $50-75 million, it is the most profitable R -Rated film to ever release as well the highest grossing. Critically, the film holds a 69% on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 7.24/10, The film has been rumored to be nominated for several Oscars, one of them for Best Actor to Joaquin Phoenix and another for Best Makeup/Hair-styling.
Plot
In 1981, party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck lives with his mother, Penny, in Gotham City. Gotham is rife with crime and unemployment, leaving segments of the population disenfranchised and impoverished. Arthur suffers from a disorder that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times, and depends on social services for medication. After a gang of delinquents attacks him in an alley, Arthur's co-worker, Randall, gives him a gun for protection. Arthur invites his neighbor, single mother Sophie, to his stand-up comedy show, and they begin dating.
While entertaining at a children's hospital, Arthur's gun falls out of his pocket. Randall lies that Arthur bought the gun himself and Arthur is fired. On the subway, still in his clown makeup, Arthur is beaten by three drunken Wayne Enterprises businessmen; he shoots two in self-defense and executes the third. The murders are condemned by billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, who labels those envious of more successful people as "clowns". Demonstrations against Gotham's rich begin, with protesters donning clown masks in Arthur's image. Funding cuts shutter the social service program, leaving Arthur without medication.
Arthur's comedy show goes poorly; he laughs uncontrollably and has difficulty delivering his jokes. His idol, talk show host Murray Franklin mocks Arthur by showing clips from the routine on his show. Arthur intercepts a letter written by Penny to Thomas, alleging that he is Thomas's illegitimate son, and berates his mother for hiding the truth. At Wayne Manor, Arthur talks to Thomas's young son, Bruce, but flees after a scuffle with butler Alfred Pennyworth. Following a visit from two Gotham City Police Department detectives investigating Arthur's involvement in the train murders, Penny suffers a stroke and is hospitalized.
At a public event, Arthur confronts Thomas, who tells him that Penny is delusional and not his biological mother. In denial, Arthur visits Arkham State Hospital and steals Penny's case file; the file says Penny adopted Arthur as a baby and allowed her abusive boyfriend to harm them both. Penny alleged that Thomas used his influence to fabricate the adoption and commit her to the asylum to hide their affair. Distraught, Arthur goes to the hospital and kills Penny. He returns home and enters Sophie's apartment unannounced. Frightened, Sophie tells him to leave; their previous encounters were Arthur's delusions.
Arthur is invited to appear on Murray's show due to the unexpected popularity of his comedy routine's clips. As he prepares, Arthur is visited by Randall and fellow ex-colleague Gary. Arthur murders Randall, but leaves Gary unharmed for treating him well in the past. En route to the studio, Arthur is pursued by the two detectives onto a train filled with clown protesters. One detective accidentally shoots a protester and incites a riot, allowing Arthur to escape.
Before the show goes live, Arthur requests that Murray introduce him as Joker, a reference to Murray's previous mockery. Arthur walks out to applause, but tells morbid jokes, admits he killed the men on the train, and rants about how society abandons the disenfranchised. Arthur fatally shoots Murray and is arrested as riots break out across all of Gotham. One rioter corners the Wayne family in an alley and murders Thomas and his wife Martha, sparing Bruce. Rioters in an ambulance crash into the police car carrying Arthur and free him. He smears blood on his face in the form of a smile and dances to the cheers of the crowd.
At Arkham, Arthur laughs to himself about a joke and tells his psychiatrist she would not understand it. He runs from orderlies, leaving a trail of bloody footprints.
Review
I was really excited for this movie and it did not disappoint. My expectations were high and the movie still went above and beyond in a way only Joker can- and that is no laughing matter. This movie is too good. While it is tough to pinpoint what I don’t like about the film, I won’t even go there. It delivers just the right amount of suspense, the right amount of darkness, the right amount of tragical humor- in only a way the Clown Prince of Crime can deliver.
This is not a movie for children and that is abundantly clear with it’s fan delivered R-rating. Warner Bros. nailed this film right out of the park and as a result, does not just score a home run to win the game but rather the world series.
Earlier I mentioned that The Dark Knight was my all-time favorite movie. Now? My whole list is scrambled out of proportion.. Not only is this the best film of the year, decade and century. But may even be the best of all time.
Final Rating
104/100
Beyond the Best There Has Ever Ben
