Joker movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Joker

RATING: R

LENGTH: 2 hour, 2 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

Joaquin Phoenix deserves an Oscar nomination and win for his outstanding performance in this intense, psychological thriller. You can actually see the subtle transformation in his eyes from troubled loner to evil man. It’s mesmerizing to watch. You can see the tortured soul and pain displayed before your very eyes. It’s a fascinating and haunting origin story of one of the most popular comic book villains of all time. Joaquin lost 52 pounds for this role.

The list of extremely talented actors who have portrayed Joker in past movies and TV shows includes Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto, Cesar Romero, Hugo Blick, David Hodges, and even Mark Hamill. Who is your favorite?

While people are naturally going to compare Phoenix’s Joker to all of the ones before, Joaquin Phoenix makes this movie his own and offers an intriguing, new story Joker fans never knew they wanted. Director Todd Phillips called Joaquin Phoenix “the fiercest and brightest and most open-minded lion I know: at the Toronto Film Festival.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

If your child is a comic book fan, be aware that this is a rated R movie and may be way too dark for him/her. There is a lot of violence, but the truly scary aspects of the movie have to do with mental health. Have a discussion with your children about the sympathy they may feel towards someone who is very violent because he is a victim himself. The gritty movie dives deep into the making of a murderer.
You see a topless man in his boxers.
Bullying
Some profanity and F-bombs.
Murder with bloody, gory brutality.

THEMES:

The movie asks a haunting question: What role do WE play in society in creating an evil character like Joker?
Cruelty vs. kindness
Mental health

THINGS I LIKED:

Directed by Todd Phillips, this movie is a very disturbing drama from Warner Brothers Pictures. It’s the first movie in the DC Black label. Do we want more dark comic book movies like this?
The cinematography is outstanding.
The color palette that was selected was perfect for this story.
It was awesome that Robert DeNiro was cast in the film. If you ever watched Martin Scorsese’s 1976 movie Taxi Driver, in which DeNiro starred, you will definitely see how that film influenced moments in this movie.
It was fascinating to watch Arthur with a young Bruce Wayne.
Gotham is presented as a very realistic city.
The lovely Zazie Beetz provides the only softness in the movie.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

The movie doesn’t feel like a comic book. Should it? Does it bother you if it doesn’t? It’s also not an action movie, but an incredible character journey.
The 2 hours is exhausting and even tiresome to watch the disturbing breakdown and psychotic insanity.

INTERESTING LINES:

“Is it just me or is it getting crazier out there?” – Arthur (Joaquin Phoenix)
“I just hope my death makes more sense than my life.” – what Arthur wrote in his journal
“Comedy is subjective.” – Arthur

OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:

The Dark Knight