Introduction
Joker is a psychological Thriller which is the re-telling of the aims and intentions of one of the most destructive villains in the comic book industry.. This third film from writer-director Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix in a breakout performance is about madness, nationality and individuals’ striving for themselves. The 2019 American black comedy thriller movie Joker presents the tragic portrayal of the clown-obsessed antagonist in DC comics. In addition, unlike many movies in the genre of superheroes, the Joker shows the psychosocial developmental stage of the main character Arthur Fleck Joker. Featuring a transformative performance by Joaquin Phoenix, the film explores themes of mental illness, societal neglect, and the quest for identity.
Released in 2019, Joker presents a dark and gritty interpretation of the Joker character from DC Comics. Unlike traditional superhero films, Joker focuses on the psychological transformation of Arthur Fleck, a troubled man who becomes the infamous Joker. But most of all it has a very deep preoccupation with mental disorder and social inequality that sets it apart from other comic-based movies. Joaquin Phoenix received much appreciation for his role as Arthur Fleck; he won numerous awards – including the Oscar for Best Actor.
Release Date
Joker was filmed at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on August 31st September 2019 the whole team got an eight-minute standing ovation and the film was awarded the Golden Lion Top award. It was shown in theatres throughout the United States on October fourth, 2019. It earned quick success achieving a gross of over $1.078 billion on the international level which makes it the highest-grossing R-rated movie in history. This marked a crucial shining point in the cinematic progress that popular comic book films for adults could work and be praised as profitable.
Crew:
| Role | Person(s) |
|---|---|
| Director | Todd Phillips |
| Screenplay | Todd Phillips, Scott Silver |
| Writer | Todd Phillips, Scott Silver |
| Producer | Todd Phillips, Bradley Cooper, Emma Tillinger Koskoff |
| Editor | Jeff Groth |
| Music Director | Hildur Guðnadóttir |
Cast:
| Actor/Actress | Character Name |
|---|---|
| Joaquin Phoenix | Arthur Fleck |
| Robert De Niro | Murray Franklin |
| Zazie Beetz | Sophie Dumond |
| Glenn Fleshler | Randall |
| Frances Conroy | Penny Fleck |
| Dante Pereira-Olson | Bruce Wayne |
| Bryan Callen | Javier |
| Brian Tyree Henry | Carl |
| Josh Pais | Hoyt Vaughn |
| Marc Maron | Gene Ufland |
| Sam Morril | Open Mic Comic |
| Douglas Hodge | Alfred Pennyworth |
| Leigh Gill | Gary |
| Chris Redd | Comedy Club Emcee |
| Gary Gulman | Comedian |
| April Grace | Arkham Psychiatrist |
| Carl Lundstedt | Wall Street Three |
| Mick Szal | Woman on Subway |
Story
Joker is a movie and shooting that took place in 1981 and focuses on a clown named Arthur Fleck who thought himself a stand-up comedian in the city of Gotham. At one point, Arthur has a neurological disorder, which makes him burst out into laughter any time he is with other people; hence fails to make friends. He has to stay with his sick mother, Penny, (Frances Conroy) who also has a rather sinister backstory, and barely gets by to buy the medicine for the child, and goes to social services.
That is why in an array of this city, the crime rate is rising and the citizens are completely uncontrollable, while Arthur is a target of bullying and rejection. These are after being attacked by a group of young men and losing his job his spirit starts breaking down and becomes ill. His coping strategy becomes violent notions which will soon manifest as fear in his heroic adventures as a guardian.
The climax of the movie is when Arthur murders three well–to–do businessmen on the subway merely because the latter harassed him. This act of violence is seen to and understood by Gotham’s marginalized citizens and begins protests against the Richie Richs. Whenever Arthur begins to represent rebellion, he finally turns into the Joker and has a brutal fight, which provokes people and their norms.
Review
What has arisen for Joker is critical and audiences’ liking and backing. It shares with the audience a very strong and moving true story and Phoenix and I agree with many critics that this contribution was phenomenal, While the focus on the depiction of violence and mental disease has caused controversies.
Plus Points
- Joaquin Phoenix’s Performance: There is another great thing about Phoenix – he portrays Arthur Fleck in the movie. Due to determined acting such as body transformation and psychological portrayal of the underestimated human, he was recognized with the Best Actor Oscar Award.
- Cinematography and Direction: ‘The Killing Joke’ has a great desire in the sight of director Todd Phillips and cinematographer Lawrence Sher which gives ample aesthetic pleasure for the viewers providing the grimy settings of Gotham City. There is also the element of color and framing which gives the feeling behind the differentiation a deeper meaning.
- Musical Score: The employment of score by Hildur Guðnadóttir fits into the other aspects of this film and has a part in enhancing the plus side of the tonal and content factor of this movie. The music also provides an effective means by which to influence the audience and their interpretation of Arthur’s character.
- Social Commentary: It is rather shocking to realize that depression, elder abandonment, and poverty battles between the rich and the poor remain to be topical as topical as ever even when it is set in the 70s of a movie. It raises basic issues for caring, societal isolation and consequences of harassment, and bullying.
Minus Points
- Controversial Themes: the mastery of theme in terms of violence and mental health. This has raised discourses as to the state of the society, perceived from the aspects depicted in this movie.
- Pacing Issues: Nevertheless, what has been lauded as the commendable pace of the part of the movie, there have been complaints lodged stating that the scenes were protracted, particularly at the beginning of the part. It could also set the level height of interest of the audience when being tense or not the paces.
- Simplistic Characterization: The critics have been complaining that some of the characters in this movie are stereotyped and the kind of role they play is only the way the movie is planned. As far as this can be a problem, it enhances away some of the profoundness of the movie.
Technical Aspects
Joker has a runtime of 122 minutes and features a 1.85 aspect of 1.33, which creates a closer feeling associated with the movie. Implications derived from the film; This film employed good technologies which include cinematics, poor light in the city of Gotham and scenes portraying the struggle in the head or brain of the protagonist, Arthur Fleischer. Jeff Groth has skillfully edited this movie to obtain considerable character development and a gradual buildup of constantly rising suspense.
Concerning the score, as it is for the previous movie, Hildur Guðnadóttir composed quite dark and suitable for the criminals’ mood music which includes melodic tracks and ones with really sinister sounds. The sound mix serves this purpose for also making the audience feel in the disorganized life of Arthur.
Performance
First on this list is Joaquin Phoenix who did an excellent job, especially in portraying Arthur Fleck who even had to make him gain weight for the role. He acts out every part of the main character’s mental illness together with his loneliness and how he transforms into Joker. The role of Penny Fleck, Arthur’s mother, is played by Frances Conroy who immortalised the sequence and added feeling to the story.
A few more characters abound in the movie, though I find Robert De Niro’s portrayal of Murray Franklin, Arthur’s last victim before the transformation, significant. Quite senile for Arthur, the character that is Sophie is rather developed, yet Sophie’s transformation is quite restrained throughout the film.
MoviePopTime Review:
During the entire movie Joker, I rarely got so much freedom and the soul-touching emotions inside of me. What can I say about Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, he does such an incredible job; we have got the rebirth of the character. It’s a film for the voiceless, ignored, and untouchables of society’s organisational structure. This is not merely a performance; it is a loudspeaker on behalf of the marginalized.
First of all, they may look like every other film but there is more to a film than meets the eye. There is no doubt that within Phoenix, Joker shines, looks and behaves as if it was written for him. For example, he is reinterpreting a character, making you remember the film at least to its end credits.
This is a perfect creation of this film as it comes at the right time, in an area that has become quite boring due to repetition. If people are will- ing to look for more than a mundane existence, it is the perfect present. For the people who understand what cinema can do at its best, this place is obligatory to visit.
Conclusion
Altogether, Joker is an example of a brave and philosophical movie setting a new view on the problem concerning one of the most dangerous villains in the cinematograph. Indeed, the majority of the viewers and critics of this picture left deeply emotional responses subject to the actors and actresses especially Joaquin Phoenix, the uniqueness of the organization of the picture and the plot. Even a film of such quality is infinitely enhanced by its director, Todd Phillips, and its composer, Hildur Guðnadóttir, as the movie is thus truly visceral or, in other words, leaves its viewers behind even only after the final frame of the picture.
Despite such aspirations of violence and mental health, Joker cannot be doubted about the fact that it raises issues and concerns about themes and what every one of us has inside. Arly from Joaquin Phoenix, and its exploration of complex themes, the film has left a lasting impact on both audiences and critics. Todd Phillips’ direction and Hildur Guðnadóttir’s haunting score further elevate the film, creating a visceral experience that resonates long after the credits roll.
While Joker has faced criticism for its portrayal of violence and mental illness, it undeniably opens up important conversations about societal issues and the human condition. Alone, it also departs from the typical tenets of the superhero genre and tells the audience its vision of what evil is. Because of this, it has opened the discussion about the fact that the other aspects and the deeper layers of the superhero genre might be explored, which places Joker as a pop-culture sign featuring contemporary cinema.
With its exploration of complex themes, the film has left a lasting impact on both audiences and critics. Todd Phillips’ direction and Hildur Guðnadóttir’s haunting score further elevate the film, creating a visceral experience that resonates long after the credits roll.
While Joker has faced criticism for its portrayal of violence and mental illness, it undeniably opens up important conversations about societal issues and the human condition. As a standalone film, it stands apart from traditional superhero narratives, offering a unique and unsettling perspective on the origins of evil. Its success has paved the way for discussions about the potential for more mature and nuanced storytelling within the superhero genre, making Joker a significant cultural touchstone in contemporary cinema.
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