Synopsis:

Director Todd Phillips “Joker” centers around the iconic arch nemesis and is an original, standalone fictional story not seen before on the big screen. Phillips’ exploration of Arthur Fleck, who is indelibly portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, is of a man struggling to find his way in Gotham’s fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic at night, but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Arthur makes one bad decision that brings about a chain reaction of escalating events in this gritty character study.

Movie Review (Words by Will)

A Joker story mostly devoid of Batman would seem an odd choice for a comic book film. Considering the character himself in several incarnations of film, television and comics, has often declared that his entire raison d'être is to continuously antagonize the Caped Crusader for no other purpose than he finds it amusing.

That being said the absence of the Dark Knight in "Joker" the latest from director Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix, does not overly harm the film, which largely succeeds as a stand alone origin story for the iconic villain.

DC comics have historically kept the Joker's back story vague, so it cannot be said with any great confidence that the story told in this instance is the definitive origin of the clown prince of crime. It is however a welcome addition to his existing cannon.

At it's core "Joker", if you remove it's passing references to Gotham, the Wayne family and (other comic book easter eggs); is essentially "a man goes mad" film, in the vain of "Taxi Driver" and "The King of Comedy". This is no coincidence as Martin Scorsese writer/director of both classics was initially attached as producer of "Joker" during its early stages of development.

The influence of these films is apparent, which works both for and against the film. Phillips captures the gritty realism of those earlier works, but conversely fails to break new ground in this well trodden genre. The plot is largely predictable but thankfully, the magnetic performance of Phoenix as the titular character goes some way to make up for the lack of originality. Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, with both a sympathetic vulnerability and an unhinged sense of danger in equal measure. It would not be a surprise if his portrayal of the Joker earns him several nominations come award season.

His character's arc from troubled downtrodden loser; Literally and figuratively beat down and ignored by an uncaring society, to the inevitable full blown violent insanity of the Joker, though familiar, is compelling to watch. Phoenix is completely believable throughout the journey.

Overall, "Joker" an entertaining and solid film well paced with an outstanding performance by Phoenix. Ably supported by a strong cast including Robert De Niro (who also starred in Taxi Driver and King of Comedy) Zazie Beetz and Frances Conroy.

The film is certainly a departure from the Marvel style of comic book movie making, but a wider stylistic variety of comic adaptions is certainly no bad thing when done well.

3.5 out of 5

Joker is showing NOW at selected Cinemas around Brisbane.

All images credited to Todd Phillips, DC, and Warner Brothers.