Joker : Movie Review

Image+by+Brandon+Kim

Image by Brandon Kim

By Syed Islam, Staff Writer

The Joker movie starring Joaquin Phoenix has managed to amass $543 million dollars globally during the first ten days of its release, making it one of the best movies currently in the theatres. The Joker movie depicts the life of a failed comedian wanting to gain importance in a life filled with despair. Arthur Fleck, an individual living in a dreadful city in dire situations has to work as a clown in order to provide financial support for himself and his mother. Through his isolation, oppression and generally being disregarded, Fleck is driven to a point of insanity and finally becomes the criminal mastermind known as The Joker.

The Joker is a phenomenal film that represents how one’s society can affect their personality. It shows the impact that society can have on an individual’s thoughts and actions. It had its fair share of dark humor but it mostly kept a dramatic theme throughout. It also portrayed how class divisions can negatively affect everyone. The movie’s plot was written very well, the events leading to the transformation from Arthur Fleck to The Joker were well constructed and developed. 

A huge part of the movie’s success was due to Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal. The actors for Joker have been changed many times in the past, with Heath Ledger claiming the spot of “fan favorite” in The Dark Knight. However, after Joaquin’s performance, many are inclined to believe that he is the best actor for Joker. During all the scenes where Arthur was laughing due to his “neurological condition,” Phoenix managed to perform the creepy, insane laugh on-screen with perfection.

Despite all the controversy revolving around the film, it’s truly an experience you can’t miss. The Joker could’ve definitely improved scenes with more comedy, but its intended purpose was to be dramatic, and it hit that aspect right on the mark, simultaneously surpassing my expectations. With that being said, Joker is most certainly a great movie that you can watch more than once, a satisfactory 9/10 is awarded.