Sean Singletary Professor Evans Script Analysis December 2019 The Joker Film Review The Joker is a 2019 Psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screen play with Scott Silver. The film depicts the difficult life of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), as he slowly descends into madness due to economic inequalities, physical and verbal abuse, and finally mental health issues. This is what sets the stage for Arthur Fleck to become the infamous Joker. When I first heard that this movie was being made, I was extremely worried as filling Heath Ledgers shoes as the Joker is a monumental task. However, I was delightfully surprised as I began to watch Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker. The first thing that caught my eye right away, was how committed Joaquin was to playing this role. When you see Joaquin’s character at first glance, he seems like a weird but relatively normal guy. Although, we soon see how malnourished this man truly is, giving us one of our first glances into the psyche of Arthur Flecks mind. Besides the substantial amount of weight Joaquin lost for this role, he truly became immersed with the character of Arthur Fleck. Every scene felt deliberately unsettling and intense, making the viewer crave more information on this eccentric man. Watching Joaquin act, it feels as if were truly watching a man lose his mind as the film progresses. Another aspect I love about this film is the overall idea of what the film is about. Superhero films are great, but they’re fake dramatic. What I mean is when watching a superhero film, something bad always happens, but we know in the end everything is going to be okay. Most of the audience already knows Batman or Spiderman’s story, because we’ve constantly been told their stories over and over again. Why are we never told in detail about the villain’s these hero’s fight in every film? The Joker does just that, highlighting the fact that villans aren’t just born villans, but are also complex and dynamic indiviuals as well. It’s nice to get away from the same old thing to see a dark and gritty interpretation on the superhero world. This film touches on a ton of themes that many can find extremely relatable. A lot of people know what it feels like to be poor and unfortunate. A lot of people know what it’s like to be verbally or physically abused every day, and a lot of people know what it’s like to be an outcast. While I don’t believe the message of Arthur Fleck is a message people should get behind, I do however believe there is an underlying message within this film. The message seems to be that people should be more kind and pay attention to those around them. Not everyone handles situations the same and its easy for someone who is constantly going through tough times to finally snap. Some people need help with their mental health but can’t afford the proper care they need. In reality we never truly know the situation and should try to treat everyone with as much fairness and kindness as possible. Lastly, this movie is just outright beautiful too watch. While there are some moments of extreme violence, the cinematography in this film is absolutely gorgoues. Some scenes such as the public bathroom scene where Arthur is dancing, are hauntingly beautiful. We just watched this man kill multiple people, and yet the audience gets lost in this weird, but beautiful ballet dance Arthur puts on in a dirty public restroom. These types of scenes highlight the beauty, but espically the craziness that is centered throughout the entire film. If you haven’t seen this film, I would recommend giving it a try, as it is a very unique take on a character many of us have grown up with.
