Joker

Comic book characters can reflect the best and worst of humanity through their origins, powers, weaknesses, and highs and lows. This is why so often they are referred to as modern-day Greek myths. One prominent example is the clown prince of crime himself, The Joker. Whether it’s through the comic books, the television shows, or the movies that feature him, Batman’s arch-nemesis has been depicted many times, with each version trying to touch upon an aspect of the character the writers find interesting.

The films, in particular, have had a wide range in how they depict such an iconic baddie, from Cesar Romero’s goofy prankster, to Jack Nicholson’s sadistic party man, to Heath Ledger’s nihilistic terrorist, to Jared Leto’s obnoxious edgelord. And now, Warner Bros. is tapping into the wide potential of this character yet again by literally making him the star of the movie with Joaquin Phoenix’s troubled misfit.

In 1981 Gotham, Arthur Fleck is a down-on-his-luck, mentally ill clown-for-hire with a condition that makes him laugh involuntarily. He takes care of his sick mother who’s constantly reaching out to billionaire and mayor candidate, Thomas Wayne for assistance, and aims to be a professional stand-up comic, inspired by local talk show host, Murray Franklin. When things go awry, secrets are revealed, and he’s pushed to the breaking point, Arthur finds himself in a downward spiral before he finally gets the attention he thinks he deserves.

I completely understand people’s problems with this film, with many calling it “irresponsible” and “poorly-timed” given all the violence caused by isolated loners in the real world. But the movie to me is just a reminder to be more aware of the turmoil the mentally ill go through these days, whether it'd be the government ceasing medication provision, bullying, or media exploitation.

Even those that Arthur thinks care about him have let him down in so many tragic ways. Every time life gives him even a slither of hope, it takes it away before he knows it. After trudging through all the bitterness and sorrow that he goes through, I have to say his eventual breakdown only makes sense, even to a “normal” person like me. The whole story is a grim reminder of what we learned from Heath Ledger’s performance; that the best villains are the ones that make sense.

But even if the violence can feel good to watch in a twisted way, it can still be downright stomach-churning, never shying away from the horrors that result from such a disturbed person. The effects of a society turning a blind eye to the mentally ill are onscreen, never feeling exploitative. Todd Phillips’ direction beautifully captures the grungy hellhole that Arthur and his actions are natural byproducts of, using producer Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver as a great and natural template.

So much of the movie’s success stems from Joaquin Phoenix. Obviously, a role like this requires a lot from the actor playing him, and Phoenix more than delivers, both when he is wallowing in his self-pity and when he gets a chance to unleash his pent up rage. Robert De Niro shines as Arthur’s hero who “treats” him in ways he regrets instantly (which is a little ode to a role De Niro played in The King of Comedy, also directed by Scorsese). Other actors like Zazi Beetz, Frances Conroy, and Brett Cullen round out a cast of characters that Arthur trusts and is ultimately betrayed by.

Joker is a thrillingly dark portrait of society’s poor treatment on the mentally ill, daring us to accept the fact that sometimes, we can only blame ourselves for the darkness of the world that we have seen recently. And it does so by centering on one of the most iconic characters of all time and examining the timely traits that have made him endure for decades, a reminder that the villains in “kiddie books” seldom exist in a vacuum.