Movie Review | Joker

10.06.2019 – The Joker is a very complicated character and his origin varies depicted by the writers and artists that breathe life to its history. In the films, Cesar Romero was the first to bring the character to life in Batman 1966. Then Jack Nicholson’s portrayal in the 1989 film, but what caught everyone’s attention is the later Heath Ledgers take on the character that defined the modern Joker. Jared Leto’s version should not be unnoticed that defined the sadistic side of the character. But with the introduction of a solo Joker film by director Todd Phillips with Joaquin Phoenix, the method actor as the titular character was something a different take defining a fresh look on the deep dark origins of what is the Joker in this film. This Joker movie lives up to the expectation that it is unpredictable and downright dark and not afraid to push the boundaries of what the character can be. Though, like in the comicbooks the Joker is unreliable narrator that prefers his original as a multiple choice, which gives writers to add their own take on the characterization of this complex human that ‘had a bad day’ as most taking the template of inspiration from Alan Moore and Brian Bolland’s The Killing Joke.

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! If you haven’t seen Joker, you know the drill, but then again you’ll just ignore it anyway so carry on…

The film considered to be ‘low key’ as it was marketed and defined as having ‘indie film’ sensibilities. It is a quite daunting challenge how Todd Phillips's direction in defining one of Batman’s long-time supervillains given its defined origin in the DC Extended Universe. But Phillips claims this does not have any connection to the previous or future films or is it?

Convoluted Perspective Origin

As mentioned the Joker is an unreliable narrator to this film and certainly captures that thought giving viewers their mixed reactions on how they see this character. But it also pays tribute to the former portrayals of the Joker in the television and films with Easter egg reference through the dialog and callbacks that you’ll not immediately notice it.

But for the fans who have been a follower in the comicbooks and other forms of media that also includes the videogames and animation this one certainly gives you the challenge to follow the portrayal of the character of who he was. But in the end, you’ll find out how it will be difficult to find sympathy for someone who just wants to see the world burn.

Don’t Send in this Clown

The Joker has a cautionary tale with a mental illness that has been in discussion. But you can’t ignore how this film put the character in the map despite the late Heath Ledger portrayed the character more than just some villain in the comicbooks. Phoenix’s take is new and did not look at the previous character portrayal that certainly deserves an Oscar nod.

Overall it is a dark tragic tale that takes you on a path not all ends like a fairy tale, but something you won’t expect. At first, you’ll feel sympathy but in the other, you’ll find that things happened in one bad day, which makes this film, not your average comicbook film but a perspective if things go terribly wrong.

Joker is now playing in cinemas across Southeast Asia including the Philippines beginning 3 October 2019 with the rest of the world HERE world from Warner Bros Pictures, and distributed by Village Roadshow in Australia.

RATED: B+