Can there be justification for a notorious villain’s actions? Psychological thriller movie “Joker” will make anybody question one’s morals while diving into the insanity behind the criminal.
Wannabe stand-up comedian Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, lives at home with his mother during 1981 in Gotham City. He suffers from a condition that causes him to laugh uncontrollably at times, making him rely on the city’s social services for medication. Even though the city is suffering from crime and unemployment, Fleck works a job as a party clown. He was doing great until a spiral of events ensued.
One day at work, Fleck was jumped in an alley and beaten up. His fellow employee, Randall, played by Glenn Fleshler, gave him a gun to protect himself. Days go by then, Fleck’s gun fell on the ground while he was working at a children’s hospital. Randall insisted Fleck got the gun himself which lead to Fleck being fired. On the subway ride home, Fleck was mocked and beaten by three men. Fleck shot two in self-defense and the other as an execution.
The three men who were killed happened to be businessmen of Wayne Enterprises. Thomas Wayne, the billionaire leader of Wayne Enterprises, expresses his disgust for the incident. The people of Gotham then start protesting in groups dressed as clowns because the murderer in question (who was Fleck) had clown makeup on. A shift in society is born, demanding the downfall of the rich and successful in order to help the impoverished.
While the Gotham riots occur, Fleck falls deeper into madness. Funding is cut from social services, so he is no longer able to get medication. He finds out dark secrets from his past and has to decide what is reality and what is fabricated. His mother Penny, played by Frances Conroy, falls ill and is sentenced to the hospital. Being mentally unstable, Fleck quits caring for humanity because he says no one ever noticed the real him.
A video of Fleck’s stand-up comedy goes viral and leads to his invitation onto a live television show. When Fleck goes on dressed in clown makeup, he asks to be introduced as Joker. Fleck tells morbid jokes, admits to murdering the men and then proceeds to murder the host of the show. Riots, chaos and violence then break out on the streets as people, dressed as clowns, show support for Joker’s actions.
Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Joker is one to not be forgotten. He completely embodied the facial expressions and, most importantly, the unsettling laugh of Joker. He was able to contort his body in posture and movement that left the viewer feeling uneasy.
Another element that added perfect ambiance was the film’s soundtrack. The melodic tunes and string ensembles were able to encapsulate whatever mood was needed.
Although set in a fictional city, the movie has many correlations with the real world. It can be argued that Gotham City resembles the big cities of New York City or Chicago. If one was to visit some of the not-so-luxurious areas of these cities, they would witness violence and poverty, two things that defined the folks of Gotham. The political riots calling for justice are similar to protest movements people see today, such as incidents in the Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter Movements.
“Joker,” directed by Todd Phillips, is one of the most memorable films of the year. It brings out empathy for a criminal, an emotion one would not expect to feel. The soundtrack, acting and filming birthed a perfect setting for another tale of Gotham from the perspective of one of the most notorious villains in the comic book world.
By Kathy Williams, Staff Writer
williakp18@bonaventure.edu
