Joker was first introduced in 1951, in the issue of Detective Comics #168. Created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson. Since then even to this day, he was often described as the definitive Batman villain. A clown based villain, who's main shtick is the following: Seeing vicious crimes as funny as practical jokes, revelling in the anarchy they cause, being nearly one step ahead of the Dark Knight and often always trying his best to either kill him in elaborate ways or corrupting him by any means necessary. Even in the age where Batman never killed, Joker was one of the few he admitted to be willing to make an exception of. There were many stories, both in comic and other forms of media that often offered their own take on the villain. Such as Death in The Family, which killed off the Second Robin, Jason Todd. As well as the famous Alan Moore Graphic, The Killing Joke. He has been portrayed by many legendary actors, such as Caesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Mark Hamill, Heath Ledger, Jared Leto and just recently Joaquin Phoenix. The latter of which we will look into today.
The movie was directed by Todd Phillips, who got his claim to fame making the Hangover movies. However this movie was a far contrast to his more lighthearted dark comedies. Taking on such influences as Martin Scorsese. Whom was the first choice to direct the movie, before briefly becoming executive producers. While known for dark elements, this movie is not part of the fan nicknamed DCEU. Which housed such movies as Man Of Steel, Batman V Superman, Wonder Woman, Shazam and Aquaman. (Not Justice League, #ReleaseTheSnyderCut)
Spoilers aside.Various news mediums have often made the claims regarding the potential controversy. From using a certain song from a convicted Sex Offender. (Which I had no idea he was until I heard about it.), to the "potential" copy cat crimes in it's name similar to the controversy surrounding Clockwork Orange and the Aurora Theater Shooting. While I sympathize with the victims of those crimes, I refuse to believe this movie or any movie of similar variety is responsible. As Billy Loomis once said "Movies don't create psychos. Movies make psychos more creative." The fact that the Divided States of Trump or DST for short, would go as far as military action regarding it, is beyond asinine.
With that said, let's take a look.
Now this incarnation of the Clown Prince of Crime, goes by the name Arthur Fleck. A struggling Stand-up comic and part time clown, living in Gotham City in 1981. He lives with his ailing mother in a rundown apartment with only one known neighbor. Sophie Dumond. A single mother whom Arthur has an attraction too. In the beginning we get a glimpse into Arthur's life as he struggles with overbearing bosses, apathetic citizens petty thugs and a series of symptoms of mental disorders not fully defined, but require him to be heavily medicated and attending sessions with a psychiatrist. All the while determined to land his dream gig on a comedy based talk show, hosted by Murray Franklin, played by Scorsese regular Robert DeNiro. After a recent incident involving his sign stolen by thugs, who in turn lure him into an alley to assault him; one of Arthur's colleagues, Randall gives him a pistol to defend himself. Which later gets him into trouble when he entertains sick kids. During a fateful subway ride home, he encounters three men hassling a woman who turn their attention to him due to his spontaneous laughter. When they try to harm him, Arthur snaps and shoots the three dead. Causing the third to suffer. Upon returning home, he uses his newfound confidence to woo Sophie and gain fame through his stand-up routine. However his fame turns into infamy when his murders reach the news and he finds to his shock the three men were part of a scholarship program run by Billionaire Thomas Wayne. In his bid to run for mayor of Gotham, Thomas derives the murders and calls anyone envious of their success "Clowns". Prompting ordinary citizens to don clown masks and protest his bid, while further causing themselves and Gotham to slip into Anarchy. As if things weren't screwed up enough, Penny whom used to work for Thomas, believes him to be Arthur's biological father. Prompting his own search for the truth, by stalking Thomas and his son Bruce. Penny suffers from a stroke and much to Arthur's joy he finally gets noticed by Murray Franklin. Only for the joy to become sorrow when Murray only shows clips of his Stand-Up to belittle and mock him. As Arthur continues to unravel, the funding for his medication and sessions were cut prompting him to slip further into insanity. Fortune smiles however when Franklin offers to have him on the show to perform a routine. Unfortunately news of the crimes coupled, his past incidences, with his mother's failing health have lead Arthur to run afoul of two detectives who suspect him. Upon visiting Arkham Asylum after a violent confrontation with Thomas Wayne, Arthur finds out the truth. He is not Thomas' biological son and Penny is not his biological mother. The latter of which both abused and allowed her boyfriends to abuse him as well. Which prompts him to euthanize Penny with a pillow. When he returns to Sophie's apartment, he finds to his horror, that they only met this time and that all the other times she's interacted with him were delusional hallucinations. It is unclear whether or not he killed Sophie upon discovering him in her house. While preparing for the show, he dons make-up and wears the trademark crimson purple suit. Arthur kills Randall for kickstarting his downward spiral, but spares his other colleague Gary. As the latter was the only one that treated him nicely. While on route, the detectives chase him, prompting him to take shelter in a subway among clowns who were inspired by his crimes, to take a stand against the rich society of Gotham. Which he uses to evade them, causing the clowns to injure the detectives in the process. Upon his arrival he agrees to Murray's terms on the condition that Murray refers to him from then on as: Joker. After fumbling through his act, he makes a speech about how society doesn't notice people like him and berates Murray for making fun of him and confesses to the killings before shooting Murray dead. Which kickstarts a city-wide riot that causes the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne. In turn kickstarting Bruce's journey into becoming Batman. Initially Joker gets arrested, but then freed, by his followers embracing them as the people that matter to him. However in the end he is incarcerated at Arkham, before he plans his escape fulfilling his journey as the Clown Prince of Crime.
Now on the surface, the movie comes across as a dark, gritty deconstruction on the Coming of Age Genre. With Arthur portrayed for the most part as a sympathetic character who tries to make something of himself. Which he does. However due to the nature of the character he becomes, there are many hints that things aren't all they seem.
While the movie was not an adapation of any comic, it has taken inspirations from other works. Such as implying Joker's involvement in the Wayne Murders similar to the 1989 Tim Burton Batman Film. But, the struggling comedian angle takes major inspiration from The Killing Joke. And for those who have not read that comic or seen the adaptation it spawned, there was one key element in the Joker story that causes the movie to be seen in a different light. During his confrontation with, Joker laments that even he doesn't know who he is anymore. Reciting this immortal quote.
And since this movie overall has taken place in Joker's POV, for all we know some if not all of it was either at best an outright lie or at worst, choice C of his multiple choice past. Rather than have a full on origin story, we may have just merely taken a glimpse of the titular clown's damaged psyche. And there have been several moments that show his delusions. From the moment he imagined himself among Murray's audience, to the twist regarding Sophie. With that in mind, how much of the story if not all of it was true or false? We may never know. And that is what scares us the most.
The movie was at first released in film festivals, winning several awards including but not limited to 3 Venice Film awards and one Actor Tribute Award in the Toronto International film festival. Upon it's theatrical release it has broken many box office records and as of today has grossed a world wide total of $281.6 Million. $14.99 of it I myself have proudly personally spent on it.
The movie is full of thrills, chills and will keep you on the edge of your seat. You'll laugh, you'll cry, but most of all you'll have something to talk about. But I'm not gonna lie, the movie will scare the living shit out of you. Enjoy.
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