Noah Cooper's Movie Review

1. OpinionWriting–Movie Review
The personaof the Jokerisone of manyfaces,eachas psychoticasthe last. Throughoutthe
years,the character has beenportrayedbya slew of A-listers. Superherofansrevel overthe various
depictionsof the madman.
From Jack Nicholson’sgangsterpersonain“Batman”,tothe sinisteranarchistportrayedby
HeathLedgerin “The Dark Knight”,JoaquinPhoenix hadbigshoestofill inthisoriginstoryof one of
Hollywood’smostfamedsuperherovillains.
Phoenix,like hispredecessors,createsyetanew identity forthe clown,actingouta mentally-ill
desolate,ekingouthistroubledexistence inthe rat-infestedandcrime-riddenGothamCity.
Todd Phillips (“The Hangover”,“OldSchool”) directsthisphysiologicalcrime drama,which
appearsto be inspiredbyMartinScorsese’s “Taxi Driver”,delvingintothe psyche of aman whowill
soongenerate aneventual Gothamuprising.
ArthurFleck(JoaquinPhoenix) isandejected,middle-agedman,whoseentertainmentcareeris
almostas discouragingashisday-to-daymental state.
He struggles withfindingapersonalityinaworldthat’slefthimbatteredandtorturedsince
birth. Fleck’sonlysense of happiness derivesfromhis obsessionwithlate-nightTV talk-show host
Murray Franklin(RobertDe Niro). He dreamsof a similarlife onstage asa stand-upcomic,yethis
Tourette’slike outbursts,lowIQanddetachedmental state leavehistherapist(SharonWashington)
withquestions.
Fleck’smom(FrancesConroy) seemsoblivioustothe plethoraof issuessurroundinghismental
state.

2. Fleckisconstantlyridiculedatwork,workingasa washed-upentertainmentclowninafailing
industry.HiseatingdisorderbearsstrikingsimilaritiestoTrevorReznik(ChristianBale) fromthe Brad
Andersondirecteddrama“The Machinist”.Phoenix reportedlylost52 poundsinbefore takingon this
role.
It wasn’tuntil receivingagunwhenFleckfinallyfeltasense of self aroundothers,includinghis
next-doorneighborSophieDumond(ZazieBeetz).
The cinematographyduringthe entiretyof “Joker”uses avariationof colors,lightingeffectsand
filterstocreate a chillingeffectof the everydaylife inGothamCity.
A varietyof differentshotsandanglesencapsulated Fleck’scontinual demise,helpingtoportray
hisdetachedpsyche.
The script allowsfora masterful characterdevelopment. Phoenix alsogivesaperformance for
the ages,brilliantlyportrayingacharactersome thoughtwas alreadyplayedout.
Jokertakesa deep-dive intothe mental state of apoor,depressedandabusedman,tiredof his
situationincityledbythe rich. The stunning,emotional downwardspiral of the villainshouldbe enough
to captivate nearly anyaudience.
Overall:4.5/5