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There’s one thing for sure you can say about the movie Joker- it is unlike any other superhero movie you’ve ever seen.
Of course, it’s not exactly a superhero movie, it’s a superhero villain movie, and there isn’t a single other superhero character in the whole film. It’s also an origin story for a comic book character whose origins have always been a bit murky at best, giving director Todd Phillips and co-writer Scott Silver enormous freedom to create something completely different.
Along those lines, they certainly have. Yes, this is the same Todd Phillips that brought us the Hangover (2009-13) movies, and other comedies like Old School (2003) and Due Date (2010). In that way, Joker is as different a movie as Phillips has previously delivered as a filmmaker (neglecting his early, hard-hitting documentaries on subjects like the darker side of fraternity life and the short career of punk rock performance artist G.G. Allin.)
Which makes it all the more surprising how precious few laughs are to be found in the movie. Considering the film’s main character Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a struggling stand-up comic (and even considering the movie’s very title), Joker proves to be a pretty grim and humorless ride. If you want dark, you’ve got it.
To call Joker unique, though, would neglect its debt to the gritty urban movies from director Martin Scorsese, including The King of Comedy (1982) and especially Taxi Driver (1976). It’s really more accurate to call it unique in the realm of superhero movies. It has a darker tone and a more realistic display of violence than the more cartoonish, CGI generated violence we usually see in, say, any of The Avengers films.
In fact, Joker is so reminiscent of Taxi Driver that it isn’t surprising to discover Scorsese himself initially served as a producer on the film. The casting of Robert DeNiro here cements the Scorsese connection, and shows Phillips is completely willing to acknowledge the movies that influenced him. DeNiro is even given a Jerry Langford type role as talk show host Murray Franklin, cleverly providing the actor’s Rupert Pupkin character from The King of Comedy with the wish-fulfillment fantasy of hosting his own late night show. Meanwhile Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker is now on the other end of the equation, a delusional, struggling stand-up comic who stages his own talk show appearances in his living room just as Rupert Pupkin had.
For that reason, the movie is a bit of a mixed bag. One the one hand, the filmmakers should be commended for their level of daring, as they faced all kinds of obstacles to make a superhero movie this gritty and downbeat. Supposedly they had to be reminded by movie studio producers that Wal-Mart sells a popular line of “Joker” pajamas, and that the retailer wouldn’t want their sales compromised by an irresponsibly violent and antisocial movie.
Director Todd Phillips forged ahead anyway, however, and created exactly the kind of movie he wanted. Yet as purposefully dark as Joker is, the movie frequently serves as a reminder of how much the filmmakers borrowed the stylish tone and basic story elements from other films.
The movie does touch on such topical issues such as our country’s capitalist born class disparity (manifesting here in the form of a revolution against the country’s 1%) or the neglect of our citizens struggling with mental illness. However, how much these topics are actually explored is debatable, as they serve more as window dressing here with the possible intention of stoking the fires of controversy. The result doesn’t delve far beneath the surface level, hoping that copious amounts of visual style will compensate.
Of course, all of this neglects the movie’s central showcase, which is Joaquin’s transfixing performance here as Arthur Fleck a.k.a. The Joker. Superhero movies rarely contain performances that end up being rewarded with acting accolades, however, Phoenix’s chilling portrayal of the troubled, mentally unbalanced Joker is completely mesmerizing to watch. Just the maniacal laugh his character bellows at inappropriate moments is a work of art, and Phoenix constantly commands attention whenever he’s onscreen. Arthur Fleck may not be a sympathetic character (and deliberately so), however, the filmmakers collaborate with Phoenix’s immense acting talent here to create a fascinating figure that you can’t take your eyes off.
Whether that’s enough to turn Joker into a satisfying movie is certainly a matter of opinion. However there’s no denying that the film proves to be a memorable experience that can linger with you for days afterwards.
Rated R.