It is not often that someone is able to take a character or story from the comic medium and portray it in film form with the gravity and nuance that readers invision in their heads. Todd Phillips (director/writer) is able to achieve this while telling the story of an extremely complex character that audiences of multiple mediums have long desired an origin from. Phillips bravely tackles this in presenting a very heavy and dark story that, in true Joker fashion, is told in a convoluted fashion. No matter what audiences take away from Joker, they will surely appreciate an excellent performance and powerful story of a man whose mind is fractured by society and how he chooses to cope with troubling events and revelations in his life.

Joaquin Phoenix (Arthur Fleck) gives a performance to rival his peers this awards season. Physically he put a toll on his body that undoubtedly took a minimum of a few days off the tail end of his life. He portrays a man unnoticed by society despite his attempts for attention, and when society gives him a bit of attention it is not positive. Phoenix takes us on a journey of an already mentally unstable man living in an unstable society that will push him to his mental breaking point. His depiction of mental illness combined with his physical frailness is powerful on many levels. Knowing where his character’s journey ultimately ends, he gives us an understanding to what may drive a man to those ends. The supporting cast is minimal with Robert De Niro (Murray Franklin) and Zazie Beetz (Sophie Dumond) adding to the troubled characters plight. They both compliment Joaquin’s performance well but Joker is still Phoenix’s tremendous performance piece.

Joker is told in a form that honors the characters history. The Joker’s origin has been received by audiences with varying opinions and interpretations throughout his history. This film will be no different. Some choose to see it as a glorification of violence and absolvation of actions, while others see it as an unfortunate tale of the fall of a broken man. No matter how you receive the performance, its quality can not be denied. While Joker is warning parents and audiences about its violence and themes, it is no more violent than many other movies that get none of these warnings. There are fewer violent scenes in this film than many recent releases, however the violence in Joker is weighted in harsh realities of society which most choose to ignore or overlook. The films violence, along with the character, feel so real that it is disturbing and leaves much of the audience unsettled. This was Joker’s goal which it succeeded greatly at. Wherever your opinion falls, it is the opinion of this reviewer that Joker merely gives you an understanding of the events that drive someone mad. The Joker has said in comic form that every man is just one bad week away from becoming him and this is the story of that week. While at no point are his characters actions to be absolved, we should all strive to have a better understanding of those among us. Especially those of us who are less fortunate or society has deemed “evil”.