Movie Poster

I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it’s a comedy.

# Review

The Joker is perhaps one of my favourite comic-book villains; there have been many interpretations of him, from the various voice actors voicing him in the cartoons, to Jack Nicholson's creepy portrayal in Batman, to Heath Ledger's legendary performance in The Dark Knight. Joaquin Phoenix's Joker definitely ranks among the best Jokers of all time.

Unlike traditional superhero movies with fast-paced action sequences and corny dialogue, Joker is dark and gritty, much like The Dark Knight but without the action scenes.

The atmosphere feels nihilistic and hopeless, creating a depressing and realist world which shapes the development of the titular character from a helpless victim to someone deranged and dangerous.

The highlight of Joker is definitely Phoenix as Arthur Fleck; everything from the nasally speech to the over-exaggerated running gait conveys the eccentricity of Arthur. The portrayal of Arthur is as someone who is physically feeble but at the same time, also unsettling and threatening. On one hand, the viewer is sympathetic towards Arthur, as he is consistently victimized by the world, and his main goal to be loved and accepted is also very relatable for many people. Despite this, the viewer feels anxious as the pressure builds up inside Arthur.

The cinematography and soundtrack were both also incredible. The film made great use of contrast, both in lighting and in mise-en-scène made the story much more compelling.

# Conclusion

A great film with amazing character development.

# Overall rating: 8.4

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