Joker is real, brutal and the DCU through an indie film lens

In a parallel universe Joker is an indie film that was shot in the backwoods of Norway. The film is a serious approach to mental illness, gorgeously shot, with a bleak and powerful soundtrack that matches its visuals. It’s also masterfully acted and doesn’t pull any punches. The art house crowd loves every minute of the film and singing its praises. While the mainstream audience is appreciating the film, but it’s not breaking records. Joker is like that description, for the most part, except in reverse.

Joker is a drama for those 18 and up. It fully presents itself as a story in which we’re watching a mentally troubled character whose life is one step away from imploding. Arthur Fleck is bullied, beaten up, delusional and suffers from a form of Tourette Syndrome that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times. The film paints a world that we wouldn’t knowingly want to live in, yet also mirrors the one that we currently live in.

The support system, as good as it tried to be, attempts to assist Fleck but falls apart due to lack of funding. People on the street are cruel to him, he’s got a job that he’s content with, but also has aspirations of being a comedian. Set against the backdrop of early 80s New York City grime, a frail mother whom he cares for and a late night talk show, Live with Murray Franklin.

Taut, cruel and tragic, Joker is the human train wreck that you can’t look away from. Reminiscent of Breaking Bad in many ways, where you know that the characters about the make horrible decisions. It’s a reality that you’ll never be in; but the quality of the acting, direction and totality of the package is irresistible.

From a story perspective it also mirrors Rogue One, to an extent. You’ll recognize of the characters, as well as, the location, but the story is just a bit different. Joker exists in the Batman world, but only as the mentally unstable outsider who you would never, ever invite over for a party.

Joaquin Phoenix is amazing as Arthur Fleck, the man who becomes Joker. Every moment that Phoenix is on screen he is chewing scenery and absolutely dominating his performance. He’s awkward at times and disturbingly happy when the character is violent. One gets the feeling that you really are watching a man who is insane and slowly embracing his violent side. The score is also pitch perfect for the film. It’s peppered with late 70’s AM radio nuggets, as well as the instrumental soundtrack by Hildur Gudnadottr. She’s a classical trained cellist from Iceland who absolutely nails the mood that alternates between the city and the villain. It’s creepy when it needs to be, haunting, ethereal and refreshing.

Joker is refreshing, but it’s also uncomfortable. It’s an old school movie that doesn’t need superhero capes, green screen or turn-of-the century costumes to be a drama that sucks you up and spits you out. If you take the ‘Joker’ persona out the film and made it a character study into mental illness the movie would still be an amazing work. However, it wouldn’t be as entertaining. It’s only because we know who Joker becomes, the people that orbit his history and the world that he lives in. If this were just some no name dude, then it’d be an amazing art house film that most people wouldn’t see.

As it stands, this is an amazing film. It won’t be for everybody because it is dark and presents mental illness and the violence that criminals might use to accomplish their goals to very real levels. Joker is rate R for violence, tense moments and language.