Joker
In 2019 , Todd Phillips team up with Joaquin Phoenix to createa new origin narrative for the Clown Prince of Crimeand turn over it into the R - rated risible book blockbusterJoker . At the time of its release , the motion picture was praised by critic and trounce by many would - be moviegoers , who deemed it the most life-threatening moving picture ever made without even seeing it .
This buzz led to a derivative , half - scorched , on - the - nose psychological thriller breaking all kinds of loge federal agency criminal record and receiving more Academy Award nominations than any other movie in a year carry such masterpiece asParasiteandThe Irishman .
Right: Joaquin Phoenix’s Lead Performance
the right way off the bat , the MVP ofJokeris Joaquin Phoenix ’s captivating performance in the rubric theatrical role . The flick rest almost entirely on its lead actor ’s shoulders .
Phoenix ’s performance has been criticise for being over - the - top , but there ’s no denying that whenever he ’s on - silver screen , he ’s unfeignedly electrifying . His turn as Arthur was unforgettable , and certainly deserving of the Academy Award .
Wrong: Derivative Of Scorsese
Todd Phillips made no enigma of the fact thatJokerwas intemperately influenced by the work of Martin Scorsese — particularlyTaxi Driver , The King of Comedy , and a little bit ofRaging Bull — but it crosses the homage line and becomes direct derivative of Scorsese ’s classic .
As a socially awkward loner driven to vigilantism and a struggling comic who lives with his mother and imagines relationships and butts heads with a famous talk of the town show host , Arthur Fleck is just a vociferous combining of Travis Bickle and Rupert Pupkin .
Right: Depicting Gotham
After Tim Burton depicted Gotham as a gloomy German expressionist hellhole andChristopher Nolan depict it as a crime - ridden urban junglein the moulding of Michael Mann ’s L.A. fromHeat , Todd Phillips crafted another great on - screen portrayal of Batman ’s metropolis , modeling it after Scorsese ’s New York .
Joker ’s portrayal of the urban center ’s class divide is exceedingly on - the - nose , but then again , it is a comic Christian Bible picture .
Wrong: Taking Arthur’s Side
While Scorsese refrain from frame up Travis Bickle as a badass and instead portrayed him asa grave lunatic that the audience should n’t rout for , Todd Phillips took the much easier route of make Arthur Fleck seem really coolheaded . The jerky stockbrokers he kills are so disgustingly objectionable that the interview ca n’t help but cheer when Arthur shoots them in the face . In his attack to become Scorsese , Phillips basically became Michael Bay .
The reason for all that unnecessary controversy about the far-flung force this movie was supposed to egg on was that Phillips sides with his unbalance antihero .
Right: Lawrence Sher’s Cinematography
If Joaquin Phoenix is the just thing aboutJoker , the second - good thing is Lawrence Sher , the movie ’s film director of picture taking . Sher ’s filming is drench in coloration , capturing the dark tone of the story with gloomy mental imagery and then soaking that somberness in neon light .
A number of shots inJoker , from Arthur emerge from the elevator in physical composition to the eerie bulwark of TV monitors following the end of Murray Franklin , have become iconic , thanks to Sher ’s piece of work .
Wrong: Too Big For Its Boots
Todd Phillips really wanted to have something meaningful to say withJoker . The job is that he plainly did n’t . So , instead , he made a movie that acts like it has substance .
As a result , Jokerhas all the ingredient of a great movie without really being one , because it has nothing to say .
Right: Murray Franklin’s Death
Although the line “ You get what you f**king merit ! ” is pretty cringeworthy ( which might actually be the tip ) , Murray Franklin ’s death scene is suitably scandalous . It seemed inevitable , yet it still came as a surprise .
Using the in - universe camera from Murray ’s talk show to catch the murder made the violent death seem more real . This moment brought the sign down in every theater .
Wrong: On-The-Nose Social Commentary
The social commentary inJokeris about as poignant and nuanced as one would gestate from the theatre director ofThe Hangovertrilogy , which is to say it is n’t at all . The super rich ’s treatment of the impoverished is cartoonishly on - the - nose .
While the movie thinks it ’s sticking up for those suffering from genial health issues , it actually does everything in its superpower to further stigmatize them .
Right: The Ending
Arthur Fleck is characterize throughoutJokerin such a way that the total movie could ’ve been make up in his nous while he was gaol in Arkham Asylum . The ending of the film makes this delightfully ambiguous , allowing the audience to drag their own conclusions , which is uncommon in risible leger blockbuster .
The final shooting of Arthur endure through the psychiatric hospital , leaving behind bloody footprints and being chased by orderlies while Frank Sinatra ’s “ That ’s Life ” play on the soundtrack , made for a terrific ending .
Wrong: Killing Bruce Wayne’s Parents AGAIN
Todd Phillips promised thatJokerwould have absolutely nothing to do withthe extended DC picture - verse . Why , then , does the movie rely so to a great extent on its connection to Batman ? A pile of the Thomas Wayne stuff inJokerworks , but the Waynes ’ final appearance is enough to induce an eye - peal .
Yet again , DC fan had to sit through the execution of Thomas and Martha Wayne — this time , perpetrated by one of the Joker ’s following during a sidesplitter — and Todd Phillips did nothing to didder it up . The fit even feature Martha ’s notorious bead necklace .
NEXT : The Dark Knight get up : 5 Things It start out veracious ( & 5 It Got Wrong )
