Review of Joker (2019) by Lookingforheart — 27 Dec 2019

I usually wait until the hype dies down to see films like this, and I have to say: believe the hype.

This is a real film, cast your superhero apprehensions aside. To say that Joaquin Phoenix is superlative in his performance is the understatement of the decade - he is brilliant. The score, cinematography, the direction, and script are equally so.

I don't know what we did to deserve a film of this caliber, or how on earth it got green lit in this day and age, let alone in the comic book arena, but thank your lucky stars that we did. Joker is a masterpiece of filmmaking, it is easily the most poignant comic book movie I've ever seen. It is all at once sad, tragic, deep, uncomfortable, yet never truly gratuitous - it is very nearly a perfect thing.

Between this and the excellent Wonder Woman and Shazam, DC is on a roll. Thank you to everyone involved. You have created a timeless piece of cinema with this film, truly, and I hope that it continues with your future endeavors.

Highly, highly recommended, but definitely not for kids, even if simply for the depth of its themes, that they will definitely not understand, this is no Avengers film. There are no cookie cutters in this movie, it is all nuance, and there are a few scenes that border on brutal. It is art in an artless age, it will make you think and it will stay with you. I for one am grateful that it exists. Well done. Well done, indeed. A very easy 10/10, this took a lot of courage to make in 2019.