Movie Review: The Joker

The Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, is the back-story behind Batman's most infamous adversary before his transformation.  In the movie, Arthur Fleck is a mild-manner working clown who lives with his ailing mother in a run-down apartment.  He sees a state-funded social worker/psychologist and takes seven different kinds of medications.  Co-workers, street kids, and drunken businessmen bully him because he is different.  His most famous mental condition is an uncontrollable laugh that doesn't fit the situation he is in.  He is severely depressed, but has one hope, and that's to become a comedian.

Arthur lives part of the time in a delusional world as he daydreams about acceptance from a TV host and his attractive neighbor.  The help he receives isn't much, but it keeps him productive and nonviolent.  And then the city drops all of its funding for mental health-no more meds and no more therapy sessions.  He also gets fired.  Without ruining the movie, this is when the breaking point occurs, and the rest is comic book history.
My Review: I couldn't help but pity Arthur.  He's an incredibly pathetic character.  But the characters in the movie see him as a receptor to vent out their own insecurities and aggression.  
The first three men Arthur kills were in self-defense (kind of). They were rich and worked for Thomas Wayne.  Their deaths give him a taste of power in an otherwise powerless situation.  As a result, the deaths of the rich men trigger a political movement.  
The city goes into full-blown chaos as the 'Have-Nots' pit themselves against the 'Haves', especially Thomas Wayne, Bruce's father who is also running for mayor. People clad in clown costumes call for revolution.  In the midst of the violence, Bruce Wayne witnesses his parents die.

This movie is brilliant in every way-acting, writing, directing, and more.  I am predicting lots of academy awards (unless the academy is on another social justice kick of who gets to win per their politics).  I not only love the Batman tie-in (huge fan of the Christian Bale's Batman Begins series), but also love the bigger, more uncomfortable messages-lack of funding for the mentally ill, violent vigilantism, revenge, bullying, class warfare, and poverty.  There is plenty of controversy for all.  This is a movie that, like The Dark Knight, should be studied and used within English literature classes.  5 Star No Brainer!
Love to hear your thoughts and views.