When the first pictures were released of Joaquin Phoenix as the formidable, iconic character, The Joker, I was torn between intrigue and scepticism. The character has had what feels like an entourage of interpretations; ranging from the sinister villain to the downright silly prankster with the painted smile. Where could we go from this? How could this be original? Yet, as the lights of the cinema came on and the credits rolled, I found myself shaken to the core.
‘Joker’ is a truly remarkable film. Dark, complex and emotionally jarring – it is not an easy watch but it grips you tightly with such suspense that there is no way you can look away.
Phoenix’s portrayal of Arthur Fleck, a miserly clown and unsuccessful comedian did not only reinvigorate the character – he reinvented it. There is so much soul in every scene of his performance I did not once doubt the utter devastation within Arthur. The harsh deterioration of Arthur’s mental health made a disturbing watch as he devolved into the destructive persona of the Joker.
Yet there were some moments of surprise for the character that I did not expect; particularly when he was merciful one moment and savage the next. Phoenix added a whole new dimension to the role and the truly dark grit of the whole movie moves this world back into the depths of Gotham City.
This film honoured the darkness of the role and did not sweet any part of it. The result is an utterly devastating rendition of Gotham City and the destructive power of The Joker and I cannot wait to see what comes next.
Rating: 9/10
