the movie is not about superheroes
Joker, whose real name is Arthur Fleck, takes seven different medications to treat his rare condition of uncontrollable laughter and carries a card that reads "Please forgive my laughter." Arthur dreams of becoming a famous stand-up comedian but earns a pittance playing a pathetic Carnival clown at parties. He is sad and lonely and lives in a run-down apartment with his elderly mother, Penny.
At heart, Arthur is just a gentle man who loves to make people smile. However, throughout his younger years, Arthur has always lived in indifference and cruelty, hurt by both street kids and his colleagues, Arthur made a terrible decision to become evil, leading to the escalation of his cruel life with sick pranks and murderous rampages. Arthur is like an ugly, nihilistic swan plunging into the darkest, dirtiest parts of our society.
Produced by DC Universe, Joker takes a completely new direction. This is not a superhero movie as usual, but a portrait of the bitter social reality and dark life of a man who was once honest and full of dreams and ambitions.
The new direction also means the film gets to try new things without having to make sure it fits into the Justice League timeline, nor does it mess up any of the groundwork laid for future films.
...NOT ADAPTED FROM A COMIC BOOK
It's a rule that superhero movies are adapted from superhero comics. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is based on Marvel's Winter Soldier comic by Ed Brubaker. The same goes for Civil War, Infinity War, and The Dark Knight Rises. But Joker completely breaks this rule.
Arthur Fleck doesn't fit any of the established Joker stereotypes. Who is Arthur Fleck? Why does he have to take care of his mother? Why is his laugh so creepy? We have no idea, and that makes the film all the more fascinating.
...and no Batman either
Many audiences are still waiting for the appearance of superhero Batman in this movie (like the story of The Dark Knight Rises), but Joker is not a movie about Batman. Batman is not in the title, not in the synopsis, nor on the set. Batman is not the focus or the main character in Joker, but Joker himself and the world that created him.
Through this film, Joker has proven himself to be a character strong enough to be the main character in many different stories. For the first time, viewers are able to delve into the soul of this lonely man, understanding the process of degeneration that turned a stand-up comedian into the most famous villain on screen.
the hottest movie on screen in 2019
Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the Joker, has won a Grammy Award, been nominated for three Oscars, and has received rave reviews from critics and audiences. An artist known for his passion and creative acting, at the age of 44, Phoenix has brought a unique experience to the audience when playing the crazy clown.
To play the Joker, he lost 24 kg by eating just one apple a day. He also studied videos of people with uncontrollable laughing disorder and read books about political assassinations to understand the motives of killers. With a body so thin that the bones could pierce the skin at any moment, and a creepy laugh, Phoenix created a new and interesting Joker that was true to the character.
The film itself has also caused a series of controversies and concerns about the film's potential to stir up rebellion and criminalization in the US. However, as Arthur Fleck said: "Humor is not like right or wrong, it's a matter of perception", the film is still a masterpiece for those who feel and understand it. When it premiered at the Venice Film Festival, Joker won the Golden Lion - the best film award with an 8-minute standing ovation. IGN gave the film a perfect 10 with the "Masterpiece" label.
Director Todd Phillips shared that he did not aim Joker to be an action movie full of violence or just for entertainment purposes. He wanted to portray a social picture with painful problems, about relationships and trust between people, creating a truly "dark and deep" movie.
Deep inside the Joker's corruption lies loneliness, crushed dreams, and hurt by the cruel life. We are all clowns struggling with life. We cry and smile. We fall and then we have to stand up again.
The film is now showing in theaters nationwide.
