Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Joker’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

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I think it is safe to say, that superhero and comic book themed movies are at a crossroads right now. For not only is their validity as cinema being questioned by some of Hollywood’s greatest minds, they’re starting to see failures at the box office, the kind that are forcing some studios to question how they are going to handle their next entry in this particular sub-genre of film. If anything, there just seems to be a slow growing unease surrounding these films, and Marvel’s decision to shift some of their Phase Four properties to television only compounds that further, and in the end, all of these concerns make it seem as though that these types of stories might be running out of magic to offer the audience.
 
Which means that the only way to keep them viable, is to move these stories in bold new directions, but how can that be accomplished? After all, every origin story and every tough challenge that these characters can face has been mined ad nauseum. Well as it turns out, there is a way to reinvent the genre so to speak, in a way that pleases even the harshest of critics and that involves, stripping away the mysticism surrounding these characters and injecting some genuine humanity into these tales, which seems like no easy task, since hey, some of these folks can fly. But there are filmmakers out there, that are looking to tackle this monumental task and recently, I finally had the opportunity to watch a powerful comic book movie that manages to accomplish this incredible feat, in Joker.
 
Now, I know what you’re thinking. In that, how on earth could a movie that clearly advertises itself as an origin story be something fresh and exciting for this genre and that’s a fair point to ask. Because that was my thought as well, that this movie was just going to be nothing more than a grounded re-telling of how the Joker came to be Gotham’s greatest villain. But it quickly becomes clear when one settles in to watch this film, that it is going to have so much more to offer. For this story is in many ways, a grand American tragedy, one that shows us the downfall of a man who wanted nothing more than to carve out his own niche in the world and it pulls off this particular feat by examining something that is quite frankly, taboo in storytelling; mental illness.

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Because for a fair chunk of this story, we are right alongside Arthur Fleck as he engages in his daily struggle with mental illness, and this is some raw and powerful stuff to watch unfold on screen. For Arthur is desperate to be a part of a world that feels foreign to him on a regular basis, and he fights hard to conquer the imbalance in his brain and hopes that perhaps offering up a little kindness and joy to the world that surrounds him might help him heal as well. But what makes his plight so harrowing and so devastating is the sheer fact that he is met with cruelty and disdain at every turn, as though his affliction makes him a monster and that’s a sobering perspective to offer up in cinema since that is quite the indictment on how we view the mentally ill in modern America, and the commentary on our current world doesn’t end there.
 
For this film also dives deep into the notion of class inequality, something that has only recently begun to dominate headlines in our world and it offers a stark look at a part of our society that many turn a blind eye to; the folks that are struggling to keep their heads above water. For in essence, Arthur and his mother live just barely above the poverty line and they are consistently fighting to get the essentials they need in their lives, such as Arthur’s medication and it is equally as sobering to see Arthur try and navigate a system that is rigged against him and ignores him at every turn. And it is all of these elements, that lead to the creation of one of the greatest villains to ever grace the silver screen and the page and what makes his genesis here so fascinating is the sheer fact that Director Todd Philips in essence makes his tale a dire warning.
 
For if we cannot start to care about the John and Jane Doe’s that are out there struggling, we will in turn create more Jokers, and perhaps we already have since we’ve seen some stunning moments of domestic terror in our nation. But while all of these elements make it seem as though one should be sympathetic to the Joker’s plight, that’s simply not the case. He’s still a bad man through and through, just one that we understand better after this film, and the fact that this movie takes the time to properly offer up the genesis of a criminal mastermind in realistic fashion makes it a bold new venture for comic book films and a brilliant drama in its own right. One that features a chilling and powerhouse performance from Joaquin Phoenix and one that will stay with you long after the film has come to an end and this is definitely a must see since it may signal a brave new era for a genre that has grown comfortable.

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