Film Joker (2019)

[Andersons Dietician]

This I just don’t get. I know everything is subjective but I was captivated by him from the get go. And the incidents with his laugh (gonna put this in spoilers although not technically spoiling anything as describing performance not the scenes) when

Spoiler: Performance with his laugh

in all instances of his laugh causing trouble, you can see him straining to stop himself from laughing. The mixture of embarrassment and almost vomiting, pleading with himself not to carry on was heartbreaking.

Whilst I do think the film was a bit scattergun with its messages about mental health, apathetic society and media, Phoenix's performance was mesmerising and has to be a cert for the Oscar.

Just wasn’t for me. For most of the movie it’s just physical acting. He doesn’t do anything. Long scenes of him just staring blankly off in to space or watching tv. Nothing about that to me is exceptionally impressive.

I think in part because for most of the movie there isn’t really anything for him to sink his teeth in to. It’s just going along with him pulling poses to show off how he has starved himself or smoked 50 a day to get his body to look that way. The only good stuff to me sort of came in the last 20 minutes but everything before that was just run of the mill. I mean even that last 20 minutes it’s not like he really does all that much or anything at all and really there were only 2 scenes where I’d say were above average.

Compare this to Heath Ledger and it’s not even a competition. Ledger blows him out of the water and I’d go as far to say that Cameron Monaghan does better as well, however it’s a very different tone of movie to what they were and in all honesty I probably wouldn’t even take this as a movie about The Joker. Actually it probably would have worked better if it wasn’t, but then would it have received as much coverage as it has if it was just some random guy.

Did like that dancing on the staircase scene though.

However if you want to make an 18 certificate Joker movie then do the killing joke and be done with it.

 

[Halftrack]

The SJWs and Anti-Guns critics worry more about the message and purposely giving negative reviews to the movie. Thinking this movie can inspire people towards violence...

It's out there, google it up.

Actually, the reviews are knocking the movie for being shallow, derivative and ultimately not all that interesting. But hey, blame it on the SJWs if that makes you feel better.

 

[Stookie]

Just been to see it. Wow. It’s dark, it’s sad, it’s funny, it’s emotional. Phoenix absolutely nails it, gotta get the Oscar for it. I thought it was brilliant. Defo gonna see it again. Just looked on IMBD- 9.2.

 

[AaronRedDevil]

If Joaquin Phoenix doesn't win an Oscar for this. I'm gonna start causing mayhem wearing a clown mask. Unbelievable performance by him. Felt like that was the way he is. Brilliant movie. 9/10

I want to hear this

"When they hand me the Oscar, can you introduce me as the Joker?"

 

[izec]

The most disappointing film of the year they say

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/03/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips

 

[Pexbo]

The most disappointing film of the year they say
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/03/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/oct/03/joker-review-joaquin-phoenix-todd-phillips

Clearly didn’t wait for the scenes way after the credits.

 

[AaronRedDevil]

Clearly didn’t wait for the scenes way after the credits.

Is their an after credits scene?

 

[Pexbo]

Is their an after credits scene?

Sure

 

[Eckers99]

 

[AaronRedDevil]

Sure

Mmmmm

 

[VP89]

That film was bloody brilliant. I hate slow burners but this had to be slower to really show how he became Joker. I really can't fault it, superb.

Phoenix is amazing too, he's so perfect as Joker

 

[ChrisNelson]

Going in now... best be worth the late night

 

[Member 90887]

Just watched it, i thought it was pretty good. Enjoyed it from start to finish. The performance of Phoenix in the role of the Joker was on point.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I thought it was a good film and he made it a really good film with his performance.

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Saw it tonight. The DC and Batman universes don't appeal to me much, but this was good. Well acted, great score, good setting. I liked that Gotham seemed grimey and dirty. It's all rather slick looking in the Nolan films in comparison.

 

[elmo]

Felt a bit meh to be honest. Would have honestly enjoyed it more without all the shitty clown reference to make it more Joker-ish.

Didn't feel like it was a Joker movie at all. Feels like they wrote a script and thought it'll be suitable for a Joker backstory and decided to shoehorn as many Batman references as they could to make it into an Origin story for joker.

 

[Massive Spanner]

Hadn't realised the woman who did the score for this also did Chernobyl. She's excellent.

 

[duffer]

How does this rank in the comic book film list? Better than Logan?

 

[Cassidy]

Personally, Joker should never even have a back story or try and see why he is how he is. He's just nuts, and thats all he ever should be.

Will watch it as Joaquin is normally worth a watch, but it does feel like a movie that didnt need to be made.

Not sure. Even in previous movies and in the comics there are hints to the fact it was Gothams society that created him

 

[Slevs]

Amazing. One of the best movies I've seen for a while.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

How does this rank in the comic book film list? Better than Logan?

Hard to compare as it’s not a comic book film and comes across more like them using a script and cashing in on what slapping a joker tag on it would bring. Personally I enjoyed Logan more.

 

[ThierryHenry]

Currently sat in the cinema waiting to watch it....movie is running 20 minutes late due to technical difficulties

First time I’ve been to the cinema and there’s a problem.

Edit: movie started then cut off again....lights have come back on. Shambles.

First time you’ve ever been to the cinema? Where do you live?

 

[El General 1994]

Spoiler: Spoiler - Question

Did he kill his psych evaluator in the end (bloody footprints)

 

[VP89]

Spoiler: Spoiler - Question

Did he kill his psych evaluator in the end (bloody footprints)

Think so. I think there was another one that was more subtle:

Spoiler: Neighbour

Think he killed the neighbour he was infatuated with. Or at least it was hinted, as it cut to him smoking on the couch in his underwear with loud sirens/ambulance noises right outside his window.

 

[SteveJ]

Personally, Joker should never even have a back story or try and see why he is how he is. He's just nuts, and thats all he ever should be.

Reminds me of the debate about whether Hannibal Lecter should've had his personal history revealed to us by Thomas Harris, or not. Tricky question, really, and one which arguably doesn't have an ideal answer (or, more aptly, an ideal solution).

 

[OnlyTwoDaSilvas]

Personally, Joker should never even have a back story or try and see why he is how he is. He's just nuts, and thats all he ever should be.

I disagree. That would remove a substantial amount of lore from the Batman universe. A large part of Batman comic book stories is the backstory of the Joker. The history Arkham Asylum would become largely irrelevant without the Joker's part in it. The Killing Joke by Alan Moore is a similar take on his backstory as this film, and is probably the best Batman comic, and one of the best comics in its own right.

 

[El General 1994]

Oh I forgot... his neighbour (Zazie Beetz)

 

[Stookie]

Going in now... best be worth the late night

What did you think?

 

[marktan]

Spoiler: Spoiler - Ending question

Did the ending sort of hint that the joker had pre-planned all of that? I was confused, the therapist was the same one we see throughout the film right? So if he kills her when he's still in the psych ward, that means in the present she wasn't real (just the like the neighbour girlfriend)? And then in the ending Joker says 'I just thought of a funny joke' with a serious look in his eyes, as though he was thinking off all the events to come.. Idk maybe I'm overthinking it but it was curious to have that ending scene after all the mayhem.

 

[The Cat]

Taking my son to see this tomorrow. He goes to Comic Cons dressed as the Joker so he's going to love it.

 

[Sanche7]

 

[Mr Pigeon]

How does this rank in the comic book film list? Better than Logan?

Even if it was better than Logan it wouldn't be the best comic book film...

...that would be Rise of the Silver Surfer.

 

[Castia]

First time you’ve ever been to the cinema? Where do you live?

First time i've had a problem in the cinema I should have said.

Movie ended up showing one hour late after multiple fail attempts to get it started

 

[Ubik]

It's a weird film, completely generic for the most part with a few genuinely arresting moments.

Spoiler: Spoiler - Ending question

Did the ending sort of hint that the joker had pre-planned all of that? I was confused, the therapist was the same one we see throughout the film right? So if he kills her when he's still in the psych ward, that means in the present she wasn't real (just the like the neighbour girlfriend)? And then in the ending Joker says 'I just thought of a funny joke' with a serious look in his eyes, as though he was thinking off all the events to come.. Idk maybe I'm overthinking it but it was curious to have that ending scene after all the mayhem.

Spoiler

Not the same woman, and I'm pretty sure the ending is after the events of the film.

 

[ha_rooney]

Excellent film. It’s dark, twisted, violent but also empathetic to him. Phoenix nails the performance, he was brilliant. The music too was perfect, really added to the film without being a distraction.

Have they said whether they’ll do a follow-up film with Batman involved or is this purely a standalone film?

 

[Irwin99]

Good watch. There is something darkly fascinating about the character.

 

[MadMike]

I think it was a decent-to-good movie but not exceptional. I thought Phoenix was great and the movie score and cinematography were very good too.

But I do have to agree that it felt a bit one dimensional and predictable while overdoing it on the darkness a bit. It just started off dark and kept getting darker and darker, but in a rather predictable trajectory. I felt that by seeing the trailer you had kinda seen the movie.

A generous 7/10

 

[mariachi-19]

Excellent film. It’s dark, twisted, violent but also empathetic to him. Phoenix nails the performance, he was brilliant. The music too was perfect, really added to the film without being a distraction.

Have they said whether they’ll do a follow-up film with Batman involved or is this purely a standalone film?

I hope they dont.

That was a decent stand alone film. Its gives the ideal background to the joker and it doesn't need to be embellished.

 

[duffer]

Taking my son to see this tomorrow. He goes to Comic Cons dressed as the Joker so he's going to love it.

How old is your son? Isn't this an 18 certificate?

 

[robinamicrowave]

THAT'S the film we've decided to waste so much breath on? Fair enough.

Pros
Joaquin Phoenix was pretty good.
I mostly appreciated the aesthetic Todd Phillips was going for.
The two sequences on the subway trains were alright.
I think it's a plausible origin story for a super-villain as well, so kudos.

Cons
Joaquin was only *pretty good* - quite a lot of the time he was over-exaggerated.
Any comments about Politics and Society landed with the subtlety of a brick.
This insidious feeling that YOU CAN NEVER TRUST THEM GOD DAMN CRAZIES!!!! underpinned the whole thing.
Used mental health problems as a sign of "unpredictability".
Further stigmatised people with personality disorders/learning disabilities.
Commented on how THE SYSTEM screws the common man but didn't really engage with it beyond your typical "fat cat" figures.

I dunno, it was just really inert and pretty superficial. All that polarised reaction and insufferable Discourse, and for what?