Joker

 

Joker 2019

• Director: Todd Phillips
• Based on the book: no
• Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Joaquin Phoenix – Two Lovers, Walk the Line, Hotel Rwanda, The Village, Gladiator
• Robert De Niro – Joy, Stardust, Extras, Flawless, Cop Land, Marvin’s Room, Heat, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Awakenings, Stanley and Iris, Brazil, New York New York, The Deerhunter, Taxi Driver, 1900, Hi Mom, probably others
• Frances Conroy – Six Feet Under, Broken Flowers, The Aviator, Sleepless in Seattle, The Scent of a Woman, Billy Bathgate
• Why? A different take on the classic.
• Seen: 7 August 2020      

       Arthur (Phoenix) is pursuing a career in stand-up comedy, works as a clown and is in therapy after being in a mental hospital. He laughs hysterically at inappropriate moments. It’s a neurological condition and he carries a card to explain to strangers. He lives in poverty with his deranged mother. Everything goes from bad to worse.

       What a tragic background. What a well-conceived explanation for the evil of Batman’s enemy Joker. Phoenix is phenomenal. It’s a most worthy prequel to the Batman films, the ones with Christian Bale, that is. Now I want to see them again.

 

5* of 5 (Hal says 4 ½, something is not quite perfect though he can’t say exactly what)