This is probably going to come across as a complete ramble but damn it I’m going to try to make this make as much sense as I can.
Joker is a phenomenal film. But not for traditional reasons. I mean, yes...Joaquin Phoenix is incredible and should be nominated for an Oscar. Yes, the cinematography & general direction of the film was also amazing, such a beautifully shot and structured film. Yes, the story and dialogue were great, as were all the performances from the supporting cast. But what is really incredible is just how ballsy the message of this film is. I was disturbed, disgusted and so angry at parts of this film. There was a woman crying at the end because she was so terrified at how real the whole thing was.
This film carries a message so powerful about our society in this day and age, or any day and age really, that I would consider it required watching. Many were concerned that the film would inspire people to do terrible things, and you know what, people do need to be terrified of this, but not because of the film, but because the film is waking people up to the fact that something needs to be done about this! The core message of the film is that humanity is so cruel, and eventually people who have to endure a lifetime of cruelty will break, and terrible things will happen. But the problem is that we only then care, we only care when the worst happens, but not that these kinds of people are suffering every single day and nothing is being done about it.
This is not a film about Batman’s nemesis, the Joker. This is a film about how society fails people so much that terrible things happen as a result. Phoenix is not ‘The Joker’, Phoenix is a man who is pushed and pushed until eventually he breaks and he takes a broken society with him.
In summary, go watch Joker. Allow yourself to be hurt by Joker. Be offended by Joker. But above all, we need to learn from Joker that if things don’t change where it matters, terrible things are always going to happen and as a result everybody loses.
Joker is a phenomenal film. But not for traditional reasons. I mean, yes...Joaquin Phoenix is incredible and should be nominated for an Oscar. Yes, the cinematography & general direction of the film was also amazing, such a beautifully shot and structured film. Yes, the story and dialogue were great, as were all the performances from the supporting cast. But what is really incredible is just how ballsy the message of this film is. I was disturbed, disgusted and so angry at parts of this film. There was a woman crying at the end because she was so terrified at how real the whole thing was.
This film carries a message so powerful about our society in this day and age, or any day and age really, that I would consider it required watching. Many were concerned that the film would inspire people to do terrible things, and you know what, people do need to be terrified of this, but not because of the film, but because the film is waking people up to the fact that something needs to be done about this! The core message of the film is that humanity is so cruel, and eventually people who have to endure a lifetime of cruelty will break, and terrible things will happen. But the problem is that we only then care, we only care when the worst happens, but not that these kinds of people are suffering every single day and nothing is being done about it.
This is not a film about Batman’s nemesis, the Joker. This is a film about how society fails people so much that terrible things happen as a result. Phoenix is not ‘The Joker’, Phoenix is a man who is pushed and pushed until eventually he breaks and he takes a broken society with him.
In summary, go watch Joker. Allow yourself to be hurt by Joker. Be offended by Joker. But above all, we need to learn from Joker that if things don’t change where it matters, terrible things are always going to happen and as a result everybody loses.