This was a fascinating watch and is a movie I'll need to see a second time before it leaves cinemas. What might have unsettled me most on this viewing was the guy sitting next to me, because of course these are always sitting right next to me, who was laughing at everything the Joker did. Everyone else was as shocked, engrossed and completely silent as me. You could hear a pin drop, and once a phone, but that man was pretty much laughing throughout. At all of the deaths and at every smile or gesture of the Joker. I really don't understand that one bit. That this did not take me out of the film is probably the biggest praise I can give Joker. Obviously, Joaquin Phoenix nailed it and is the film's biggest plus. A fully believable portrayal of a complex figure that does not stand for anything and has no clue what it wants, but only knows he can't keep taking it any more. I don't think the film makes him out to be a normally awesome dude who just had some bad experiences in life and now is shooting people, and so should you. No, I think it just shows this man and asks us what to make of him. How come no one was taking him seriously till it was too late? What can we do to prevent people capable of acts like these, from executing them? And many more questions. It's a puzzling story in various ways and a movie where I can fully understand the people who dislike it. It makes you feel absolutely horrible for a while. At least that's the effect it has on me right now, but I do think that makes total sense. It is a snapshot of our current time, as well as any other time really, but is relevant nonetheless. It shows for example, masses on the streets hopelessly worshipping someone although they have no idea, nor care, what this person actually thinks or stands for, or if it does. Ultimately the movie seems to be about utter chaos and that, needless to say, always resonates. This film is a lot to process and these are just some feelings and thoughts I have about it at this time. I'll maybe leave a more detailed review at a later date once I've seen it again. By the way, yes the movie is not exactly brilliant or all that new but it does what it does effectively and is extremely stirring, at times difficult to watch, and that is most likely how a story like this should be told. Shoutout to the great cinematography, editing and especially to the score. Hildur Guðnadóttir is an incredible talent. Annoyingly Todd Phillips is a quite the idiot, yes, but many morons have made good films. That has always been the case, it is just more apparent nowadays. So I don't know what to tell you. It is what it is. Somehow this is a great film against the many odds.
