I have never felt so immersed or invested in a character EVER. Joaquin never was on the screen, only Arthur. His vunerabilities, anguish, pain and descent into madness. The cinemotography and score haunting. It was painfully beautiful. For those who would say it promotes violence, they have not watched, felt the movie. If anything it is anti-violence, thought provoking and YES, I am seeing it again tomorrow. A 9.5 out of 10 for a very small continuity/age timeline issue for me and lackluster De Niro performance though it does not take anything away from the film.
This is a film that deserves at least 10 Oscars DEFINITELY BEST ACTOR