Ramakrishnan M

*Spoilers ahead* This is probably the darkest origin story for a villain you’ll see. ‘Joker’ scores on all technical fronts — be it Joaquin Phoenix’s transformation into the mentally-ill Arthur Fleck, Todd Philip’s direction, the cinematography and art direction. But it’s a most disturbing watch and I think that was the exact intention of the filmmakers. We’re so used to seeing good triumph over evil, we forget reality often ignores these templates when it functions. The movie, although set in the 60s or 70s, deals with problems that society as a whole brushes under the carpet to this today: apathy, greed, inequality, slimy politicians, a willingness to accept pretty much anything without question and what not. This of course, is not what primarily forms the Joker — he’s got a way more traumatic childhood — but as Heath Ledger’s version said in The Dark Knight, all it takes is one small push to crazy (I’m paraphrasing, of course). And this push is given by society itself. “Have you been listening to me?” Fleck asks his psychiatrist. “I don’t think you have.” If there’s anything to take away from this film, it’s reaffirming all the moral science lessons you learnt as a kid: be nice, be civil, lose the snarkiness and try to hear out the so-called “misfits.” That’s maybe not the whole solution, but it’s a start. What terrifies me though is when we have some sections of the audience applauding violent acts of vengeance (are these the guys the movie is trying to point out, the ignored underdogs?) This a film that’s bound to polarise viewers. But it can’t be ignored, that’s for sure.