Mia Becerra

Overall an enjoyable film, if you want to watch an undernourished man laugh for 2 hours. Visuals were stunning, and matched the mood set by the well timed and gripping score. Phoenix was (bar the laughter) a convincing and wonderfully depressing Arthur Fleck. His Joker fell flat, seeming more like a cartoon villian, which didn't match the mood set elsewhere. The bits of violence are jarring and bloody, amazingly filmed and all around well placed. This would all make for a great movie, if not for the script. The script was lazy. Period. For a film who's primary movement is the dialogue, it is disappointing. There are times when it is explicative of the action unecessarily, and the Joker's descend into accepting absurdity is sloppy and uninspiring. The final speech is shallow and feels simultaneously un-joker and un-Arthur. Like said, its an enjoyable movie that keeps you entertained despite the slower pacing (espcially compared to recent comic book movies). It's a fun watch, just not an award worthy, cohesive film. 7.5/10