You know, from the very moment a standalone movie of the Joker was announced, I could not resist the desire of being there in order to watch the flick with my own eyes.
And boy... Yesterday my dream came true. And it really paid off!!!!
Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a mentally-ill, poor, isolated man, wannabe comedian, who has a very strange disorder that makes him laugh uncontrollably every time he is stressed. And we are witnesses of Arthur's ultimate descend into madness, making him "The Joker", in the midst of a chaotic, ruined, morally bankrupt and corrupt Gotham City.
And the cast goes on. We have a wonderful cast with names like Robert de Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen among others.
Let me warn you... This is not your typical superhero movie. Or Supervillain movie, let alone a comic book movie. It is a very dark, unapologetic and tragic psychological study of the consequences of the worst of society in one simple man. Of course Joker has some subtle references of amazing Joker stories, such as The Killing Joke, or The Dark Knight Returns. But remember what I said... Subtle references.
It's a unique origin story who will leave an amazing impact on its audiences. And director Todd Phillips surprises us with a really devastating tone and a great pacing that makes Joker one of the greatest movies in recent years.
Indeed Joaquin Phoenix just made a name for himself in that beloved hall of fame of actors that include Cesar Romero, Jack Nicholson, Heath Ledger, and Cameron Monaghan, with honorable mention to Jared Leto.
But do not take my word. Go see Joker yourself, but I warn you. This is not a movie for children or people with mental problems.
9/10