Andy Greenhouse

Joke: " WHATTA YA GET WHEN YA CROSS A MENTALLY ILL LONER WITH A SOCIETY THAT ABANDONS THEM AND TREATS 'EM LIKE TRASH?!" The punchline, sadly, probably won't shock anyone much, especially if you're an American. The method of delivery might. For a film with so much bombastic laughter throughout the soundtrack, especially from the title character-"Arthur Fleck" (Joachin Phoenix) there really isn't anything funny about it. Disturbed desperation collides with bitter disappointment culminating in rage and revenge for our abused boy, Arthur, immersed in a gritty, realistic early 1980's "Gotham." Phoenix comes across as deeply sympathetic and misunderstood. He treads the grim waters of cold, hard poverty and a crippling emotional condition fiercely throughout the first hour of the film just barely keeping his (and his sick Mother's) chin above complete insanity. He is constantly scorned and abused by strangers and familiar associates alike, including humiliating gut kicking physical assaults. Poor Arthur just wants to make people laugh. The problem is, nothing about his sad existence is remotely funny --and it's appallingly apparent to everyone but him. UNTIL HE FINALLY GETS IT. But of course, by then, he's snapped and producing grisley blood- spattered murder scenes that Rob Zombie would envy. Didn't see the intense violence coming from this one. You've been warned. Powerful performance by Phoenix. 💔💎💎💎💎