Written: 1/10/25

3.5/5

I want to start by saying that this hardly counts as a musical. However the fact is they do occasionally sing and dance, that does indeed occur. And while a lot of reviews stop there, I would advise to ignore and continue. I really could not compare this to La La Land or Wicked. Songs were brief and served a specific purpose, formatted in quick daydream sequences (think The Secret Life of Walter Mitty but with more song and less joy) rather than a straightforward way of moving along a story which musicals tend to do. Use of musical elements felt more symbolic and loose than outright break into song and dance numbers, portraying a much more personal eval of our main characters psyche. The scenes that do contain singing bring out all of Arthur’s looney bits just perfectly and shed some insight to his deluded reality with a touch of dark humor and whimsy to keep us entertained. I enjoyed this aspect of the film and believe it to be the obvious choice when approaching a story this dark with all the many layers it has. 

Now my thoughts on everything else:
There are not many other actors that give it their all the way Joaquin Phoenix does his Joker. I am obsessed with his every move. And every time he sang or danced he did so with such passion and care for the character. There was this part in one of the first songs where he really goes for the note with such ferocity, it surprised the shit outta me. He embodies this version of Joker through and through. 

The plot was hard to hold onto at first. One of those slow build movies where the start can be a bit lackluster or can feel pointless but you gotta stay alert, cause the more you stick around the more you become immersed. Arthur Fleck is a man living in such deep depths of trauma and loneliness, not equipped to handle the harsh truths, he is defenseless. That is until he creates the Joker. His delusions take him far as he gets into more and more trouble, thriving in the chaos and becoming addicted to control. Eventually landing himself in prison for life with the public demanding a death penalty. The real intrigue is in the dynamics between Arthur, Joker, and the split sides of the public’s perception (the audience). Quickly you realize that while Arthur continues to live in his bubble the rest of the world does all the mischief for him. His attorney painting false narratives, the fans bombing the court house letting him escape, even Harley planning their legacy to which Arthur doesn’t have any schemes for he just likes feeling cared for. By the end, Arthur gives up the power of the persona and the people of Gotham eat Arthur alive and shit him out. His replacements locked and loaded. The rise of a new Joker (a more Heath Ledger Joker) reveals himself. The contrast between perspectives highlight our background characters, while Arthur merely pirouettes across the stage in front of them. Hinting us of what this universe has in store in the next coming movies. There’s a beautiful full circle moment here that made this an objectively good watch. 

I like this version of Harley too, putting on the reality shades to her character and clearly pointing at her psychotic qualities. Emphasizing her wealthy background and high education giving her no real excuses to become the way she has. She is indeed no one special just another psycho fan that managed to get close to Arthur. Deeply deluded like the rest of Gotham. 

And on a stupid note (completely unserious): I fuckin knew you all were absolutely full of it. This is why it’s important to get your head out from the sheep centipede and do some independent sleuthing. You all have been desensitized to marvels cheap thrills and suicide squads birdbrain sexification of Joker and Harley. Like down for Margot Robbie’s Harley, it’s cute and fun, but sometimes the blindness to the reality of who the characters are and just making them cartoon villains that end up woke anyways can get so one note, so boring. A different perspective was much needed. Throw away Jared Leto’s Joker, corny as hell! (again only kidding) But smh had me convinced this was trash, i’ve literally never been more invested in DC, excited to see more of these thoughtful reimaginings of some of the most beloved characters. Thank you.