Every once in a while we find ourselves staring in the face of the darkest part of society. We know it is real and it is deeply disturbing for those of us who care. This trailer got my attention.
Criminals are often dehumanized by the media but many, even psychopaths, have a horrific backstory and I think that this is rarely brought forward. Although Arthur Fleck aka The Joker is a fictional DC Comics character, this is a hard-hitting look at mental illness and how the cruelty and selfishness of people can cause someone to go from loneliness and unhappiness to despair, rage and murder. In pieces, it reveals the puzzle of why the Joker is so sadistic and unpredictable, demonstrating how a kind child can be turned into a monster.
Right from the start, people with empathy are going to be disturbed and saddened by what they see happening to Arthur. Joaquin Phoenix does an amazing job of bringing to life the tragedy that is Arthur's life. He must've malnourished himself for weeks to reach that level of skinniness and this distorts his Mel Gibsonesque appeal with sharp features.
Robert Deniro is the popular talk show host, Murray Franklin, that Arthur idolizes and wants as his own father but when a series of events happens that pushes Arthur over the edge and Murray is punished.
This is both a disturbing and sometimes violent film, although we can see that Arthur is not without compassion and is selective in killing those who have wronged him while sparing those who have been kind.
He becomes the antithesis of the hero but, in his mind, he wants so badly to be revered and loved that he thinks he is a hero and, to many of the people struggling in Gotham, he is.
The birth of the Joker is not a film for kids and teens should watch with an adult for guidance because, although it is a brilliant film, it is also terrifying and revealing of that dark side of life that engulfs and destroys so many.
If you appreciate this article, please 🏅upvote/like👍
, 🤩resteem/share
and share it to Facebook
, Twitter
, Reddit
, LinkedIn
and wherever else
you can!