“Unsettling”. That’s all my friend would say when I asked how “Joker” was. He didn’t say anything about the plot, how Joaquin Phoenix was, and he didn’t address any of the controversy surrounding the movie. Just, “Unsettling”. And goodness was he right.

I wanted to write this review immediately after I got back from seeing it, but I just couldn’t. There was still so much I was unpacking in my mind, and I was still trying to pinpoint what the main point the film is trying to get across to the viewer. Is this movie a straight character study? One would think so due to the constant references to “Taxi Driver”. 

But the constant references to the tension between classes goes against this as well. So is the movie focused on its political statement? Possibly. Director Todd Phillips himself said he went from making comedies to this in response to the state of politics right now. However, the politics often seem like a backdrop or reasoning for Joker to continue his crime, and his continued psychological decay. How about an ode to how society treats mental health? You could certainly argue that as well.

This brings up my major flaw with this movie. It feels as though “Joker” never truly decides its own identity in the movie. I found myself constantly going back and forth both during and after the movie on what the whole point of this movie is. Now, maybe I’m misinterpreting and this is exactly what Phillips wants you to do, but I feel like if you are trying to make a political statement, why is the film focused so much on the character Arthur Fleck (Joker), and his descent into becoming the famed villain?

This conflict of identity is most apparent at the end of the movie. Now, don’t worry, I’m not going to say how the movie ends, or spoil anything. The ending of the movie is just perfect evidence to the fact that this movie is trying to do multiple things, because there are about three different times the viewer is expecting the movie to end, and you feel like you finally understand what the movie was trying to get at. But then another scene shows up saying something completely different about the film that causes you to reassess once again.

Now, beyond this one fatal flaw that I personally have not been able to get over so far, I believe Phillips has created a great film that with one or two more viewing I believe I will be able to greater appreciate.

The greatest success you will witness in the film is most assuredly Joaquin Phoenix in his performance as Fleck. The entire movie is essentially a look inside of Fleck’s head, and you understand Fleck so well by the end of this movie that I had to just sit in my chair after I got home for about 20 minutes and just had to clear my head. And that is all because of Phoenix. Even when he is not speaking you know how he’s feeling. Every glance, every dance move, every laughing sequence delves deeper into Fleck’s mind, and Phoenix doesn’t waste any opportunity to keep diving deeper.

It is not just Phoenix that shines either. However small their roles were, Brian Tyree Henry, Zazie Beetz, Robert De Niro and Frances Conroy all bring their A-game, and do enough to contribute to the movie, and all play a role in Fleck’s story. Beetz comes to mind for a particularly chilling scene in the middle of the movie when Fleck receives yet another blow to his sanity, and encounters Beetz’ character, Sophie, who is a neighbor. De Niro (portraying a late night like host for a show) shines as well for a scene with Fleck near the end of the movie when he comes on De Niro’s show.

This movie shines brightest, however, in the middle third of the movie when Fleck is trying to piece together his backstory and we get many sequences with just Phoenix in a scene, coming to terms with new information he has discovered, and struggling to comprehend said info. Phillips is able to let the star of his movie shine, while also allowing cinematographer Lawrence Sher convey the slow transformation from Fleck to Joker. Sher is also a major brightspot for the movie as well, whose camerawork is arguably the groundwork of the film, that allows all other aspects of the movie to shine as well.

Now, the controversy surrounding Joker is something one must address when discussing “Joker” to any extent. The two main topics of controversy for the movie is its depiction of violence and concern about what the movie may inspire, as well as its depiction of mental health and whether it is an accurate or fair representation of those affected by mental health in real life.

I will be honest, if I say that I think I am not the right person to tell you whether or not these claims are right or wrong. All I can give is my honest opinion, and I will keep it short and quick.

Yes, I believe that the depiction of violence and the seeming acceptance of said violence in the movie by the city is quite disturbing. But that is honestly one of the big reasons why the movie is so unsettling. Right when I walked into the theater, me and my friends noticed an officer standing in the middle of the lobby of the theater, and right before the movie started, he walked in to check the theater. After walking out, I can totally understand why the theater would want to be cautious with showing this movie. However, its unsettling because of the ways it depicts violence and then somehow justifies it, and the movie would be so different if they approached it any other way.

In terms of how it portrays mental health, I would say that it doesn’t seem right that no one is actually trying to help this poor man, even his social worker, or therapist (I’m not entirely sure), doesn’t seem to be putting in a full effort. And then, they cut her program altogether, so even the limited help he was receiving is taken away. I must say that in terms of a character study, a look at Fleck’s mental health has the strongest argument to be the main theme of the film. 

Fleck says at one point “For my whole life, I didn't know if I even really existed. But I do, and people are starting to notice.” The film looks at how Fleck wants to be noticed, and how he eventually achieves this. And I must admit, how he does so is very concerning, but he does what he sets out to do.

In conclusion, I feel that after 1 or 2 more viewings, this movie could honestly turn into one of my favorite movies of this year, or maybe even the past few years, but it could also turn into just a “good” movie. There are many different ways one could take this film though, which is what art should arguably be about, its whatever the viewer makes of it. And if anything, watch it witness an outstanding performance from Joaquin Phoenix.

My Rating: Three Stars (I rate my movies in such a way that 4 stars is my max. Both in honor of Roger Ebert, but is there even such a thing as a “perfect” movie, or anything?)