For years I have said that art shouldn't serve as a moral compass for society, as long as there is a story to tell. A recent incident in a Times Square movie theater had patrons shaking because some drunk guy decides to attend a showing of "Joker" and applaud all of the kill scenes. Needless to say, police escorted him off the premises and didn't let him free until they proved that he was just an asshole. When the movie was getting ready for release, we were reminded of the Bane copycat in Colorado who fired a weapon with deadly intentions and consequences during a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises." It is a shame that I have even been driven to a heightened awareness of my surroundings while doing something as innocent as going to see a movie.
All of this bullshit in my mind detracts from the superb performance of Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck. What Todd Phillips did as Director on this project was give us a real origin story for a villain that has been depicted in DC Comics forever. The movie is more of a portrait of insanity than a comic book piece, especially with its R-rating. With a good majority of Gotham City revolting against the comments made by Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen) about the lower class in response to a vigilante incident involving Fleck, Phoenix's character states that he is not trying to make a political statement. However, he is looked upon as a hero by the rioters.
I have seen other movies that contain way more violence than this film does! As a matter of fact, the audience is taken on a slow ride of disturbing events that lead to the birth of The Joker. We even view an employee of the system describing how neither the patient nor the social worker is important in the eyes of the department that is controlling their funding. Added to this entire situation is the fact that Fleck's mom's (Frances Conroy) own mental illness contributed to the demise of Arthur's own sanity.
At the theater of my viewing, I noticed that a few people walked out before the movie ended. What the fuck were they expecting? Were they offended by the adulation by an uncontrollable mob? Were they offended by his dark side? After all, this is an origin story of a fictional character done in a very realistic way. Then, I had to ask myself the question if this movie would have an adverse effect on impressionable teenage boys? People within my circle were reminding me that they could look upon The Joker as a hero! To think that there is even a slight possibility that this film could inspire a young mind to do something awful makes me sick! Should storytellers walk on eggshells?
I applaud the realism in which this film was shot. All of the actors gave stellar performances, which makes me have to mention Robert DeNiro as Murray Franklin. DeNiro's talk show host was brilliant, especially when making fun of Fleck's standup routine. This movie is not politically correct by any means. It is just a shame that a brilliant piece of art has to be clouded by a sick society.