![]() The works that the Hangover writer-director pulls from in order to paint a fresh portrait of an old character (specifically, Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver) traffic in the kinds of complex characters that Arthur is supposed to be, and succeed by exposing society’s ills. The magnetism of Phoenix’s performance wears off as Phillips reaches to find meaning. Phoenix makes him easy to pity director Todd Phillips makes that hard to maintain. It’s not clear whether he’s managing not to break down out of sheer perseverance or the delusion that he’s doing well. The set is sweaty, literally and metaphorically, as Arthur struggles to get his joke out as his laughter takes over, and as his expectant deliveries meet with stony silence. Though it may be the fulfillment of his childhood dreams, watching Arthur do stand-up is easily one of the most painful scenes in the film. Phoenix excels in conveying the blurriness between control and chaos. The transformation that ensues feels like watching the changing moods of a child, shyness giving way to tantrums, then sudden, frenetic dancing that barely seems under his control. He doesn’t feel torn about the murders he commits, but when every news outlet catches wind of the crime and clowns become the symbol of Gotham’s equivalent of Occupy Wall Street, he finally starts feeling some sense of recognition and validation. At night, he returns to the apartment he shares with his mother (Frances Conroy), who has been writing letters to one Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen) in the hopes that he might take pity upon them and offer them some financial help.Īrthur’s growing woes - the public funding providing him both therapy and medication is cut off, he’s fired from his job, and his ambitions at becoming a comic continue being stymied - reach a turning point when he commits an act of violence under pressure. ![]() Though sad sack Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) dreams of being a stand-up comedian, he’s stuck in a thankless day job as a clown, twirling signs outside of stores and performing for sick children. The rigor is in service of a movie without anything to say. An unspecified condition that causes his character to break into bouts of painful laughter only exacerbates the effect. After shedding 52 pounds, Phoenix seems twisted up, his muscles and bones caving in just like his psyche. ![]() Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker is discomfiting, physically as well as emotionally taxing (both, presumably, for Phoenix to go through and for an audience to watch) - and undeniably impressive.
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