With an amazing and critically acclaimed, albeit somewhat controversial performance, Joaquin Phoenix made a major mark in his role as Joker in the 2019 movie!
Everything in Joker that Is Not Real:
While we see this amazing transformation, audiences also experience a very deep dive into the psychology of Arthur Fleck! This leads the viewer on a very complex and uneasy journey!
What is Real?
The story blurs reality! Many people who see the film think to themselves. How much of what we see really happened! With a R-rating, Joker is one of the most raw, unfiltered films, letting audiences explore these deeper themes with minimal censoring! The plot takes a sharp left turn. There were many twists! The show focuses more on giving us a chilling story rather than the classic comic book, or other movies that are out there.
A truly remarkable take on a iconic and infamous comic book villain!
An Unflinching Story With Sophie
You may see an early scene between Arthur Fleck (played by Phoenix) and Sophie (who is played by Zazie Beetz). They're just in an elevator! The encounter isn't anything to make you question it but soon afterwards, Arthur Fleck develops this super odd obsession, in the story he is watching her. Even following her home!
What makes things worse is that Sophie is totally unaffected by his creepy behavior! They soon start dating. You're able to see an early scene, just a small moment, before Fleck really loses control, when Sophie realizes how out of control Arthur is! She has an amazing insight, saying he isn't all that real.
Arthur's Fantasy:
The story goes down this darker, mysterious, twisted road. That even after committing a murder on a subway Arthur feels more emboldened! That is, more insane.
And then you see it! Sophie's whole character disappears and those scenes show the emptiness in his life! We see how Arthur starts hallucinating.
Arthur's First Appearance on The Murray Franklin Talk Show
In the story you're led down a very twisted path with more moments where things seem odd! There's a classic scene from this film.
What's even more interesting? Is how it appears in the show when Arthur has a conversation with his mother. In their moment together he watches Murray Franklin (played by the incredibly iconic Robert De Niro) on TV!
What's so creepy about this, is that "Arthur" appears to go through this very surreal fantasy as he's on the talk show with "Murray.", while the camera gives a unique visual effect!
While you might be wondering if that scene really happened, we do see these other moments that hint toward Arthur's true state.
Arthur's Mental Condition
While some might believe that the film's biggest mistake or misdirection is all of the movie being one big delusion.
You may see an actual scene in "Joker" that includes "Pseudobulbar Affect"! This neurological disorder. While it does make an appearance, it isn't completely true to form!
You could also see some references that give a real sense of realism in terms of how the disease impacts Arthur! For example, this happens in his comedy performance or when a lady was on the bus and tried to take a small bit of food from Arthur. But it's as if Arthur goes out of his way to make things happen.
We also see a much more interesting element about "Arthur." When his personality transforms, "Joker comes to the fore and there is a remarkable lack of his condition!
His Mother's Story- Penny Fleck and Thomas Wayne
This part of the show might just be one of the craziest mysteries for Arthur Fleck. The question about his family, he starts with finding medical records.
- This makes things really, really bizarre and forces those who see the show to question what they think they understand.
- It seems Arthur Fleck was adopted and he wasn't his biological mother. The twist is, it also goes back to how this family came together.
There's something that's incredibly eerie.
- You hear a story that Penny Fleck and Thomas Wayne are the real parents! The character of Wayne may sound familiar. He is a major character, the very figure who grows to become Batman!
We can say, without spoiling too much! This is an unusual approach in this cinematic journey and might throw a lot of people off track!
The movie goes further!
While this could make a ton of sense to someone like Arthur, but with more twists. It might appear that it's false and it seems like that's going to be a wild surprise. This is truly the heart of "Joker."!
The Joker Movie's Conclusion:
After watching the show. There will certainly be questions you're looking for answers to! As many suggested that most of this story happened inside "Arthur" mind, the real events are very unclear, meaning his state of mental illness might just be one major factor! To find a definitive answer fans can tune in to see "Joker: Folie à Deux!" What makes this truly amazing is that it reveals the big plot points and even the very characters who you thought were completely made up, had important scenes.
Arthur's Joker Persona and What the Movie Recontxtualized
What makes "Joker" so complex, is how the audience may find it hard to differentiate "Joker" as the personality that Arthur is becoming. Or to be clear, if it is a complete, separate identity of the person "Arthur" is meant to be!
The most shocking conclusion is that it turns out this was just a major event that helped Arthur in a transition that transformed him and how he became this terrifying and exciting character!
"Joker: Folie à Deux" might give you some hints and maybe even show an additional perspective that is not going to spoil the next film!
"Joker" and the transformation is really amazing!
There are many twists in the story, especially those who have a background and have gotten to know Batman and The Joker's relationship over the years. There will certainly be some crazy debates on whether or not this is the right approach, for a new generation of audiences. Joker might have given everyone a different look at Batman's most legendary rival, that makes it something super compelling to talk about.
