'Joker' Gives a Chilling Portrayal of Mental Illness
Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’ (Photo Credit: Warner Bros. )
By Keisha Paul
A gripping psychological thriller, “Joker” is a must-see for the uninitiated, as much as for DC fans who will appreciate the effort put into the eccentric portrayal of the Joker as a known villain in the DC universe. Other fans may find the portrayal of psychological imbalance intriguing, and possibly relatable.
The film was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, DC Films, and Joint Effort. It was written by Todd Phillips, known for “Old School” and “The Hangover;” and Scott Silver, known for “8 Mile” and “The Fighter.” The iconic movie is on track to become one of the most profitable superhero movies in history, according to Variety. It surpassed gross estimates of approximately $90 million during its opening weekend in North America on Oct. 4, later becoming the seventh highest-grossing film of 2019 with a total of $849.1 million recorded worldwide.
Through the main character, Arthur Fleck, it explores the circumstances and living conditions of the Joker who would someday become Batman’s most well-known nemesis. Set in Gotham City in 1981, the film grants audiences a glimpse into how traumatic life events can cause and worsen mental illness. A failed stand-up comedian, Fleck lives with his aged mother in poverty in a high-crime area. He also suffers from an uncontrollable nervous system disorder that causes him to laugh during inappropriate situations. Despite his troubles, he continues to write jokes, take care of his mother and see a therapist to try to overcome his issues.
However, multiple incidents make him bitter and angry, bringing him to his breaking point. At the beginning of the movie, he is attacked by a group of kids while advertising for an entertainment company. The kids steal his sign and beat him with it. When his boss scolds him for not returning the sign and abandoning his shift, he tries to explain what happened but to no avail. His boss demands that he either gives the sign back or pay for it out of his paycheck.
On his way home, Fleck witnesses three guys harassing a woman on the train. He tries to ignore it, but due to his disorder, he laughs uncontrollably. Subsequently, the men turn their attention towards him and beat him violently. In what is considered the key turning point of the film, Fleck commits his first offense and feels liberated because of it.
Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Joker’ (Photo Credit: Warner Bros. )
Fleck’s transformation is a thrilling experience to watch as his suppressed feelings of wanting to retaliate towards his offenders are finally released. In this eerie scene, the music and Fleck’s dancing show the dark path Fleck has descended upon.
Understanding the Joker and his motives is difficult when there are no known reasons for his behavior. The film gives us the background story that we’ve all been missing, and seeing it in the theater makes the experience more exciting with the amplified sound system. Throughout the plot, the music paired with the Joker’s unique dance routine plays a key role in the tone of the movie.
What stands out the most is the effort put into Fleck’s physical appearance. He was really skinny, which shows that not only was he physically deprived because of his poor economic status, but he was also emotionally deprived of healthy relationships throughout his life. Arthur’s mental disorder and reliance on social services and medication are issues that many impoverished people face today. Overall, the movie is worth seeing as viewers finally understand how Arthur Fleck becomes the Joker.
