[Review XN] JOKER (2019)

"I used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it's a comedy."

Who doesn't know the Joker? If you are often in contact with pop culture, this one character is certainly no stranger. Having a clown-like stature with all-white skin, bright green hair and shiny red lips, the Joker is known as a supervillain who is a tough opponent for DC Comics' flagship hero, Batman. In the realm of Hollywood cinema, this psychopath with a dark sense of humor has been repeatedly acted by various actors. From Jack Nicholson who appeared cruel in Batman (1989), then the late Heath Ledger who turned him on like a mad villain through The Dark Knight (2008) where he was awarded an Oscar, to Jared Leto who tends to be comical through Suicide Squad (2016). Judging from the various interpretations that have been given to the villain, and all of them must be admitted to be played brilliantly, then at Warner Bros. with DC Films planning to create a solo story in the form of an origin story for him, of course there is one question raised: what else is the approach to be taken? At first, I thought that the Joker from Todd Phillips (Road Trip, The Hangover trilogy) would be more or less like The Dark Knight. But as it turned out, the film that was launched as part of DC Dark - an experimental adaptation with a darker tale - instead of the DC Extended Universe took a completely different path. Putting aside the element of fantasy that is usually closely attached to the comic-based viewing of heroism, the Joker sets foot in the realist realm where the film then invites the audience to talk about mental illness and the current socio-political situation.

In the latest version of Joker, the titular character is a clown named Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) whose daily work revolves around entertaining children in the hospital, promoting the store using signage on the sidewalk, as well as anything the client asks for. Undergoing this kind of odd job is clearly not the desire of Arthur because he actually dreamed of performing as a stand up comedian. Which then prevented him from realizing his dream is, he does not have the confidence that is qualified. The mother who lives with him, Penny (Frances Conroy), thinks his son is not funny enough and Arthur himself still hasn't found a formula that fits in his joke. Besides these three factors, one other reason that makes the main character is always surrounded by doubts is the mental illness he suffers. Arthur has pseudobulbar affect (PBA) which makes him laugh out loud all of a sudden when he experiences anxiety or fear. Because of his illness, Arthur is often seen as a strange person and has experienced the peralal of thugs in Gotham City which makes him have a negative view of society. He considered that the people who grew up in their surroundings had experienced moral degradation, while the elite were seen as being able to boast without ever doing anything significant to change the situation. As a result of various bad situations that continue to come to him, Arthur's mental condition is increasingly unstable which then triggers him to do terrible things that have only danced in his mind.

Unlike other live action shows that involve the clown, Joker is not a game that is filled with the specter of the frenzy throughout its duration. Phillips who raised his name from the comedy genre chose to sing it seriously, realistically, and darkly. This is not a matter of a supervillain named Joker who runs crazy actions to make Batman overwhelmed in dealing with it, this is more the process of creating someone nicknamed the Joker who did not hesitate to act viciously. In order to reveal the transformation of the titular character from an ordinary man who tends to be helpless to a dangerous human being who can move the masses, Phillips uses a character study approach in narrating his latest film. We, as spectators, are brought closer to Arthur to observe him in order to look at his thoughts, to know the effects of his actions. An interesting and interesting way of telling stories, Joker does have a very strong main character. At the beginning, Arthur was not shown as a person who could do anything to defend himself. In fact, he looks quite sympathetic. Willing to care for the elderly mother, trying to pursue dreams that are somewhat impossible to realize, dealing with coworkers who are two-faced, and experiencing bullying from people around him who consider it a mere joke. Played extraordinary by Joaquin Phoenix who is willing to lose his body weight to 24 kg, it is impossible for the audience to not feel sorry for him. Moreover, Arthur also still had to struggle in facing his mental illness which often acted regardless of time or place. Psychiatric illnesses that become increasingly violent when trauma and pain due to rejection, humiliation, and neglect are mixed together.

Supported by haunting music composed by Hildur Gudnadottir and camera captures from Lawrence Sher who relied on the bokeh effect to accentuate Arthur's solitude, the Joker conditioned his audience to always be in an uncomfortable feeling. Whether it's because of watching Arthur who continues to suffer because people show open rejection to him, or because he saw the chaotic condition of Gotham City (like this country). Yes, in addition to voicing outrageous social comments related to public treatment that has no empathy for people with mental illness, this 1981 set film also brings out relevant portraits of an increasingly unfavorable world situation. There is a class conflict between the elite and the common people, the fading of security in the public space where plural sexual harassment occurs, the media is aggressively framing, excessive possession of weapons, to excessive veneration of a character judged to represent anarchic movements. That is why, if you have anxiety, depression, or mood is chaotic, it's good to avoid Joker. If you really want to see it, it is advisable to find a companion from family or good friends because really, there are psychological effects that can be caused. Some people experience dizziness, anxiety attacks, and I personally, grumpy. The series of scenes offered by Phillips is dominated by a pessimistic aura following Arthur's views on the surroundings which are often negative, then the violent scenes that he brings up are not straightforward. So sadistic with a jolt at maximum level that I chose to take my eyes off the screen for a moment to regulate my breath as well as my emotions. Phew.

Emphasizing a depressive narrative, Joker, which is more or less reminiscent of Taxi Drivers (1976), is indeed not easy to chew. During the duration of the melody, we witness the struggle of a human child in finding happiness. Arthur fell, then tried to get up only to fall deeper. The characterization and down-to-earth acting of the Phoenix - well, we can meet a figure like him around us - makes it possible for the audience to sympathize which gradually changes into horror when Arthur finds a way out of his misery: revenge. From the moment the main character chooses to defend himself in an extreme way, the mood of self-control from the very beginning turns into anxiety. Restless in waiting what Arthur might do in his new persona because he has been in a position to lose nothing. At this point, Phillips seemed to want to say, "The Joker is a product of violence, injustice, and social neglect." Instead of asking the audience to understand his actions and life choices, the filmmaker actually wants to give a real picture of the factors behind the formation of a criminal. There is complexity there, not immediately formed for no apparent reason. This we can think of as information, but also as a reminder. So that we are more sensitive to others, so that we treat humans as humans are, and that we realize that mental illness is a condition that should be taken seriously. Nice!

Outstanding (4/5)