Joker (2019)

Elevator Pitch: In a bleak 1980s Gotham a mentally challenged man, Arthur Fleck, works as a clown, looks after his disabled mother in a rundown tenement and hankers after becoming a comedian. His mother calls him “Happy” because as part of his condition he sometimes laughs uncontrollably, and has cards to pass out explaining this. He is obsessed with a TV talk show hosted by Murray Franklin and as his situation deteriorates and he begins to take violent and unpredictable action he is propelled towards a meeting with his idol.

Content: Arthur takes part in clown activities, is attacked and, after accidentally dropping a handgun in a children’s hospital ward, is sacked. He appears unsuccessfully at an open mic comedy show, and fanaticises  about getting together with the young mother who lives down the hall. Now in possession of the handgun Arthur kills three attackers on the metro and seems to get away with it. A local bigwig appears on TV condemning the action calling the unknown perpetrator a “clown”. Clown masked people demonstrate in the streets. The city is falling apart. Arthur finds out about his mother’s past life and his childhood. It does not make him any happier.

A View: This was not everybody’s cup of tea although well liked by the general public and, possibly due to a very heavy publicity campaign, made its production costs back on the first weekend. Despite the fact that it is apparently in Gotham, and Bruce Wayne makes an appearance don’t be fooled. This Joker is not the arch criminal from the franchise, he is a desperately mad person possiby able to engage our sympathy until he starts to kill people. There is disturbingly threatening music played every time he is on screen. One of the many cheap tricks the director uses. Still want to see it. It’s showing at a theatre near you.

Additional Info: Stunningly it has come in at No 12 of the IMDb top rated movies. Nominated in a number of categories at the 2020 Oscars Joaquin Phoenix won Best Actor.