Elena Morey
Senior A&E Writer
2019 was overtaken by strong films, but none more anticipated than “Joker.” Produced by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver, the film is based on the DC Comics character, the Joker (played by awardwinning Joaquin Phoenix). The film stayed true to some DC canon and the infamous smiling clown himself. It is set in 1981 Gotham City, and follows character Arthur Fleck on a journey of slow-burning insanity and mental health struggles which form the basis of his transformation. However, the film never ties directly into the Batman canon, as Fleck is much older than the appearing Bruce Wayne, only a small child when he comes face-to-face with the Joker in one scene.
Despite the obvious displaced time line for the characters, the film highlights significant questions around the psyche of the character, the Joker, and how the city itself creates him. Phillips and Silver really pressed audiences with the many questions they raised in the film. Fleck struggles with mental illness and flashbacks of his abusive upbringing. He takes care of his elderly mother who is trapped in a delusion that Fleck discovers is indeed false. After realizing his entire life and existence is troubled and riddled with pain, Fleck descends into the classic madness and insanity Batman’s worst enemy becomes known for. As a DC nerd and huge fan, watching Fleck begin to symbolize the Joker and grow closer to the character I loved in the comics was creating the fantasy the pages placed in my mind as I rooted for Batman.
One of the most significant aspects of the film is Fleck’s mental illness and his depression. It is revealed that he is seeking professional help and is on “seven medications.” However, due to his poverty and city-wide budget cuts, he no longer can see his therapist or receive the proper medications. Fleck falls victim to his own mind, and throughout the film becomes the classic character with the painted smile. Most importantly, the audience follows Fleck through his evolving mind set about the world around him and how he goes through life unnoticed. In his struggle and search for himself, and to be seen, to feel alive for once, he becomes the Joker and forms a city-wide movement.
At the end of the fantastically shot and acted film, one is left with more questions than answers about the DC character. As a die-hard fan, I found many issues with the suggested character Arthur Fleck being the Joker. However, the writers use him to ask the question, “Is the Joker a symbol that can be worn by anyone?” Clearly, Fleck cannot be the Joker to face the Batman due to his age, but he creates the identity which I believe is passed down to the eventual Clown Prince of Crime. Furthermore, with Fleck’s mental illness, one may wonder if everything in the film actually occurred at all. Were the riots and the character the Joker all in his head? For audience members who pay close attention to the subtler hints, that question becomes one that presides over the entire film. To each their own, regarding the film “Joker.” It is beautifully done and deserves serious contemplation about the state of our current society as well as some of the other serious themes the film brings to light. It is crude in its honesty, but the truths cannot be ignored.