In this 2019 interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime, Joker (2019) is without bounds. The Joker everyone knows from the comics is just beginning to blossom. And with some very heavy and dark tones, we take a stroll through Gotham city. To a time when Bruce Wayne was just a boy, to a time where Joker lived with his Mom.

Joaquin Phoenix brilliantly plays Arthur Fleck, a part time rent-a-clown that is portrayed as mentally ill, coping via medications and weekly therapy. As we see throughout the film, Arthur never really feels that the therapist actually cares about him; every week she keeps asking the same questions and never really listening to what he is saying. As the universe keeps pummeling him down, Arthur slowly spirals down through the movie as darker and darker feelings began to brew inside.

“All i have are negative thoughts.” – Arthur Fleck

Throughout the film the tone rarely changes, a very dark and depressing mood flows throughout the movie. No Batman to save the day in this film, just a very young Bruce.

The Joker has always been a character that has a past that is not really mentioned. We see the all the breaking points that drive Arthur Fleck to the point of becoming the Joker. The relationship with his mother is explored for the first time.

The Joker really shows what can happen when someone suffering from a mental condition doesn’t get the help they need. In the case of Arthur, he does not get the help he needs and in return we get the character we know from the comics.

This film is not your traditional comic book movie. No happy endings come nor do any heroes arrive. Instead, we follow a man with a mental condition as he suffers at the hand of the world around him. A film that seems to be trying to show sympathy to a killer. A film that shows that a monster is bred from its surroundings. Joker reaches out to grip everyone’s darkest heart.