Movie Review
by Olivia Cappolella
Mental illness is nothing to be joked about, but the Joker, himself, is an impeccable depiction of what suffering from such matters can feel like. Todd Phillips' 'Joker' enthralls the audience with his graphic, aberrant portrayal of how isolation, mental disorders and abandonment transformed Arthur Fleck into the Joker.
The dark reality behind what abuse and alienation can do to a person is what makes 'Joker' so engaging and authentic. In today's day and age, recognition of mental disorders and illnesses are becoming prevalent in society, and this movie raises awareness for mental health, whether that was the goal behind the plot or not.
The DC Universe is known for the superhero verses super villain action movies, but 'Joker' was different. As a standalone, character film in the DCU, this covers a deeper analysis on who the infamous villain is. Simply put, Arthur's development is what keeps the audience pulled in. It humanizes the Joker by how it puts you in the shoes of him and gives you all the twisted details of what forced Arthur to become such a man. With the family background, the struggle to find belonging and the lack of help he receives throughout the film, you wonder if a situation similar to the Joker revolution could happen in real life. While 'Joker' may show a fictional, extreme case, there are too many real situations where mental illness goes untreated, and it is important that this is brought to attention.
Arthur's final joke in the movie really highlights the tragic features of society. "What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash? You get what you f**kin' deserve!" How eye-opening a furious rant can be in a fictional movie like this is something to remember. Hopefully moving forward, mental illness can be handled in a more empathetic way. Even people like the Joker are human, so it is important to take into account what turned him into such a monster.
Overall, 'Joker' was an excellent movie, and was perfectly executed by the producer and actors. As disturbing as it is, I definitely recommend watching it.
Arthur's final joke in the movie really highlights the tragic features of society. "What do you get when you cross a mentally ill loner with a society that abandons him and treats him like trash? You get what you f**kin' deserve!" How eye-opening a furious rant can be in a fictional movie like this is something to remember. Hopefully moving forward, mental illness can be handled in a more empathetic way. Even people like the Joker are human, so it is important to take into account what turned him into such a monster.
Overall, 'Joker' was an excellent movie, and was perfectly executed by the producer and actors. As disturbing as it is, I definitely recommend watching it.
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| Photo From @JokerMovie on Twitter |
