I was fortunate enough to see Todd Phillips’ latest work, Joker last weekend, and I have to say, this film was outstanding. There are many areas where this film deserves praise, which I’ll be discussing later on. This will be a completely spoiler-free review, so no need to worry if you haven’t seen the movie yet.

To say that Joaquin Phoenix deserves an Oscar for this killer performance is an understatement. Phoenix takes the character of the Joker and makes it his own. He is not trying to compete with Heath Ledger or Jack Nicholson. Phoenix greatly conveys the psychopathic tendencies of the Joker, but at the same time, phenomenally transitions back to the deranged and mentally-ill Arthur Fleck seamlessly. Phoenix is terrifying and visceral in his performance, but at the same time, he also remains calm and poignantly stoic at times. The film does an excellent job at portraying the Joker as a more of a human being dealing with debilitating mental issues, rather than a relentless agent of chaos. The Joker character and his descent into full-on insanity is also complemented by the film’s phenomenal score. As the film progresses, the music gets louder and more violent, mirroring the Joker and his actions.

Cinematography is also an area where Joker shines. The film contains many incredible shots; still and wide shots particularly look the best. The directing in Joker is also superb. Todd Phillips (known mostly for comedies such as The Hangover Trilogy) demonstrates that he can handle a slow-paced drama just as well as anyone else. Joker is visually stunning and staggeringly beautiful to look at. It’s films like Joker that compel us to watch cinema.

Joker is a film that demands multiple viewings. It is impossible to catch all of the subtle nuances it presents in just one go. Joker overwhelms you with tension and suspense. It cranks the passion up and never goes down from there. It is safe to say that you should be looking out for Joker this Oscar season.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10