JOKER IS A MASTERWORK – OR AT LEAST PHOENIX’S ACTING IS. Whatever else, Joker is

JOKER IS A MASTERWORK – OR AT LEAST PHOENIX’S ACTING IS.

Whatever else, Joker is a masterwork. Mostly because of Phoenix’s work. He carries it – unquestionably. He is spectacular. Directing is good, editing is flawless to the point of perfection, script is.. adequate, even predictable. It’s so derivative of taxi-driver that it started to get on my nerves. Partly because I grew up in that period and it was horrid. I remember the 60’s to 80’s just fine – when the liberal experiment in social leniency collapsed our civilization rapidly. Ending rescue is weak. I don’t see how it’s gruesome or violent, or anything else objectionable- at least compared to the genre it inherits from. It’s tame by comparison. Rob Zombie? Refn? Winterbottom? Peckinpah? Even Hitchcock? I think that the severity and intensity with which Phoenix illustrates the character, and captures our attention, reduces one’s ability to emotionally separate into an observer like we do with more mythological (hyperbolic) narratives. I was riveted. Whether or not it’s oscar worthy material is different from whether or not its an oscar worthy performance – and that’s unquestionable. Not quite Daniel Day Lewis but certainly, without question, approaching that level of excellence. )