JOKER

Todd Phillips brings the Joker back to the big screen with an enormous effort from Joaquin Phoenix and some light modern day commentary.

Despite any controversy that the film may have garnered up until its release, director Todd Phillips has created a competent, dramatic that would compete during the awards season.

Joaquin Phoenix takes up the mantle of Joker that Jared Leto left behind and effortlessly slips into the character. It comes as expected that Phoenix will turn in a great performance, but it seems that Phoenix has once again raise the stakes with another harrowing performance.

While he excels at subtler performances in Her, You Were Never Here, and The Master, Phoenix has decided to pull from his more outwardly performances and let the instability of Arthur Fleck flow.

The film isn't without flaws. The plot never seems to find what it really wants to say. It waffles from caring about mental health to veering off into a "occupy wall street" subplot. The film is ambitious, but it doesn't hit every note perfectly.

The film has to hang its plot on the performance of Phoenix and if it doesn't directly involve Arthur Fleck, the plot weakens.

I think it's an inventive first try at the dramatic after mainly helming comedic films from Todd Phillips. He isn't the first to try to split from their normal line of work, Chernobyl's Craig Mazin comes to mind, but I think Todd Phillips has a lot to learn from the other directors nominated in his field.

The film is good, I even recommend it. I'm curious to see what this duo may produce next.