Joker (5 Stars)

I always face a dilemma when I see a film in the cinema, instead of watching it at home on Blu-ray a year or longer after its release. There's so much that I would like to write about a film, especially if it's a good film like "Joker" that touches my psyche, but it would be unfair of me to give away spoilers. I know that other reviewers are less sensitive. They're not shy of giving a detailed description of the plot a week after the release. Worst of all is Wikipedia, which gives a blow-by-blow report of everything that happens the day after a film's cinema release, sometimes even earlier. I would appeal to Wikipedia to only allow plot summaries a month after release, but I'm sure the Wikipedia overlords would refuse this, making excuses like "Everyone knows we publish spoilers, so it's people's own fault if they look at a film page".

I'm not Wikipedia. You won't get that from me.

The film "Joker" has received overwhelming praise from critics, but some voices criticise it for justifying the violent reaction of those who are bullied. We all know that the background of classroom shooters is that they were misunderstood bullies who wanted to strike back. I can see the parallel, but I don't believe that's what "Joker" is about. He was insane from the beginning. It's emphasised that he was previously in a mental hospital. It's this madness which leads to the revelation of his psychopathic tendencies. It's not that society mistreats him by not appreciating his talent, it's his narcissism which tells him that he has the right to be appreciated.

The Joker is one of Batman's oldest villains. This is his first appearance in Batman #1 from March 1940. (Batman himself had previously appeared in ten issues of Detective Comics, from May 1939 to February 1940). He was a frequent villain until 1954, but then he disappeared because he was considered too violent to be acceptable to the Comics Code Authority. In 1965 he returned, with the same appearance, but he had more of a comical character. Instead of killing people he played tricks on them.

The Joker appeared frequently in the Batman television series from 1966 to 1968. Critics of the series say that the series was too camp, nothing like the dark character of the comic books. What they don't realise is that the comics themselves were already camp when the series began. The violence of the Batman stories was gradually toned down from 1954 onwards. I can't say at what point the stories became camp, because it was a slow development. All I can say for certain is that by 1965 the comics displayed the same levity as the television series. They remained like this until Steve Englehart brought back the "dark Batman" in 1977.

The first and most prolific actor to play the Joker on screen was Cesar Romero. Apart from appearing in the 1966 Batman film, he was in 22 episodes of the Batman TV series. Rather than just being inspired by the comics, he inspired the comics. The extended lips originated with him and became part of the Joker's appearance in the comics.

Jack Nicholson played the Joker in the 1989 Batman film. He can be considered a transition between the earlier and later portrayals of the Joker by live actors. He shared the madness of Cesar Romero's Joker, but he was more homicidal.

Heath Ledger completed the transition from the early to the late Jokers in the 2008 film "The Dark Knight". Despite the face paint, there's little that's comical in his actions. He was highly praised for his role, receiving an Academy Award for his portrayal of the Joker. I don't deny that it was a magnificent performance, but he didn't quite capture the essence of the Joker the way Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson did.

Jared Leto played the Joker in "Suicide Squad" (2016). I hardly know what to say. His participation in the film was irrelevant to the story and could have been omitted. He was only included because the Joker was a fan favourite that fans wanted to see. Added to that, he wasn't anything like the Joker in the comics. He doesn't even come close.

From 1966 to 2016 I would have rated the Jokers in the same order that they appeared:

1. Cesar Romero (1966-1968)
2. Jack Nicholson (1989)
3. Heath Ledger (2008)
4. Jared Leto (2016)

I didn't think it was possible to improve on Cesar Romero's performance. For me he was the quintessential Joker. Now I have to take that back. Joaquin Phoenix exceeded my wildest expectations. For me he's become THE Joker. He perfectly captures the insanity and the pathos of the character.

Having said that, I don't know whether I want him to return in a sequel or a future Batman film. "Joker" stands alone as a brilliant film, not just Joaquin Phoenix's acting, but also the construction of the story. I'm afraid that Joaquin Phoenix wouldn't be allowed to fully develop himself as the supporting character in a future Batman film. Maybe a sequel taking place before Bruce Wayne becomes Batman is a possibility, but the screenwriter and director would have to be very careful that they don't make mistakes. Despite messing up the timeline, it would be good to see the Joker and Harley Quinn together in a world before Batman. Joaquin Phoenix and Margot Robbie would be a dream team.