{"id":26810,"date":"2019-10-17T12:13:14","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T17:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=26810"},"modified":"2019-10-17T12:13:26","modified_gmt":"2019-10-17T17:13:26","slug":"joker-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2019\/10\/17\/joker-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Joker Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This review contains mild spoilers for “Joker.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJoker,\u201d <\/a>directed by Todd Phillips<\/a> and starring Joaquin Phoenix<\/a>, Robert De Niro<\/a> and Zazie Beetz<\/a>, is one of the most talked-about movies of the year, causing controversy weeks before its release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, you can rest easy, as it hasn\u2019t incited riots in the streets or mass violence inspired by the \u201cClown Prince of Crime.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What it is is a fascinating and well put together character study in a similar vein to Martin Scorcese films, such as \u201cTaxi Driver\u201d<\/a> and \u201cThe King of Comedy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a man living in a small apartment with his sickly mother in late 70s-early 80s era Gotham City. He struggles to make ends meet due to monetary strain and mental health issues, most notably bursts of uncontrollable laughter that pop up in the most inopportune moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He works as a clown-for-hire, and his nature freaks out his fellow clowns and most people he encounters, such as his neighbor Sophie (played by Beetz) and her young daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A series of events unfold that rip Fleck\u2019s mental stability to shreds and bear catastrophic consequences for the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all culminates in a confrontation between Fleck and late-night TV host Murray Franklin (played by De Niro). It\u2019s a tense and bone-chilling scene that lives up to the previous hour and a half of buildup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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