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Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Overlong, Slogging, and Messy. Certainly Not a Masterpiece Like Everyone has Been Claiming it Is...
Last night I saw Martin Scorsese's new film Killers of the Flower Moon in the movie theater, which is based on true events surrounding the 1920s murders of many members of the Osage Indian tribe in Oklahoma, and is adapted from a book by David Grann, which I read prior to seeing the film.
The film is not a cinematic masterpiece like I've heard so many reviewers saying. The massive 3 hour and 30 minute runtime I feel was unnecessary, and the story could've been trimmed down by an hour. There are certain movies that are 3 hours long that do a fantastic job at capturing your attention right from the get go and not letting go, and that are executed well in their story (films like Oppenheimer, The Batman, and Lord of the Rings: Return of the King do this kind of thing perfectly) but Killers of the Flower Moon slogs on in some places and the pacing drags on, to where you're sitting there either falling asleep or wondering when the movie will get to the point it's trying to make. The pacing and the runtime fail in their execution for me.
Money is the root of all evil, and that's no exception here in the story. Even though I read the book beforehand, (the book is an absolute page-turner) audiences, even if they haven't read the book are given the information of who is being the murders and who is trying to steal the Osage's massive amount of wealth. It's blantantly obvious and I wish there would've been a better story along the lines of a proper whodunnit. This just seemed like a poorly executed who-didn't-do-it. It gets very confusing at certain points and even I got confused and I had read the book beforehand. And because of that the movie drags on and on and on and doesn't hold your attention the whole time.
However, that being said, it IS filled with Oscar worthy performances by Leonardo DeCaprio and Lily Gladstone. Their presence and performances alone are what kept me from almost walking out of the theater. So nuanced and so deeply layered performances, they are the only two bright parts in the whole mess. Robert DeNiro's performance however, is so blatantly obvious, stale, and so generic; it almost seems like he's just a cardboard cutout in the movie for a check.
The movie overall certainly wasn't the greatest thing in the world, but it certainly wasn't the worst. I've had better times at the movies this year, especially in a 3 hour movie (Oppenheimer still holds the top spot as the best movie I've seen this year) but even if you enjoy westerns as much as I do, you'd probably be wise to steer clear of this one in general. Besides, it's probably a movie that I would not give a second viewing to.
Oppenheimer (2023)
The Best Movie of 2023! Period!
This film was my most anticipated film of the Summer, if not the year; and the film certainly did not disappoint! Christopher Nolan delivers the best movie of his career, without a doubt! It's a cinematic masterpiece, and I will be surprised if this movie DOESN'T win the Oscar for Best Picture of the year. It deserves that title. It's certainly is the best film I've seen this year, and takes the top spot on my list!
The film delivers a stunning, staggering, and sometimes scary look at the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb." The movie is based on the biography of Oppenheimer called 'American Prometheus' by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin (which I read in a week last month to prepare for the film). Oppenheimer is portrayed by Cillian Murphy, whose performance is so riveting and nuanced and haunting that the 3 hour runtime of the film became an afterthought. His performance as the famous theoretical physicist who birthed the world's first nuclear weapons is haunting, so nuanced, and brilliant that I couldn't take my eyes off him the entire time he was on the screen! Murphy ought to make room on his shelf for the many awards that should be coming his way due to this incredible performance!
The other standout performances amongst this massive ensemble star filled cast is Robert Downey Jr as Lewis Strauss, a former political ally turned bitter rival of Oppenheimer. Downey commands the screen in a performance that allows him to stretch his legs and really gives him the respect he deserves as one of the best in the business, and he should receive a Best Supporting Actor nomination or award for his performance. Other superb performances in this are the the ladies in Oppenheimer's life, played by Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh!
The movie starts with the hammer down and doesn't let up, and will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very very last haunting shot, in which Oppenheimer contemplates the potential future world ending way his creation may be used to bring an end to human civilization.
The film, though 3 hours long (believe me, it doesn't feel like a 3 hour long film) is a masterpiece, and it could almost be broken down into 3 acts: Oppenheimer's origin story (where he almost sees things on a molecular level with molecules and atoms smashing and moving together, almost like a superhero), the second act begins with the start of the Manhattan Project, which begins an edge of your seat portion of the movie, depicting the scientist's race to beat the Nazis in the development of the atomic bomb (a race at the time during WWII Germany had an 18 month head start on the development of atomic weapons; act 3 begins after the successful Trinity Test (which is done with absolutely no CGI whatsoever). The 3rd act of the movie becomes a very tense and gripping courtroom drama as well as a bit of a psychological horror piece, as Oppenheimer and a few of the fellow scientists begin to contemplate the massive horror they've unleashed on the world. Christopher Nolan blends the 3 acts in the movie together in such a masterful way that those 3 hours go by pretty quickly.
The subject matter is of course pretty dark, but you can't take your eyes off of the spectacle and the epic story of a man whose innovation allowed us to save human civilization, but also haunted him for the rest of his life, and the phenomenal performances by all of the actors involved.
Some people may need a refresher on WWII and Cold War history before watching this film, but any cinephile and movie lover like myself should be more than happy to lose themselves in this film.
Chris Nolan masterfully weaves narratives from different time periods while exploring the character depths of a man whose actions altered the world's history and trajectory forever, for better or worse. Nolan brings us right into the mind and the complex psyche of Oppenheimer himself, and all the moral conflicts within him.
Every single thing in the movie is flawless, including the score and music by Ludwig Göransson. It truly deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible. It's an unforgettable movie and my favorite film of the year! It's the best movie of 2023. Period!
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
The Best of the GOTG Trilogy, and a Return to Form for the MCU
This swan song for this lineup of the Guardians was absolute perfection, and a satisfying, fun, and fulfilling way to end the Guardians story.
This final Guardians movie takes a slightly darker tone than the previous two, though there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments (including one that involves the MCU's very first F-Bomb). This time around everyone's favorite misfit family of heroes go on a desperate mission to rescue Rocket Raccoon after he is gravely injured, bringing all of the Guardians face to face with Rocket's creator, the High Evolutionary, a man with a God complex who is hell bent on creating a perfect utopian society, by experimenting on others and crushing anyone and anything he seems as a mistake. Much of Rocket's origins and backstory are explored in this movie, as he is the heart and soul of the whole team.
Much emphasis in the film is placed on the importance of family, love, and self worth, as well as overcoming loss; though there are moments that will make you laugh out loud one minute and cry the next, but director James Gunn's script and direction makes it all work perfectly.
The soundtrack is also perfect; the film features songs from Alice Cooper, Radiohead, The Mowgli's, Beastie Boys, Florence and The Machine, Heart, and more!
This film also contains the most joyous and euphoric, satisfying, and happy ending I've ever seen in any of the MCU movies so far, and it will make you laugh, cry, and celebrate at the same time!
In total, it's the best MCU film I've seen since Spider-Man: No Way Home!
The Machine (2023)
Laugh Out Loud Funny!
Okay, so I went into this knowing absolutely nothing about it except that it had Mark Hamill in it.....and it is the funniest film I've seen in ages! 🤣
It's based on the (alleged) true story that comedian Bert Kreischer has told in his stand up routine about how he got mixed up with the Russian Mafia and robbed a train during a college trip with his school, and how that led to his now famous nickname, The Machine. Truth be told, I've seen Bert Kreischer on television and a couple of shows, but I'm not familiar with his stand up, but the movie is absolutely hilarious!!
Kreischer plays a fictionalized version of himself, who is kidnapped by a Russian Braatva (mafia) member who forces Bert and his father (played by Mark Hamill) to accompany her back to Russia to find her mob boss father's priceless pocket watch, that he stole when he was back in college.
For this movie, think the action and humor found in the Deadpool movies, and turn the dial up and that's what you get with this movie! It is incredibly, fall on the floor funny! It was a surprise hit for me! Really great time at the movies!! 🤣🤣
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
The Best Spider-Man Film. Ever.
Next to Spider-Man: No Way Home, Across the Spider-Verse takes the top spot as the best Spidey film I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing! It is incredible, a feast for the eyes, and full of humor and heart! There are so many Easter Eggs to spot throughout the movie, and it is so much fun to try to spot them, you never know what, or WHO might pop up in the story! 👀
This ambitious sequel delves heavily into the Spider-Man mythos, and continues the story of Miles Morales Spider-Man from the Into the Spider-Verse film, but it adds more depth to some other characters that we fell in love with in the first film while introducing some other Spider-powered people. This time, they're on a mission to stop the destruction of the multiverse, by a madman known only as The Spot, who can portal in and out of the different universes within the Spider-Verse on a mission to destroy all Spiders! That's not all though, as the leader of the Spider team, Spider-Man 2099 (Miguel O'Hara) comes into conflict with Miles about his place in the Spider-Verse and what it truly means to be Spider-man!
Featuring a massive voice cast including Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Jason Schwartzman, Karan Soni, Daniel Kaluuya, Oscar Isaac, Greta Lee, Mahershala Ali, Andy Samberg, Rachel Dratch, Zoe Kravitz, and many many, many more, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse does truly deliver! It's a sequel that does it's job even better than the first movie, times ten! Go see this movie even if you aren't a Spider-Man or superhero fan, it's an incredible spectacle!!
And, the ending of the film is one of the most spectacular endings to a movie I've seen since Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame!
The Flash (2023)
Surprisingly Refreshing for DC Films and A Whole Lotta Fun
I went into this not exactly expecting much, as so much of the DCEU has been meh, (with a couple of notable exceptions; i.e. Man of Steel in 2013 and The Suicide Squad from 2019) but boy was I surprised by this movie!
The Flash movie is the most fun I've had watching a DC Comics movie since 2019's The Suicide Squad! My feelings about Ezra Miller as a person aside, the film is a spectacle from start to finish! The opening sequence of the movie is worth the price of admission alone, as are several fun, funny, and absolutely insanely great moments throughout the movie! I found myself laughing for once during a DC movie, and director Andy Muschietti masterfully blends humor with the high stakes presented in the film.
The plot of the film is a faithful adaptation of a major DC Comics storyline involving The Flash called Flashpoint. There was only one very minor detail involving the plot that irked me, as I felt the movie had a major missed opportunity to not include a classic villain central to the Flashpoint story, but that's just me. There are plenty of Easter eggs for fans to spot but even if you aren't familiar with the comics you will still enjoy it. There is even a slight nod to another DC Comics storyline called Red Son within the film.
Michael Keaton shines once again in his return at The Caped Crusader, reprising the role from the 1989 and 1992 Batman films, ignoring the events of Batman Forever and Batman & Robin in which he didn't star. He returns in classic and badass style, with a little nostalgia thrown in, most notably nods to the original Batman themes in the film's score. Ezra Miller does an admirable job as the titular character, despite my feelings about Miller personally.
The standout performance for me was Sasha Calle as Supergirl, cousin to Superman. In every scene that she is in, she demands your attention and is just as good as Henry Cavill's version of Supes!
The movie was not without it's flaws though. There were many times I found a few scenes annoying and dragging slightly, and there is quite a busy third act, and it does get slightly bogged down by all that it's trying to do.
However there are a couple of cameos in the film I DID NOT SEE COMING right towards the end!
All in all, The Flash is amazing, and proves that in the right hands and with the right screenplay and direction, DC heroes can have their chance in the spotlight! If this is the last hurrah of the Snyderverse, then this goes out in style on a high note! (This movie does reboot the DC films to fit the new DCU now helmed by James Gunn.) This cannot be missed if you are a Flash fan, or a Keaton Batman fan! There is a lot to love about this film, and it FINALLY serves the fans up with a lot to like! #TheFlashMovie.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)
Best Mission Yet! Tom Cruise Delivers!!
The movie totally delivers on all fronts! Tom Cruise totally gets what audiences want to see and this is the best Mission yet! It's heart stopping, full of twists and turns, double and triple crosses, and some of the best real world stunts I've ever seen! If you think the stunts in the previous M:I movies and the ones from last years' Top Gun sequel are crazy, this movie takes it to a whole new level!! Plus, the villain in this one is TERRIFYING, and hits a little too close to home in this age of social media and the digital computer frontier!
One of the best movies of the year without a doubt!
The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)
A Love Letter to Video Game Fans everywhere! Fun and Clever too!!
If you are a fan of the Mario video games, Nintendo, or a fan of video games in general you will love this movie! There is just as much clever jokes and material in the film aimed for fans of the video game franchise and adults as there is for kids! Even if you're not familiar with the games, the film has an easy to follow plot that is a lot of fun, and there are a TON of Mario, video game, and Nintendo Easter Eggs throughout the whole movie!
The animation is superb; it's one of the most colorful animated movies I've seen in ages, the voice cast is outstanding, Chris Pratt knocked it out of the park as Mario! The other standouts from the voice cast are definitely Jack Black as Bowser, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Keegan Michael Key as Toad! Also, I have to give some props to Charlie Day for his performance as Luigi, because he sounds very much like the original voice actor who voices the character in the games! I felt like the movie was perfectly cast and the actors did an incredible job!
Also, the soundtrack and the score to this movie was insanely clever too! The film's score combined new music from composer Brian Tyler, with the original Mario and Nintendo themes originally written by Koji Kondo, and made a score that is clever, in the fact that a lot of the music has 8-bit synth music just like the games, including a music cue of the Nintendo GameCube startup sound in the movie as well! Also, the film features some pretty sweet music and songs like Thunderstruck by AC/DC, No Sleep 'Till Brooklyn by Beastie Boys, Take on Me by A-ha, Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra, Blind by Korn, and Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler!
Honestly, this is one video game adaptation that knocked it out of the park, and the film exceeded my expectations! It's fun, clever, and brilliant in ways I didn't expect! I really liked it!
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
An Excellent, Fun, Weird, and Wacky Adventure Where The Stakes are High!
Whew!! What a way for Marvel to start Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and The Multiverse Saga!! Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania didn't disappoint! (Though there are two minor gripes I have with it that I'll get to in a moment).
Right out of the gate this movie takes you on a journey that you've never been on before, namely to the Quantum Realm, which has been visited before in the Marvel movies but not to the extent that this movie does! It's weird and wonderful in all the right ways and the Quantum Realm's creatures and inhabitants (humanoids and alien like creatures alike) all give off huge Star Wars vibes, but I don't dislike it at all. It works and doesn't feel out of place. Heck, I'm sure if you shrunk down to beyond the size of dust mites yourself everything would look a little alien to you too. There's a colorful cast of new characters that are the inhabitants of the Quantum Realm and they all are weird, wacky, and wonderful, (and also wondering about holes; "just drink the goo").
This movie also introduces us to the newest overarching baddie for all of Phase 5 & 6 in these movies and Disney+ shows named Kang The Conqueror, a god-like being who can travel through time, across dimensions, realities, and universes, who has gone up against The Avengers plenty of times before in the comic books and has easily won more than a few times. Kang proves in this movie that he is an even BIGGER threat to The Avengers and the Marvel Multiverse at large than Thanos was!! Kang is a terrifying villain, played wonderfully and with some Machiavellian glee by actor Jonathan Majors!! Majors did such a great job as Kang that he steals every scene that he's in. The character is so layered, that the movie only scratches the surface of Kang's broken psyche, and I cannot wait to see more of him going forward in the MCU!
Actress Kathryn Newton also did an admirable job as the now almost adult Cassie Lang, who now has a suit very much like her father's. Throughout the movie she (much to Scott's chagrin, at first) learns to use the suit properly, as it does come with a learning curve for her, while Scott tries to sometimes hilariously teach her the ropes. She also wants to be like her father and help people and not turn a blind eye, and those situations get her into some hot water more than a couple of times, but she proves she can handle herself and becomes a superhero in her own right. Newton's performance as Cassie adds some depth and maturity to the character, and I won't be surprised if we see more of her in some form going forward!
I also liked the addition of Bill Murray into the mix, who has a history with Janet from her time down in the Quantum Realm before her rescue. He plays his character the way you'd expect Bill Murray to play an over-the-top and exuberant character, and it adds some humor while also building up the tension to the plot even more!
Quantumania is a movie whose set pieces are weird, wonderful, and sometimes wacky, but it all blends together and works well and the film gives off some heavy Star Wars vibes at times; that's not a bad thing at all, I loved it, because director Payton Reed and Marvel head Kevin Feige know how to make something bizarre work well within the confines of the psychics and the world that Stan Lee and the comics created. The movie is funny when it needs to be, and serious when it needs to be. It's a well put together film that doesn't feel clunky or slow. The stakes in this film are as serious as you can get, (the introduction of Kang, the possibility of Multiversal annihilation, those whole nine yards), but the movie is a nice blend of usual Ant-Man movie humor and seriousness and it all works well. Of the three Ant-Man movies, THIS ONE is my favorite of the three!
There were a couple of things in the movie that I felt were lacking, and that I didn't like, though not completely dislike. Firstly, The Wasp character is treated almost like a side character and a sidekick instead of an equal superhero partner to Scott. It's almost as if the screenwriters downplayed her role in this movie and put more emphasis on Scott, Cassie, and Kang. The other dislike I had with the movie (though it's only a minor one) is that we didn't get enough time with Bill Murray's character in the movie, I would've liked to have seen more of him, and also the fact that I wish we could've seen more of what Janet's time in the Quantum Realm was like, other than the few flashbacks we got. There was definitely a little more to her story and her time there that was told, but not explicitly shown.
This movie was a blast, and Marvel is certainly starting to turn up the dial on all the setting up they did in Phase 4, because this first entry in Phase 5 does not disappoint, and this'll leave you wanting more.
Speaking of more, there is a mid credit and a post credit scene, both of which YOU CAN'T MISS, because it sets the stage for what we can expect going forward, and there are a couple of unexpected and BIG surprises and reveals!!
Quantumania is a Marvel movie that feels wacky and wonderful in all the right ways. If you thought Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness was a mind altering trip on acid, wait until you see this!
The Pale Blue Eye (2022)
Good Performances By Bale and Melling, But Suffers from Bad Writing
Christian Bale plays Augustus Landor, a world weary detective in New York in 1830, who gets called upon to solve the grisly murder of a young West Point cadet. Infuriated with the cadet's code of silence, he turns to one of the only cadets willing to share any information of what he knows about the crime: a young Edgar Allan Poe (Harry Melling). The two begin to work together to solve a mystery that delves into the darkest part of the human heart.
Despite having a cast with plenty of talent including Bale, Harry Melling as Poe (whom I just learned was the same person who played Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter film series), Robert Duvall, Toby Jones, Gillian Anderson and Timothy Spall, this film had some bad writing from the screenplay also by Cooper.)
The movie drags in parts, is very slow at some points, but then is rushed in others. The whole premise of (a fictional) Edgar Allan Poe teaming up with a hardened and weary detective sounded like a story that I would enjoy watching, considering that it's a period piece, and had an interesting premise, however; after the investigation of the first murder the story jettisoned off on tangents that slogged along, all the while having one or two more bodies pile up along the way.
Like with any good mystery, you're at first led to believe that any person could've done this when the detective investigates, which it does, but then the story doesn't follow through completely with a couple of them.
There were a few points in the film that I was confused by. My knowledge of the real life Poe is very limited (I have enjoyed some of his writing) and I began to question where certain elements of his character are coming from, and when you watch the film you'll see why. I understand that it's a fictionalized version of the famous author, but there were moments where I began to question where certain elements of his character were coming from that didn't exactly fit the narrative of the rest of the story. Not to say that actor Harry Melling didn't do a fantastic job at portraying the young author, it's the writing I found bad in spots.
Also, Christian Bale also did an admirable job as the detective Augustus Landor, giving a haunting and entertaining performance, but once again being cast as a man who has lost much and has to work through heartbreak and personal demons.
As with any form of storytelling that involves Edgar Allan Poe in any way, when I tell you this movie has some deep, dark macabre elements reminiscent of some of the stories of Poe himself (such as The Raven and The Tell-Tale Heart) I mean in a good way. From the set pieces to the whole thing taking place among the dark, dreary cold and snow of Winter, the film definitely takes a chilling (no pun intended) atmosphere to it. The movie almost has a gothic horror element to it, and we're led to believe that the culprit behind the crimes and the murders around which the story takes place are of a supernatural nature.
That being said, after all was said and done, after the crime had been solved and the perpetrators dealt with, the redeeming quality of this movie was the big twist right at the very last 20 to 25 minutes of the film. One which I didn't see coming.
All in all, despite brilliant performances by Christian Bale, Harry Melling, and Toby Jones, and a fair dark and gloomy atmosphere, overall, the movie fell a bit flat for me, mostly due to poor and lazy writing by director Scott Cooper, which slogs the movie down; which is a shame considering that his previous collaborations with Christian Bale (most notably Hostiles) is one of my favorite films by Cooper.
Tenet (2020)
The Most Thrilling, Unique, and Best Nolan Film Yet!
I've been waiting for Tenet for a long while. Christopher Nolan is one of my favorite directors, and this was well worth the long COVID quarantine wait! It's the first time in 6 months I've actually gone to the movies, and whoa, this movie was mind blowing! Time Inversion/Reversal/Travel science fiction meets a gripping spy thriller! Bravo to all involved! Robert Pattinson and Kenneth Branagh deliver Oscar worthy performances, and John David Washington, The Protagonist of the film, is a son who is rising to the level of his famous father as far as acting goes (his father is Denzel Washington).
I'm not going to give anything of the plot away safe to say that in Tenet, NOTHING is what it appears to be and you will go on one of the best rides that Christopher Nolan has delivered to the cinemas in years! It's on my list now of my Top Science Fiction films ever! It was well worth the long quarantine wait!! Bravo!!
Ford v Ferrari (2019)
Bold, Gutsy, and a Whole Lot of Fun!
Ford v Ferrari is now my new personal favorite racing movie! It's the most fun I've had at the movies in a while!
I went in to this not knowing much about the story, but by the end I was blown away! I had no idea how gutsy (and sometimes crazy) Carrol Shelby and Ken Miles were! The film is flat out fun, not just because of the thrilling racing sequences, but also because of the at times laugh out loud humor scattered throughout too, (though not enough to be considered a comedy).
Matt Damon and Christian Bale both each give two of the best performances of their careers!
The racing sequences had my heart pounding with adrenaline and there were times I wanted to cheer!
I could go on and on but really, do yourself a favor and go see this one, whether you're a car fan or not. You'll be caught up in the drama and the fun whether you're a gear head or not! It has something for everyone!
Doctor Sleep (2019)
Best Adaptation of a Stephen King Novel Period.
This movie was my most anticipated movie of 2019, and thank God it didn't disappoint! After having seen the movie, Doctor Sleep is the best and most accurate movie adaptation of any Stephen King novel that I have ever seen, probably right next to The Shawshank Redemption!!
Doctor Sleep is my favorite King novel, and the movie was so so good, while also taking a few liberties and drifting slightly away from the source material at times to fit as a sequel to 1980's The Shining Film by Kubrick. Other than that, it was oh so good!
The cast was also excellent! Ewan McGregor was a perfect casting choice to play the adult Dan Torrence and Rebecca Ferguson absolutely brought the creep factor as the film's villain Rose The Hat. Kyliegh Curran was a real scene stealer as Dan's protégé, Abra Stone.
Plus, the music and the atmosphere were also phenomenal!
Great job by everyone involved! Doctor Sleep brought the scares, the chills, and the thrills, and director Mike Flanagan did right by King and Kubrick! Excellent movie!!
Joker (2019)
Not just a great comic book movie, a great movie period!
After Jared Leto's letdown performance as the character in 2016's Suicide Squad, Joaquin Phoenix delivers the best performance of The Joker since the late Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight!
This film is a self contained story that doesn't draw heavily off of any one comic book story, though there are little nods to the comics, such as The Wayne Family/a young Bruce Wayne playing a prominent role in the movie, plus subtle nods to The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns.
It's in a dark, gritty world that the film takes place, as we are taken back to 1981 and we're transported to a Gotham City unlike any we've seen before on film, a city not unlike our real world. It's a Gotham City on the edge of chaos, and Phoenix's Arthur Fleck/Joker is the catalyst that throws the switch, as the people of Gotham begin to riot against the elite and upper class of the city and regard The Joker as a folk hero and Robin Hood type of figure. The film has major echoes of past 80s films, such as Taxi Driver and Dog Day Afternoon.
It's within this gritty realism that the stakes of the movie takes place. Phoenix's portrayal of this mentally unstable man, whom society has turned it's back on, is both frightening and relatable. As his mental faculties begin to unravel, the viewer can't help but sympathize in some way with The Joker's plight. He's pained by what he's suffered in life, but he goes off the deep end into a life of crime. That's what makes Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of the character so frightening. More than any other incarnation of the character, this one has echoes of our real world: that nothing is more frightening than a mentally unstable person with a gun.
But it also leaves The Joker's backstory up in the air and up for debate by the end of the film, as Arthur/Joker is an unreliable narrator, and the audience is left wondering what exactly in the film's narrative was the truth and what were just delusions in The Joker's head.
It's a film that transcends genres. It's not just a great comic book based film, it's a gritty, dark, and brilliantly done character study. It's a movie with real world consequences, as the characters are very reflective of the criminals that plague the news every day.
An absolutely stunning performance by Joaquin Phoenix, and the movie definitely is worth every amount of acclaim it's getting! Phoenix deserves an Oscar! It's a brilliant piece of film!!