Joker review.. to joke or not to joke is the question!

After a lot of build up and being a film riding on the original Joker\’s goodwill, this one deserved a shot..

I am ready to get bashed for what follows!! I really don\’t see why there\’s been such a showering of praise for Joaquin Phoenix. For a three time Oscar nominee (including one for Gladiator) and Grammy and Golden Globe winner, it seemed like an average performance. Probably the story didn\’t offer him that array to showcase his talent!! To say the least, the sudden burst of excessive laughter seemed absurd. And I personally know couple of people with such habits. So nothing too outlandish or out of the box either. The make up no doubt is top notch though. Bright clowny colors have been used well too. The penultimate scene where Joker draws a huge red smiley face with blood strikes a chord deep within your heart! The other characters don\’t have much to contribute with their limited share of screen time.

The screenplay takes a lot of time to get the story going.. and it\’s half time by then!! The verbal battle of sorts during a reality show is the crux of the movie I believe. The way society imposes its norms on people with mental illnesses in particular, and every one in general, has been aptly put into words. The struggle, angst, anger, helplessness, poverty, social outcast has been well brought about. And all your sympathies are with him… Untill he goes on a killing spree! The music though the usual types, has been well chosen for serious, intense, cunning scenes.

All in all, the movie is not at all the melodrama it is projected to be in the trailer. Would have been great if the film had more of a story and substance or would have been a couple of minutes short!!