My rating: 4/10

Pros: The set design, cinematography, and framing of each scene really grounded me as an audience member in this gritty and cluttered world that Arthur is surrounded by in Gotham, adding to the films depressing and grim tone.

Cons: Poorly paced, with an overdrawn exposition and an excessive amount of characterization that didn’t pay off, as Arthur ends up ditching his prior morals and personality, making the whole first hour of the movie entirely obsolete.

Favourite Scene: Arthur viciously attacking and killing his former co-worker Randall, then sparing his other co-worker Gary for “being the only guy there to be kind to him”

This scene sticks out to me due to it ending with a break from the films painfully drab story, by having a classic slapstick comedy-esque moment where Gary is told to leave by Arthur but can’t as he’s too short to reach the lock. This scene also includes Arthur doing a fake-out lunge towards Gary, and him having to open the door for Gary who spends the entire scene utterly terrified of Arthur. This scene works so well because while it is mostly used to provide a moment of comedy relief, it also relays a message about how a little bit of kindness can go a long way, which is especially impactful when reviewed in tandem with the films collective message.