Joker first response 

Phillips, 04/10/19 (release date) 

Critical score: 5/10 

Memorable scene: When the dwarf, Gary tries to escape Arthur’s apartment, but he can’t reach the lock, so he asks Arthur to unlock it for him which is a tense moment since he just saw his colleague get killed in front of him. This makes the scene oddly comedic in an awkward sense, Arthur was completely calm after committing an act of random violence. Then there’s the casual joking around, for example when Arthur pretends to lunge at Gary.  

Thoughts: Overall, it was okay, I don’t understand the hype about it but there were some good cinematic shots throughout, although the narrative switched up from serious and gritty to stereotypical action movie, which was off-putting and underwhelming. 

Joker (2019)  
Dir. Todd Phillips 

7/10 – I really enjoyed the general style of the film and how it gave the viewers – especially DC fans – a deeper insight into how the Joker came to be. I normally don’t particularly like films like this, but I just thought it was well made in terms of the setting and how it looked, as well as the really good acting from Phoenix. 

The most memorable scene for me was when Fleck went to the children’s hospital before being fired and he dropped his gun when singing If You’re Happy and You Know it. It was particularly memorable for me because it almost felt like comic relief for the views amongst the sad themes of Fleck’s mental illnesses and violent tendencies. It was shocking and dark but at the same time, the reactions of the children and Fleck’s mannerisms when he shushes the children as if they were doing something as minimal as talking over him, made the scene humorous. 

Joker First Response

Joker – 2019, Todd Phillips

Rating – 7/10

I gave it the rating 7/ 10 because the story of the film was well perceived throughout the whole film. I think the actor for Joker, acted extremely well and was very memorable and took the storyline of the film to another level through his acting. The location and lighting of the film was amazing and help contrast the idea of the joker through sound and location.

The most memorable scene for me was when Arthur Fleck (joker) was in the train when the three guys start fighting with him. At first you felt quite bad and for Arthur and through his acting he made it seem like he was innocent and in the need of help. However, as that scenes progresses you realise that he is not that innocent has he shoots the three men. Through this scene you can see the role of Joker increase.

JOKER (2019, Dir. Todd Phillips) FIRST RESPONSE

Rating: 7/10

Cool cinematography, interesting story and really nice action sequences (also some really really cool kills), and I enjoyed how the plot developed. It also had some really good acting, especially from Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the lead Arthur Fleck. It obviously took a lot of inspiration from the movie Taxi Driver (1976) when it came to pacing and plot. however some parts of the script felt like it was trying too hard to be badass and edgy and I also feel like it demonised mental illness while also criticizing society demonising mental illness, so it wasn’t perfect.

Memorable Scene: The Murder Of Murray Franklin

The lead up to the murder was really tense. Arthur, who had up to this point been socially reserved, was acting super enigmatic upon entering the studio. As he revealed his crimes live on air the tension builds, with Phoenix playing Arthur’s new energetic persona making it even more tense, ending with a loud argument with Franklin, who had been idolised by Arthur throughout the movie. Arthur exposes Franklin for being a cruel, corrupt rich guy, and suddenly shoots him live on air. There is a bit of catharsis when Murray dies as the audiences view of Franklin deteriorates along with Arthur’s, starting from when he mocked the clip of him on air for reasons relating to Arthur’s mental illness. The contrast in this scene is good too, as the recording studio is brightly coloured unlike the grimy streets and apartments that the rest of the movie took place in. Arthur is also dressed colourfully in this scene, in a bright suit and clown makeup, which creates comedy as he tells a dark “joke” and admits to the murders of the upper-class men on the subway. The music too elevates the scene, the slow, beating score building up to the sudden gunshot.

Joker- 2019 Todd Phillips

Rating-8/10

I gave the Joker an 8/10 as I very much enjoyed the storyline and build up towards the Jokers character. The pacing of the film felt slow at times with but me as an audience member was always hooked.

A memorable scene for me was when the Joker brutally stabbed his work mate in the eye and killed him In front of his other work mate after they came to comfort him. It showed the true change from Arthur Fleck to the Joker. It confirmed the transformation. Another memorable scene for me was when Arthur Fleck was following his neighbour through the city and the camera went from following Arthur to stationary and Arthur was fading into the distance.