ELEMENTS OF MISE-EN-SCENE IN JOKER (2019)

Lighting

In this shot, the light from the fridge acts as a key light, casting light on Arthur’s scrawny physique. The dark room is illuminated solely by the blue light from the fridge, creating a dark, uncomfortable atmosphere. The room is in low key light, making the scene more dramatic. This scene succeeds the scene where Arthur finds out he is adopted, so the dark and blue also help build a tragic, depressing atmosphere.

Space

This shot utilises space to show the relationship between the clowns at the office. None of the clowns are close together despite the size of the room. The room also features a lot of empty space, creating a dull atmosphere in the shot.

Composition

This shot of Arthur attempting a performance at the comedy club is a good example of composition in the film. The lamps and people in the foreground are out of focus, making the audience focus on Arthur on stage. The people in the foreground are also silhouetted, creating the sense that you are in the club with them watching Arthur mess up his show.

Hair + Makeup

In this scene, Arthur is opening the door for two of his old co-workers midway through putting on makeup. His face is halfway through the clown make up process, giving him a patchy white face, which unnerves the viewer. His hair is freshly dyed green as well, making Arthur look unnatural and not human. It also represents where Arthur is in his character arc, as he is not yet the homicidal maniac in full makeup he is at the end, but no longer the anxious man just trying to scrape by in life like he was at the beginning.

Costume

The Stairway Dance scene is a great example of how costume is used in this movie. First there is Arthur in his full “Joker” persona’s outfit. It is wild and colourful and extravagant: there’s a lot going on, from the warm colours on his overcoat and waistcoat, to the decorated shirt, and the full clown makeup and green hair. He stands out and is very easily seen as eccentric. Meanwhile the detectives attempting to book him for the murders of the men on the train are in much more standard and boring clothing. Brown and blue coats, plain white shirts, ties: they resemble the men on the subway. They are dull and like everyone else, and Arthur’s outfit contrasts them by being loud and noteworthy.

 Aspect Ratio

Joker is usually shot in 1.85:1, giving the shots of the grimy Gotham streets more focus and importance. The above shot, for example, shows off the grimy streets of Gotham, showing the rubbish, the homeless, the sporadically placed cars etc. The wider aspect ratio is also useful in closeups as it gives us a better look at the actor’s facial expressions and movements.

However, for the scenes showing the Live With Murray Franklin program, the aspect ratio is shrunk to 1.33:1, making those shots feel like you’re watching them on an old CRT screen, thus putting you in the shoes of somebody watching the show, not a movie.

Film Stock

The camera in Joker is very sharp. The shots are very clear, and the camera shows detail as well as it can. Take the shot above: You can see Arthur’s face in extreme detail; the viewer can see the white makeup fading away, the smudging of the eye makeup, the lines in his face formed by his grin, the light reflecting off his hair. It’s a clear picture that shows a lot of subtle detail. Even the shine on the side of the police car and the reflection of the neon lights in the window are shown in a very high quality. However, similar to the aspect ratio, I love the changes made to the film during the Live With Murray Franklin segments.

Like how the aspect ratio was shrunk to simulate a CRT, a grain is added to the camera, these bars across the screen, as well as dampening the colours, to further emulate the style of an old TV set. This definitely adds to the impact of this intra-diegetic shot, as you are made to feel like you are watching this live on TV, not as part of a movie. It puts you in the shoes of the people in Gotham who have watched this beloved figure get murdered live on air. I love this detail of the CRT Franklin segments, as it adds some individuality and unique style to the film.