spencermcook

Humanity is unpredictable. We desperately want to be allies of what's right while hiding our opinions when we favor that which is deemed wrong. Joker: Folie a Deux is being ridiculed by many people for a multitude of reasons. It's the first comic book movie to earn a D CinemaScore, it has a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, 5.3/10 on IMDb, and 45% on Metacritic.

So, why did I enjoy this movie when seemingly no one else did?

Todd Phillips writes a beautifully complex story detailing the unbearable challenges of seeking acceptance and validation in a world of characters who are trying to do the same. What's the number one human desire? To feel important. Joaquin Phoenix shows us two descriptive versions of this character: one who puts on a face and showcases a fluffed confidence because of the validation/attention he receives (shadow version of Arthur Fleck), and one who's broken, lonely, and timid with vulnerability (real version of Arthur Fleck). This isn't a version of the Joker we've seen before, nor is Phillips trying to get to that point. Rather than focusing on the result of the Joker character as seen in performances from Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Hamill, audiences are given layers of insight into how this particular character (or others around him) could eventually end up in a place of complete madness while maintaining a sense of honest identity. Hildur Guðnadóttir elevates the personality of this story with her deeply penetrative score alongside a masterful and practical visual compilation from Lawrence Sher. The musical element works because of its imperfection, but the more grand each production becomes, the farther away those moments feel from what the story is trying to say. This is a human story living within a superhero world, and though the flare of creating crimes or saving people from them feels absent, the inspiration for creating a villain has never felt more authentic (hence the concluding scene).

This may be the most discomforting film I've ever experienced in theaters. Not because of what I'm seeing, but because of how real it feels. Sitting in a black box with this level of violence amid a tension in the audience as overwhelming as the sound creates a convoluted emotion as difficult to explain as it is to write out. Alex Garland has created a reputation as someone who uses the art of film to portray the fears of possible reality, and he may have reached his greatest height in that regard. Even though the undertones of this story are political and the most marketable, the depth of this story stems from the dynamic of being a war journalist. Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny portray separate characters with similar ambitions moving forward in the opposite direction of one another. With Dunst providing an exhausted and grounded performance in contrast to Spaeny's emotionally thrilling pursuit, the characters feel like the strongest piece of this story. The line between fact and fiction is blurred by the unique use of sound, and the unpredictable balance between silence and noise creates an anxious energy that is irritating yet equally invigorating. Whereas many films offer an escape, "Civil War" provokes a conversation, but the real question is: are we willing to listen?

There are few films that require the level of attention that "The Godfather" does, which in turn urges to the viewer to set aside time to experience the film rather than stumble upon it. Though 1972 presents its own limitations with visual effects, transitions, and sound, Francis Ford Coppola's cohesive storytelling stands above everything else. The script is overwhelmingly rich and could have easily dulled the attention of the viewer, but because of Coppola's understanding and care for the source material this screenplay has endured over 50 years of new stories and revolutionary technology and has cemented itself among the rarities of film history. As animated an actor as Al Pacino is, he presents an incredibly calm demeanor with this character which is fitting for his particular arc among a cast as dominant and erratic as they may seem. By pulling off the bulldog look that he wanted with a dental mouthpiece, Marlon Brando's dialogue mashes up a bit but doesn't restrain him from expressing patience in his mannerisms to provoke an empathetic authority so unique and definitive to the power his character possesses. With a compilation of many near-perfect standalone sequences, the story weaves through an array of dense anxiety, charming interactions, and unpredictable outcomes. This film acts as a blueprint for countless films to follow, highlighting the vital balance between sharing a detailed story and including a range of characters worth investing in. The contrast of brutality and loyalty blend seamlessly together in one of Hollywood's most complicated and treasured accomplishments of all time.