

It's no coincidence that Joker is set during a garbage strike, given that humans here are thrown to the curb just as easily as black plastic bags. But Batman's famous nemesis isn't just villainous any longer he's a heartbreaking mistake that could have been prevented. Skeletal and dark-spirited, he moves his limbs like a balletic spider, either twining as if spinning a web or flailing and flapping like a manic cartoon character. Phoenix embodies the utter despair of this situation, digging deep with a full-bodied performance, forever struggling to find hope but failing. Specifically, Phillips points fingers at the wealthy and powerful, who claim to want to help but make it impossible for the downtrodden to pick themselves up. The film rages at the human condition and the darkness that might break a person and turn that person into a monster. With Joker, director Todd Phillips sets aside his penchant for juvenile comedies like The Hangover and channels early Martin Scorsese, especially Taxi Driverand The King of Comedy. Led by Phoenix's ferocious, feral performance, this especially dark, gritty comic book movie is a character drama that's drawn more toward real-world troubles than to capes and crusading. The story disparages hate, anger, and unkindness, but it doesn't exactly promote kindness, love, or generosity. It also suggests that mental illness is one of the contributing factors to his villainous acts and behavior, which is troubling. The Joker isn't presented as a role model, but the movie does condemn those who do nothing to help the downtrodden get on their feet, which positions him as a somewhat sympathetic character. The main character takes prescription pills, and characters smoke frequently. Language isn't constant but includes uses of "f-k," "s-t," "a-hole," etc. The main character is shown with his hand down the front of his underwear, suggesting masturbation, and there's kissing.
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There's brief nudity as the pages of a journal are flipped through, plus images and movie titles on porno theaters. Several characters bully and beat up the main character, punching and kicking him, and there are scenes of fighting, rioting, rage, and shouting, as well as a scene of smothering with a pillow. Expect extremely graphic killings and blood spatters/sprays, guns and shooting, and stabbing. It's far darker and more violent than other takes on the character. Parents need to know that Joker is an intense, complex, powerful thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix as the famous Batman villain.
