Category: Patreon Exclusives

Within its first weekend, Joker made over $96 million, setting a new record for a film opening domestically in October. Critically, the film has received mostly mixed reviews, earning a 68% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and being certified fresh. Joker was not without its controversies, from worries the film would inspire real-world violence to issues with the film's soundtrack. In my initial review, I gave the film a 95% rating, praising Joaquin Phoenix's performance, the cinematography, and the story. Even still, I had a few issues with the film, but I couldn't discuss many of those issues without spoilers. I've decided to do a Joker spoiler review exclusive to Patreon, so if you're reading this, thanks for the support. Just be warned, if you haven't seen the film yet and don't want it ruined, see the film before continuing. With all that said, I present my Joker spoiler review.

We open on social outcast Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), who works as a clown twirling signs in front of stores. He also suffers from a mental disorder where he breaks out into uncontrollable fits of laughter at inappropriate times. One day, he's assaulted by some punks that make off with his sign, and he chases after them. He manages to catch up to them in an alley, but is hit with his own sign and beaten up. While his boss Hoyt (Josh Pais) is upset with his performance, his co-worker Randall (Glenn Fleshler) gives him a gun. At home, Arthur tends to his elderly mother Penny (Frances Conroy) and starts a relationship with neighbor Sophie (Zazie Beetz). He idolizes late night talk-show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) and aspires to be a stand-up comedian. Unfortunately for him, things in Arthur's life only go from bad to worse.

While performing at a children's hospital, the gun Randall lent him falls out of Arthur's jacket, which gets him fired. Depressed and still in clown make-up, he boards a subway and is accosted by three businessmen, all intoxicated of course. They proceed to beat him down until Arthur takes out the gun and shoots them, sending him over the edge. What makes this sequence extra disturbing is that you almost side with Arthur given the circumstances despite your best judgment. Later, he goes to a public restroom and does a dance routine, solidifying this as when the Joker is born. He later finds out that the social services he relied on for treatment was being shut down for budgetary reasons. This doesn't phase Arthur since he decides to quit his medications cold turkey, which seems to ultimately help him. However, this leads even further to Arthur transforming into the Joker.

Following a failed stand-up routine, Arthur finds a letter from his mother claiming Thomas Wayne (Brett Cullen) is his father. This leads to a pretty creepy scene where Arthur goes to Wayne Manor and meets young Bruce Wayne (Dante Pereira-Olson). When their butler Alfred Pennyworth (Douglas Hodge) confronts Arthur, he tells Alfred that he knows Thomas Wayne is his father. Later, Arthur manages to confront Thomas at an opera house, only for Thomas to tell him the cold, hard truth. Turns out Thomas isn't his father, Penny is purely delusional and stalked him, and she adopted Arthur as a baby. Naturally in disbelief, Arthur goes to Arkham State Hospital to get his mother's records, which confirms what Thomas said. In response, Arthur goes to the hospital where Penny is staying after a heart attack and suffocates her. It's also revealed that the relationship between Arthur and Sophie was a delusion.

While it would've been an interesting dynamic for Batman and The Joker to be half-brothers, I'm glad it didn't happen. Had that been the case, it would've been a forced connection between the two that didn't need to be there. Also, Arthur and Sophie's "relationship" not being real did make up for Zazie Beetz not having that much to do. Arthur gets a call that Murray Franklin wants him on the show after showing clips of his failed stand-up routine. With the news, Arthur dons the Joker makeup, but not before being visited by former co-workers Randall and Gary (Leigh Gill). Randall confronts Arthur about the train murders since Arthur used his gun, and Arthur stabs him to death with scissors. In a real Joker moment, Arthur lets Gary go, but Gary can't reach the lock since he's a dwarf. Arthur unlocks the door, kisses Gary's forehead, and frees him.

Having gone fully over the edge, Arthur dons his Joker make-up and outfit and makes his way to Murray's studio. On the way there, he's pursued by detectives Burke (Shea Whigham) and Garrity (Bill Camp), who've been investigating the murders. Arthur runs off and the detectives give chase, but he manages to lose them in a crowd of Joker supporters. It should be noted that while preparing for his appearance, Arthur was mimicking shooting himself, as if planning live suicide. Once at the studio, his plans change as he decides that there's nothing left for him to lose. He asks to be introduced as Joker, referring to what Murray called him, and comes out to thunderous applause. However, things take a dark turn when Joker starts telling morbid jokes and even admits to committing the train murders. This ultimately leads to him shooting Murray live on camera and getting arrested.

Now, Joker's supporters have erupted into a full-on riot, with tons of property damage and looting in its wake. As he's being driven by the police through the rioting, Joker starts laughing at what he sees, calling it "beautiful." Soon, an ambulance comes out of nowhere and crashes into them, killing the cops and leaving Joker bloody and beaten. The rioters soon figure out what's happening, and they pull him out of the cop car, waiting for his recovery. During the rioting, Thomas, Martha, and Bruce Wayne make their way out of a movie theater into an alley. This, of course, leads to Thomas and Martha getting killed by a rioter, leaving a young Bruce alone. Having recovered, Joker stands atop the cop car, sticks his fingers in his mouth, and draws a bloody smile. This is yet another great moment that defines what the Joker is all about.

The film cuts to Arthur being put in Arkham and meeting with a psychiatrist, where he starts laughing to himself. When the psychiatrist asks what's so funny, he just says, "I just remembered a joke, but you wouldn't get it." He starts singing the Frank Sinatra song "That's Life" before we end with him running off with bloody footprints. With a film like this, there's plenty that can be analyzed and speculated on as to what exactly everything means. My take is that this serves as a warning of what can happen if mental illness isn't addressed. In a time where with severely mentally-ill people are reacting violently, Joker wants us to watch for the warning signs. Granted, that's my thoughts on the film, so let me know what your takeaway was in the comments below. Thank you for reading my Joker spoiler review, and thanks for your continued support.