The absolutely brilliant performance by Joaquin Phoenix, beautiful cinematography by Lawrence Sher and a powerful score by Hildur Guðnadóttir help elevate this film above most comic book adaptations despite the heavy-handed, politically confused and at times tasteless script.
Why brilliant performance? Phoenix absolutely becomes Arthur Fleck. It's a physical as well as emotional performance, channeling the frustration and loneliness of the character perfectly. Although Phoenix has played outcasts, mentally ill characters or, for the lack of a better word, losers…
