Joker

Joker

To tell you the truth, if I had learned about the Joker controversy before walking into the Towson Cinemark and reclining into seat 14B, I probably wouldn’t have seen it.

Joker follows the descent of Arthur Fleck, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, into the madness that leads him to become “The Joker,” AKA the murderous psychopath who tries to kill Batman every other week. Not being a huge superhero fanatic myself, I was wary of seeing this film, but I decided to give it a shot regardless.

Without any spoilers, the film was hauntingly beautiful. For the entire duration of the film, you’re filled with complete and utter ambivalence: should you sympathize with Fleck because of his trauma and complete isolation from society? Or should you think rationally and despise him, because he is clearly a danger to others?

The controversy surrounding this film, however, concerns an all-too familiar societal debate: in the era of mass shootings, should we support a film that seems to sympathize with a dangerous criminal?

I n response to this controversy, Warner Brothers, the producers of the film, issued a statement, explaining, “Make no mistake: neither the fictional character Joker, nor the film, is an endorsement of real-world violence of the kind. It is not the intention of the film... to hold this character up as a hero.”

Another key aspect of the controversy surrounding the film was theater-related safety. Many feared that Joker offered the perfect opportunity for these mass-shooters to come out of the shadows and open-fire in the theater. Many precincts took these concerns to heart, as viewers reported increased police presence in theaters during the showtimes of the films; I noticed this as well. Perhaps this fear stems from a mass shooting that took place on July 20, 2012, during a midnight showing of the film The Dark Knight Rises , the third installment of the Batman trilogy. During this screening, James Eagen Holmes used multiple firearms and opened fire in the Colorado theater, using tear gas grenades to prevent the audience from escaping. Due to the connections between the two films, audience members were obviously concerned that a similar situation could arise during their screening of Joker.

Nonetheless, Joker shattered October box office records, making $96 million in its opening weekend. Obviously, the film has been extremely well-received, illustrating that the movie has not only thrived in spite of its controversy, but perhaps even due to it. Despite its original criticisms and controversy, many commend the film for illustrating mental illness and the importance of providing care for these individuals, even in the most extreme of cases. Ironically, best put by Fleck himself, “people are starting to notice” the man that hides behind the makeup.