‘Joker’ is a very well known character in the DC world. This film is controversially unique from the other depictions of ‘Joker’. Referencing the classic Batman comics, I feel that this film wholly captures a grainy and rough world. Not only is it a film that is focussed on an ‘evil’ character, the arc is believe-able and relatable.
One of the very first scenes in ‘Joker’ showcases a person who gets physically and emotionally beaten down and there is no rhyme or reason for it. It just happens – not because the character deserves that type of treatment – but simply because the people who hurt – can and want to. It is this type of action at the beginning of the film, that gives the audience an understanding and reasoning to the character’s reactions later on. It is an interesting take on this character, as prior iterations have always depicted the Joker as crazy or pure evil and given the audience no reason as to why.
The screenshot above is from the very beginning of the film, where the character is innocently playing ‘peek-a-boo’ with a child in front of him on the bus. The camera angles transition from his perspective to the child’s perspective and builds in speed, up until the Mother interrupts as she is not amused by the interaction. Eventually, the main character falls into this continuous and persistent laugh (which is an essential feature to this character) and shows a card to the concerning Mother, stating that it is a condition of his. This interaction was necessary for two reasons: 1. It showcases why this character laughs in a particular way and 2. Although this character has this condition and was open and honest about it to a stranger, their reaction is still not pleasant.
Also in this screenshot, you can see that the character looks full of life, healthy and bright. The colouring of the film transitions as the character does. The initial decline of the character starts from the moment he gets beaten down emotional and physically which is at the start of the film. This film really showcases how someone can be so dangerously harmed and affected by others treatment. I believe that is very relatable, because it takes a lot of strength for someone to understand that how they are being treated is not a reflection of who they are.
The way the above scene is shot allows for the audience to feel the room. Most of the shots were from the host’s perspective where the main character is looking over his shoulder. The sound in this scene is particularly important as there is no music through the main character’s monologue but when the intense moments begin, the music starts.