'Joker' Review

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director; Todd Phillips, Best Actor; Joaquin Phoenix, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Original Score.

Won: Best Actor; Joaquin Phoenix and Best Original Score.

Synopsis: Arthur Fleck struggles to find his way in Gotham's fractured society. A clown-for-hire by day, he aspires to be a stand-up comic.. but finds the joke always seems to be on him. Caught in a cyclical existence between apathy and cruelty, Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.

Runtime: 121 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images)

Who should see it? Adult fans of DC Comics and the Joker.

Directed by Todd Phillips with a screenplay from Phillips and Scott Silver, Joker is a standalone film removed from the baggage of a shared cinematic universe. Audiences should prepare themselves for an unsettling, artistic character piece about DC Comics' preeminent villain. While not necessarily a faithful iteration, the representation of Joker put forth by Phillips and Phoenix encapsulates the character's essence to a tee. Arthur lashes out with no particular ideology in mind, choosing to instead relish in the ensuing chaos he's caused. There's no rhyme or reason to his actions. He's crazy. Drawing inspiration from the work of Martin Scorsese (notably Taxi Driver & The King of Comedy), Joker depicts a troubled individual surrendering to his darkest impulses and retaliating against society.

For the past few months, Joker has been a hot topic of conversation as many speculated whether the film might incite real-world violence or not. Frankly, I find this controversy to be absurd and grossly overblown. If anything, the media coverage over the controversy is more likely to inspire acts of violence than the movie itself. Phillips doesn't glorify Arthur's disturbing behavior in the slightest and makes it very clear that he is unhinged. Not to mention, onscreen violence and mentally ill protagonists are nothing new for Hollywood. With that said, I understand this isn't a film for everyone. The violence and subject matter will undoubtedly add to its polarizing reception among other things. 

However, I was riveted and spellbound by an increasingly twisted turn of events. Evocative imagery from cinematographer Lawrence Sher coupled with Hildur Guðnadóttir's nerve-wracking musical score and Mark Friedberg's grungy production design forms an enticing and dread-inducing atmosphere. That maddening sensation festers in a slow-burn leading towards the film's inevitable chaotic conclusion, ideally embodying the Clown Prince of Crime's manic mental state. All the while, Arthur's status as an unreliable narrator further contributed to the insanity.

The Joker is a notoriously challenging role which has enabled all-time great performances and a few not so memorable ones, but Joaquin Phoenix proved to be well up to the task as he commands the screen for the film's entire two-hour duration. His portrayal's not only mentally and psychologically taxing, but physically transformative as well. An emaciated and unhinged Phoenix skillfully contrasts Arthur's sinister nature and naivety to match the profile of a potential serial killer. Phoenix's intensity lends a layer of realism to the role that makes his incarnation all the more frightening when all is said and done. Scattered amongst the supporting cast, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, and Brian Tyree Henry are noteworthy, but this is Phoenix's showcase through and through. 

In a year filled with lighthearted comic-book adaptations, Joker is a refreshing change of pace. It dances to the beat of its own rhythm. Uninterested in appeasing the masses, it offers an uncompromising glimpse into the origins of an iconic antagonist. For better or worse, it's what Joker would have wanted. So stop clowning around and go see Joker!

Film Assessment: A+ A-

'The LEGO Batman Movie' Review

I find it fitting that this review wasn't published till the film's release date that happens to fall on the third anniversary of my blog, and the exactly three years since I reviewed The LEGO Movie.

'The LEGO Batman Movie' Review

The LEGO Batman Movie revolves around everyone's favorite brick built bat LEGO Batman as he not only fights Gotham's criminal element but deals with the pressures of adopting a son. Somewhere along the way, LEGO Batman must learn the importance of teamwork if he's going to succeed in catching the villains set upon Gotham by the Joker.

The LEGO Batman Movie is the first of what looks to be a long line of LEGO spinoffs, in what I presume will be known as the LEGO Cinematic Universe, and it's only fair that the Batman gets the first considering his standout stint in The LEGO Movie and the simple fact *because he's Batman* (read in Batman voice). It's crazy to think we're getting another this fall with The LEGO Ninjago Movie, but at the same time it's not surprising Warner Bros. and LEGO want to proceed with as many of these movies they can possibly make considering the insane success of The LEGO Movie, a movie I was incredibly surprised by considering I was expecting a lazy feature length LEGO ad rather than a quality animated film with a huge heart.

Director Chris McKay's vision and imagination has no bounds as the film's plot plays out like an epic adventure only a child could imagine, appropriate considering the big twist of The LEGO Movie. One of the things that still astounds me is how animators utilized the plentiful plastic bricks at their disposal to construct animation that has the guise of a professionally-made stop-motion film using actual LEGOs. The animation is absolutely remarkable when you take into account that animators had to ensure each character and plastic piece onscreen exhibited the mannerisms and movement of a LEGO brick or mini-fig. So bravo to the group of animators and visual effects artists, your work was not forgotten. 

The LEGO Batman Movie brilliantly satirizes every aspect of the Caped Crusaders' legacy, both on and off-film, from the campy 1960s Adam West incarnation to the present brooding Ben Affleck take. The entire film is essentially a meta-commentary on DC Comics, and don't worry if you weren't a fan of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice or Suicide Squad there's some jabs in there for you. The screenwriting team of Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Jared Stern, and John Whittington responsible for the Dark Knight's zingers and commentary on the Caped Crusader. 

The screenwriters scope of Batman shows he's just a regular Joe; he misses his parents, swims in the Bat-cave's lagoon, and he heats up his leftovers in a microwave (a gag that plays out exceptionally well despite being in the trailers akin to the DMV bit in Zootopia). They're able to paint a plastic figure as what may just be the most human take on the character. 

An interesting component I'd like to touch on is the angle the story team viewed the Batman-Joker dynamic. The two need each other. It's not romantic, in fact it's the complete opposite, but when Batman can't tell Joker the three words "I hate you" or "You're not my greatest enemy" Joker is left an emotional wreck as though the two went through a bad breakup. Trust me, it's absolutely hysterical and plucks the heartstrings a little more than one would expect as you actually start to feel bad for the constructed clown prince of crime. 

My only issues are that sometimes the entire film felt like joke after joke after joke veering to be a little too kid friendly at times and that certain characters felt a little underdeveloped and cast off to the side in favor of serving the narrative theme. One thing many may be looking for is the next "Everything is Awesome" and while there's not an original song quite like that, there is in fact a heavy metal rendition of a Bat-rap about how awesome Batman is called "Who's the (Bat)Man" that's a hoot to listen to. Also, plenty of 80's hits can be found including "One" and "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" scattered throughout played to great comedic effect. 

The voice cast behind The LEGO Batman Movie is an immensely talented ensemble composed of A-list talent you would never expect to see behind a LEGO movie but I'll take it. Will Arnett's gravelly Batman voice remains an excellent play itself on the dark, gritty nature of recent incarnations of the character while he delivers one-liners and comedic bits with absolute ease and maintains an emotional, human aspect to his take on the Dark Knight. Michael Cera's giddy fanboy Robin, Ralph Fiennes' dry-cut Alfred, and Rosario Dawson's straight woman Barbara Gordon each provide excellent sources of comedy and pair well with Arnett's Batman. Zach Galifianakis' Joker is undeniably insane, not the best-nor worst take on Gotham's clown but easily the more multifaceted and somewhat sympathetic portrayal to date (as I briefly touched upon earlier).

All of Batman's rogues gallery are featured in the film to some capacity but I won't disclose the voices behind these iconic villains because that in and of itself can certainly be considered an entertaining trip to IMDB afterwards. Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill return for the buddy Superman-Green Lantern schtick along with fellow Justice League members for some brief cameo appearances. Oh and I can't forget that Siri makes her feature film debut as the Bat-computer or 'Puter for short.

In a strange turn of events The LEGO Batman Movie is the best love letter to Batman possible. While I don't think The LEGO Batman Movie was quite as good as The LEGO Movie, I can say it's a humorous and heartfelt family-friendly affair worth seeing in theaters.

Film Assessment: B+

Alternate Cut Review: 'Suicide Squad- Extended Cut'

Nominated For: Best Makeup and Hairstyling.
Won: Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Suicide Squad was just as controversial as, if not more divisive than Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Many fans were stoked because of the killer marketing material and incredibly-cut trailers but let down that a lot of the coolest moments from the trailers didn't show up in the finished film. Then it was reported that supposedly Warner Bros. hijacked the production in post-production giving creative control to the trailer company that cut the Suicide Squad trailers rather than David Ayer in response to the split reaction to BvS. 

Fans then hoped to hear about a director's cut similar to the Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice- Ultimate Edition or at least a version with more footage and fans had their prayers answered in October when the Suicide Squad- Extended Cut was announced for a release in November on Digital and on Blu-Ray in December. I think I was a little too forgiving of Suicide Squad's shortcomings when I first saw and reviewed it so I've gone back and changed my initial score a little and I've just recently made time to watch the Extended Cut that sticks an additional fourteen minutes on the runtime so here are my thoughts on the Extended Cut and if the extra footage makes any difference whatsoever.

Theatrical Cut Review- Suicide Squad Review

"Extended Edition" Review- If you're looking for Suicide Squad's Extended Cut to fill in plot-holes and repair some of the theatrical cut's flaws ala the BvS-Ultimate Edition, then you will likely be very disappointed with it. This alternative version of the film plays out almost exactly like the theatrical version, just with the deleted scenes stitched back in. That's not to say it didn't slightly improve the film because I did find some refinements in terms of the characters. Most of the footage added back into the film is interactions amongst the squad and some more character drama. Both go a long way to further fleshing the characters out beyond what we saw in theaters last August and make the squad feel like a more tightly knit group as you see more of their bonding over the course of their journey. I also think I saw some additional footage for the film's main action set pieces and the additional footage definitely makes these scenes feel more substantial but they're no more memorable. 

If you're interested in the Extended Edition for more footage of Jared Leto's Joker, you'll find probably about a minute or two more but not much and it will do little to change your mind on his performance. I still feel he nails the insanity of the character but also think Jared Leto was just a little too weird with certain mannerisms as he would occasionally snort like some kind of hog and that's just not very Joker-like in my mind. 

The enchantress still looks stupid dancing around and none of the effects look all that different. I personally didn't really like the CGI in this, and I say that because I'm not sure if I included that in my theatrical cut review or not. 

The other performances and cast still shine as a beacon of hope nailing their respective characters (If you really want more detail on that just head over to my theatrical review linked above). One noticeable difference I really liked about Harley Quinn in particular was that there's some dialogue of her inner psychiatrist diagnosing some of her squad members as I felt that was very true to the character and something that almost flew out the window in the initial cut, a minor addition but a welcome one. 

Any character you felt was underserved in the theatrical cut gets some additional footage with the exception of Slipknot and Batman & Flash's cameos but don't expect any significant alterations. 

Overall, the extra footage goes a little ways towards improving the film for me personally. I can say that I liked the additional character-driven scenes and seeing more interactions amongst the squad that make their chemistry feel more authentic later on down the line but didn't find it to significantly change my opinion on anything. If you liked the theatrical cut you'll find more to love here, if you disliked it this won't be enough to change your mind.

Film Assessment: C+

'Suicide Squad' Review

Suicide Squad seemed like the dream DC film from the day it was announced. With David Ayer behind the camera and an all star cast in front what could possibly go wrong? Suicide Squad's marketing campaign has been nothing short of stellar, I can't believe that the same studio marketed Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. On Tuesday when the embargo for 'Suicide Squad' dropped and I saw a majority of reviews were negative I became concerned. This has become a trend with DC releases since Man Of Steel and generally I've come to agree that those films had problems. I found Man of Steel to be ok, while Batman v Superman was enjoyable but severely disappointing as a result of poor technical execution and odd creative decisions. Both of those previous entries into the DCEU were helmed by Zack Snyder so I had hoped he was what was holding the DCEU from reaching it's full potential, that is till I saw the Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice- Ultimate Edition, the director's cut, that made remarkable improvements to the lacking theatrical cut. 

That along with several reports of studio interference on Suicide Squad made me increasingly more anxious that the reason the DCEU hasn't burst the bubble is that Warner Bros. is holding it back. Well, I'm glad to report that I no longer have those worries after viewing Suicide Squad at an early screening last evening as this is the one time I don't feel the negativity is justified. Also, there will be spoilers for Batman v Superman and on that note the film itself spoils a major plot point from Batman v Superman since it takes place afterwards in the DCEU timeline. With that out of the way, it's probably time I started actually reviewing Suicide Squad. 

'Suicide Squad' Review

Nominated For: Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Won: Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Suicide Squad picks up with a shady intelligence organization head Amanda Waller assembling a team of criminals that she believes are capable of defending humanity from the next big meta-human threat now that Superman's in the grave. The catch, these bad guys are the worst of the worst and Waller has some contingencies in place in case they don't want to play nice (Those familiar with the squad will know exactly what I'm referring to). After a mysterious threat arises, Waller brings together Task Force X (the covert name for the squad) and send them to handle the situation. That's the basic premise of Suicide Squad and it's unique in the sense that there are no heroes around, our protagonists are bad guys and the antagonists are even worse. 

While Marvel has a scarce library of compelling villains to pull from, DC has the motherland with plenty of great options and so it seems only right that they would bring them all together for a team movie like this to showcase them off and if Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice brought us our first glimpses of the Justice League it's only right that Suicide Squad shows off some of their baddies. 

As I stated in the prologue, Suicide Squad has had some terrific marketing material that was very promising so once the negative reviews poured in I started to feel a little concerned but remained determined I would keep an open mind while watching it and not let the venomous critiques alter my opinion. With that being said, I loved Suicide Squad despite what I've read. While I understand the critics' complaints, I don't feel they are as bad as they're being made out to be. I had too much of a good time thanks to the electric chemistry from the remarkable cast and Ayer's pizazz. 

Coming straight off Fury, I was stoked to hear David Ayer would be in charge. Ayer wrote the screenplay in addition to directing the picture and, while I have a few gripes I'll discuss in a moment, he did incredibly well in both departments. Ayer pulls off an interesting mix of grounded and gritty while instilling a sense of levity making for a unique tone in the DCEU's bleak library. FINALLY, someone in the DCEU can tell a joke from time to time.  

I've seen many complaints about the editing but I didn't have a problem with it since it's much better than the atrocity that was Batman v Superman's cobbled together theatrical cut. In other technical areas, the visual effects were well done with a flashy mix of grit and bright aesthetics for roughed up look throughout. The costuming department also had a bit of fun giving each character their unique charm and flavor through their choice of attire, while the makeup and prosthetics used to make Killer Croc were just darn incredible. The action on display is fun to watch with terrific fight choreography but none of the sequences were particularly memorable in comparison to other comic book movies. 

My qualms with the film were essentially that some elements were typical generic plot devices and story points we see in almost every comic book movie these days. I kid you not, the antagonist feels so similar to X-Men: Apocalypse's titular big bad in that their motivations are murky, their plan seems contrived, and they're just weird. Since Suicide Squad's ad campaign didn't disclose the antagonist I will refrain from lifting the veil from your eyes and when discussing performances will try to be generic so that it's difficult to determine just who is opposing the squad. It wasn't the least bit surprising to me but I'd like to keep up the ambiance if possible. Also there's quite a few cliché moments that were predictable and not as emotionally impactful as they were probably intended to be. One other issue was that the soundtrack didn't always vibe with what was going on during the film and I actually would have preferred an actual score throughout with maybe some of the greatest pop songs interspersed less often more akin to Guardians of the Galaxy, a clear inspiration for the project. Steven Price's score is great when utilized but the classic pop hits are turned up too loud and too often that it was a slight annoyance. 

What really made the film click was it's illustrious ensemble and their tortured team dynamic. Margot Robbie's beautifully twisted Harley Quinn and Will Smith's expert marksman Deadshot take the spotlight as the characters with the most focus of the group and they steal plenty of scenes.  Robbie makes for a terrific Harley Quinn though as she borrows from the character's longstanding history to incorporate many of her infamous mannerisms while managing to make the role her own. Harley's arc is primarily tied in with Leto's Joker, don't worry I'll get to him soon enough, and the two work wonders together on screen thanks to some phenomenal chemistry. 

Smith gives the most likable performance he's provided in some time now with charisma aplenty and his Floyd Lawton has a nice emotional touchstone arc involving his daughter that brings out his heart of gold despite his willingness to kill basically anyone. Jay Hernandez has a breakout role as Diablo, a hothead meta-human with the most relatable backstory and one of the more emotional arcs out of the squad. Jai Courtney is finally given substantial role in Aussie Captain Boomerang that he excels in, serving as effective comedic relief throughout the film. 

Cara Delevingne plays June Moon who's possessed by a strange witch named Enchantress. Delevingne's movements and mannerisms are very strange as the character crawls about scantily clothed and made for the weirdest of the performances on display. As for other squad members, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje's a creepy reptilian Killer Croc, Karen Fukuhara plays samurai Katana, and Adam Beach is the slick Slipknot. The three have the least material and screen time but each member of the squad gets at least a few standout moments to shine. 

Now I bet you want to know what I thought of Jared Leto's Joker. Well he doesn't have a lot of screen time but when onscreen he invokes what a modern psychotic Clown Prince of Crime would be like with swagger, mental instability, and a sense of purpose. With that being said, I didn't see enough of his Joker to warrant a proper comparison to previous incarnations, but while he's certainly no Heath Ledger he was fine as the character and I'd love to see more of his unique take and hopefully  opposite Ben Affleck's Batman someday. 

Viola Davis makes Amanda Waller a woman who means business and any sane individual would definitely want to mess with and she plays it with remarkable conviction. Sure some of her action's don't make sense but they make her all the more fearsome. Her stooge Rick Flagg is played by Joel Kinnaman who gives him enough southern militaristic twang to be somewhat relevant but was probably the character I cared the least about. He's the one leading the squad in their mission and responsible for dishing out punishment if they deviate from the mission's parameters. 

Overall, they made for an incredible well rounded cast that dish out one-liners with charisma, gusto, and heart. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for easter eggs, cameos, and there is in fact a mid-credits scene. While Suicide Squad has it's flaws, it's harmless fun and what joyous entertainment it is! I found it more difficult to dig out flaws than strengths as the pros are abundant thanks to the terrific performances and fun tone. I highly recommend Suicide Squad and can guarantee you'll have a great time, Suicide Squad is a blast and don't let Rotten Tomatoes tell you otherwise.

Film Assessment: B C+ (Revised)

Throwback Thursday Review: 'The Dark Knight'

This week I'm reviewing The Dark Knight to tie in with the release of this weekend heavily anticipated Suicide Squad since both feature incarnations of the Joker and I wanted to review the Dark Knight Trilogy which I already began with my review of Batman Begins and I'll finish it out when I review The Dark Knight Rises in three weeks. In between then and now expect Throwback Thursday reviews on Disney's older Pete's Dragon with the release of the new live action version followed by the beginning of my series of Harry Potter reviews with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone where I will be rereading the books and reviewing each Harry Potter film every two weeks till the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. New reviews you can expect in the next two weeks include Suicide Squad, a review I've already writen that will be posted immediately after this review is uploaded, Pete's Dragon (2016), Sausage Party, and 

Florence Foster Jenkins.

'The Dark Knight' Review

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actor; Heath Ledger, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Makeup, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects. 
Won: Best Supporting Actor; Heath Ledger and Best Sound Editing.

The Dark Knight picks up after Batman Begins. Batman's tidied up the streets of Gotham, but Joker has arrived to wreck havoc and unleash chaos. The Dark Knight is the summit of Christopher Nolan's exceptional Dark Knight Trilogy, and what a glorious peak it is! In the Dark Knight Trilogy, Nolan continues to transcend the superhero genre with a hyper-realized take on the Batman including complex messages and themes that explore the very meaning of Batman and Joker's ideologies. 

Nolan again takes up the responsibility of directing in addition to writing the screenplay alongside his brother Jonathan Nolan and working on the story with David Goyer. The trio craft a story that brings out an interesting message that darkness is hidden within all of us and that even the best of us can steep into darkness if molded correctly. Nolan, cinematographer Wally Pfizer,  and editor Lee Smith brilliantly fabricate suspense, raise tension prior to big twists and turns, and the gorgeous scenery is all cut together seamlessly. 

The practicality Nolan focused on in Batman Begins continues as he introduces the Bat-Pod, a new vehicle in Batman's arsenal, and plenty of new gadgets for his utility belt. The practicality help make the action sequences more exhilarating and believable as they are marvelous to watch. Other remarkable technical elements include the costuming, makeup, and visual effects that look phenomenal. The Dark Knight not only look great but sounds awesome as well thanks to a tremendous score composed by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard. 

Even better are the performances with Christian Bale once again delivering a solid dual-portrayal of billionaire Bruce Wayne and vigilante Batman. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman are both great as Alfred Pennyworth and Lucius Fox respectively. Gary Oldman remains to be a terrific Jim Gordon and this time around gets to delve into some more emotional ground. 

Maggie Gyllenhaal's Rachel is an improvement over Katie Holmes' depiction, serving less as a damsel in distress, but an important character in this story relative to her relationship with Bruce Wayne. 

Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent is commonly overlooked, but his performance is truly something! Eckhart is a bright spot of the trilogy as we see him morph into Two-Face and watch his descent into darkness, proving the best of humanity can be corrupted.

Heath Ledger brings the best depiction of the Joker onscreen, as a brilliant strategist intent on unleashing hell and anarchy to prove his point. It's tragic that Ledger died shortly after, as the role took it's toll on him and caused him to eventually overdose, considering it's one of the best villainous performances in recent memory. The entire cast deliver in spades and beyond in some cases.

In summary, The Dark Knight is a cinematic masterpiece thanks to technical precision, talent in-front-of and behind-the-camera, a rousing score, and an intelligent story with sophisticated themes about the truth of humanity. The Dark Knight is easily one of the best comic book films-to-date. 

Film Assessment: A+