The Joker is quite staggeringly brilliant. As a package - direction, acting, the score (my god the score) - it's properly masterful.
I find all the stuff about copycat attacks and incels baffling. No-one will look at this and think: I'd like to emulate this life. It's the story of a bad guy. He does bad things.
It doesn't really have much to say politically it socially. The inclusion of De Niro is a misstep because it forces comparisons with films which do. I chose to watch it as a mature readers DC Elseworlds one-shot. And on that level it's incredible.
I always thought Joker's origin should not be told. But if you're going to tell it, fuck me backwards tell it like this. It was creepy, revolting, alarming, upsetting and almost completely deranged. I loved it.
And ultimately they do get to the heart of what makes the character so disarming: that there is nothing freakier than laughter when it's not suitable. They commit to that notion all the way. And it works.
