Joaquin Phoenix did everything he could with this material but it just doesn't seem to have a point whether for lack of having one or cowardice to say something. It even is set back in time to avoid being too current.
Are the rich bad? Is exploitation bad? Is our viral culture bad? Is how we treat the mentally ill bad? Nothing is seriously discussed or focused on at all and even when it comes closest to these points it undermines them immediately.
Then there's the outright plagiarism from The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver.
I firmly believe that if this wasn't about the Joker most people wouldn't care one bit.
Are the rich bad? Is exploitation bad? Is our viral culture bad? Is how we treat the mentally ill bad? Nothing is seriously discussed or focused on at all and even when it comes closest to these points it undermines them immediately.
Then there's the outright plagiarism from The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver.
I firmly believe that if this wasn't about the Joker most people wouldn't care one bit.