Joaquin Phoenix crushed it. He does all the horrible things but you still feel some empathy for him. It's crazy.

When it was revealed that Joker was hallucinating being in a relationship with the girl next door this dude in my theater laughed sooooo hard. I’ll never forget that lol.

Mark Hamill, Heath Ledger, and Joaquin Phoenix are my three favorite Jokers. Every Joker is different but I loved what Joaquin brought to the role. He showed how cruel the world can be and what it can do to a person. Love this movie

The blood smile at the end by Joker is top 5 greatest scenes in cinema 💯

The condition that the joker has is called a Pseudobulbar affect (the laughing part). It's caused by severe trauma to the brain which he obviously sustained during his beatings with his mom. They're not generally dangerous, but due to his other trauma, it can push you over that edge. It's a lesson that we should at least try to be cordial to people even if you don't like them because you don't know what's going on in their life.

The crazy thing is how relatable the message, the story and all of it truly is.

Joaquins acting leaving Asia speechless at the end lol

Just wanted to give guys some information about this movie and the Joker, this movie is NOT connected to any Batman movie that you've previously seen. The director Todd Phillips wanted to create his own origin story for Joker, the Joker doesnt actually have a true origin story in DC comics over the years the Joker has had different origins, what was correct was how Bruce Wayne parents were killed but they werent killed by some guy pretending to be the Joker from a group at some riot, based on the comics Bruce Wayne's parents were actually killed by a low level criminal named Joe Chill

As a kid who was bullied in school, I understand why Arthur became the joker. I would never take it to this extreme, but a person can only take so much and eventually they're gonna snap.

It was fitting that DeNiro was in this movie. To me, this movie reminds me of "Taxi driver". Basically a characters slow decent into madness.

This is a stand alone interpretation of The Joker and not necessarily the Joker of any of the past Batman movies or those Jokers.

Did you guys get that his "relationship" with the neighbor was just his imagination?

I remember watching this for the first time and once the film was over...it just set really heavy. They did a fantastic job with this film. the acting...the writing...everything. so depressing and yet it has some hard truths about mental health and society and everything.

Lots of people miss the fact that he almost shoots himself on the train after he kills the 1st 2 guys, but then decides to go after the 3rd guy instead. He's teetering on the edge of suicide for much of the movie.

Just to clear up the confusion, this is not a part of the Batman stories that you’ve seen. This was meant to be a completely separate movie from the others, so they aren’t really connected. This is just basically their take on the origin of Joker.

This movie builds and builds to the ending and boy does it deliver. Those last few scenes are incredible. Especially the end with him on the car hood. For sure a best actor. Phoenix carried this thing.

This was the first R Rated DC movie to be nominated for 11 Oscars including Best Picture, but won for Best Actor Joaquin Phoenix and Best Original Score. It made $1 billion dollars at the box office. When the film was released it drew a lot if controversy , regarding people who suffer mental health issues as they are viewed as heroes for a great cause. David Fincher saw the film and said it was an attack on a very serious matter.

Such an incredible performance. I wanted to dislike him but instead found pity. It’s awful what humans do to each other…on both sides

I’m glad you loved this film.watching Asia realize how much she loved Phoenix acting, and was like WTF.!..quote “I completely believe him”. Love the channel.

Real Talk : watch how we talk and treat people, because you just never know what people are capable of. Respect

Joaquin Phoenix did a fenomenal job playing Joker. For me Heath Ledger was the best Joker ever. However...Jaoquin got so close to him, I literally felt the character, I felt like it was him but older, the body language, every performance Joaquin did is just a brilliant work. When he got an oscar at the end of his acceptance speech, an emotional Phoenix said: "Really, I'm standing here on the shoulder's of my favourite actor - Heath Ledger. Thank you. "

I absolutely love this film, Joaquin played Joker so well. I felt huge sympathy for him in this and was glad when he became the villain he became, it was almost like everyone and everything around him deserved the bad side of him for the way they treated him. Sometimes it's good to bet on the bad guy. Great reaction as usual guys, really enjoyed this ❤

The way they portray mental instability, irrationality, and impulsivity is so so so good. It also does a good job showing how people can stand behind something that is so clearly bad yet justify it in their minds. As well as some very slight political notions about rich vs poor. The way that two psychos can be created by different circumstances. Arthur/Joker is a product of a mentally ill mother and a society that has judged and treated him a certain way due to his own condition and it crushed his soul and made him hate to the point where he was going to kill himself. Instead he turned his rage against the world and by doing so created another psycho in Bruce Wayne/Batman. Arthur's actions and obsession with the Wayne family lead to the deaths of Thomas and Martha Wayne. Bruce (presumably) becomes Batman and uses his own hatred against those who remind him of the person who took his parents from him.

You two did realize that all the times he was with the girl down the hall was imagined, right? She was the only one nice to him and stood by him, and he imagined the whole thing just like he imagined the first time on the show and the comedy show going well. He wanted so much for someone to be there for him, so he made up a relationship in his mind.

Yes. Phoenix lost a lot of weight in order to play the role. Given that the Joker is often portrayed as a very lanky if not awkwardly postured individual, Phoenix is something of a method actor he takes his roles very seriously. That said, after the film he gained a lot of weight back and expressed regret over putting his body through it and decided he'd be less inclined to take on roles in the future that would put so much strain on his physical state. Batman's origin is always more or less the same, but there are subtle nuances each time the story gets retold. In some the Joker has been responsible for his parents deaths, in others, he's not even a factor. Joker's origin on the other hand has always been somewhat more cryptic and open to interpretation. Something that was played with by Nolan in The Dark Knight with the joker constantly telling the story about how he got his scars, but not giving the same story each time. In some iterations he's been a low level street thug who was always a bit crazy and finally broke into bigtime crime. In other's he has been an innocent bystander who met with an unfortunate accident that found him in a vat of chemicals that bleaches his skin and alters his brain, and in others he's been a gangster crime boss that just liked the aesthetic of the joker look. There are many continuities even within the comics and they all add their own little spins to things in order to keep ideas fresh. We're talkin' about characters that have been made, and remade several times over. Each time books are passed on to another author and artist to continue, they tend to want to leave their own signature upon the comic whether it is in the narrative style, the art, or the tone of the book. While there have been issues that go into some detail about the Joker's origins, this movie has been the first deep dive into the driving forces of the character. That said, it is not intended to be conflated with the greater DC universe as a tie in film. or any sort of prequel to a future Batman film. It is the Joker's story and his story alone as sort of an expose of the character. Of course all of this has given plenty of people a lot to talk about in terms of its place in canon, and the merits of the film being based on a comic character yet not being a comic book movie. Sometimes art is just art though, and that's life.

I believe you guys watched Gladiator. Joaquin Phoenix was Commodus in that movie as well. He really is a great actor!

To be honest, I think I need to place it in my TOP 3 movies ever. It's genius. Yes, pure genius.

It's a masterpiece. Every shot could be imagined as being a frame in a comic book. Every shot could be a poster for the movie. Joaquin Phoenix...WOW just WOW.

WOW I just realized that Arthur is wearing the same clothes as Bruce when he meets him for the first time at the gate, like they're part of the same reflection!!!!

We’re all products of our environment. Joker is no different. This film was so good.

I remember watching this movie for my 1st out of 3 times in the cinema, when a family of mom, dad, older sister and younger brother sat on the row in front of me. In the first scene, where Arthur laughs out of pain and despair, the young boy (around 10 years old) whispered to his mom "I don´t think, that I wanna watch this movie". The family sat still for another 5-10 minutes and then left with a sad boy. This movie is not a superhero/supervillain movie. It´s a social study of men at the very rock bottom of society, who suffers in silence and experiences nothing but alienation from the world around them. I am so happy, that Hollywood had the courage to make this movie, because I think, it´s the most relevant and important movie of the last 20 years for the forgotten but suffering men of our Western World.

"All it takes is one bad day to reduce the sanest man alive to lunacy. That's how far the world is from where I am. One. Bad. Day." ~Joker~

This movie is an absolute masterpiece. Joaquin played this perfectly.. and Asia said it best when she mentioned how believeable he was. A lot of us can relate to how Arthur feels in this movie. A beautiful work, for sure.

This was a fantastic movie. Saw this twice in the theater and it was great each time. Packed theater both times too. I know there's a second one coming but, man, I just can't imagine it being as good as this. 🐾

It's a great performance. He won the Best Actor Academy Award because of his brilliant interpretation.

😆Asia: Is he .. dancing?? *whispers* 😳 he's dancing. LOL Love Joaquin since the movie "Parenthood;" he never misses when acting. This was a great take on the Joker. He made the Joker more human- something we never really see in other versions. Thanks for picking this guys-you're getting us ready for the scream fest next month, yay!

I can only imagine what a tremendous actor his brother River Phoenix would have been, RIP, but Joaquin came a long way.

Another thing to take in consideration is that the nice version of Thomas Wayne is the perspective Bruce Wayne as a child whereas the Jokers point of view maybe how Gotham viewed Thomas Wayne...the Truth could be somewhere in the middle

From the same director as Old School and The Hangover, haha. The anarchy was there all along.

"Look like he finna get in that bad boy" LOLOLOL the fridge scene was so weird but that comment was hilarious

Phoenix kills this role. What I like about how he plays it is that everything he does is off. It's like he lives on a different wavelength compared to people around him, so they get freaked out by him. And because he tries to fit in, make jokes, friends, and be nice, but the world around him doesn't reciprocate because of how weirded out everyone is, so eventually he lashes out. It's a great Joker origin story.

16:43 let’s not forget, we’re seeing the story through Arthur’s eyes I don’t think Randall ever ACTUALLY gave him the gun, I think he imagined the whole thing after stealing it.

The scene where he punched the clock off the wall wasn't in the script. The directors thought he broke his hand. He went all in for this role

There's a meme out there about how Bruce Wayne (or his father) would do more for Gotham by giving their money away to the poor rather than be a vigilante - and this movie pretty much shows that. Imagine if Arthur got actual help, and if the rioters didn't also feel stepped on by the world, if Bruce's dad hadn't looked down on them all, etc. It could have prevented Joker from becoming Joker.

I love this movie and Joaquin is one of my favorite actors!

Some people love this movie, others hate it - but the one thing that is inarguable is that Joaquin Phoenix gave an incredible performance. It really gives you insight into the psychotic mind of The Joker.

I remember watching this in the theater and distinctly remember that when the movie ended and everyone was leaving there was silence. Nobody was talking, they were just stunned. Compare this movie to all of the rest of the stuff that is being put out these days. The fact that it got produced gives me hope that we might actually see dark, gritty, thoughtful films like this in the future. The way this movie was shot was absolutely gorgeous as well. Every scene was a piece of art. The ambiguity of so many things in the movie (what was real and what did Arthur imagine), the acting, the cinematography, everything. It is just so much to process. Loved it.

His experiences with the girl from his apartment building were mostly imagined. That's what those short clips were about after he read his mom's medical book: memories of him hanging out with the girl, and then memories of the same places with just him.

We aren't born evil. We are made into being evil. Treat everyone with love and respect and we will get the society we deserve.

AWWWW YEAHHHHHHHHHH! This movie is badass!!!! Saw it 6 times in the theater

An agent if chaos. Joker will always have the last laugh. It explains Bruce's obsession with the clown prince of crime.

Hell yes!!! Just watched it the other day too 🙏🏻🙏🏻 love the channel!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Arthur killing the three people on the subway, started the riots with the joker masks... And then he killed Murray. That's when joker became famous

Thomas Wayne said something incredibly ignorant and insensitive. He did not deserve to die for that, but this movie is very good at making you "understand" why someone would kill him.

The staircase was a metaphor for Arthur going up into sanity until he finally descends into Madness.

Fun fact. Or not so fun. Remember when joker's character says if it was him expiring in the street, you'd walk right over him? He had an older brother River Phoenix who died in the street. And I believe people did walk over him. River Phoenix was in Stand By Me if you want to see him act. I always wondered if he thought about his brother River when he was saying that line.

48:30 the therapist said he was on 7 different meds, so before when he was admitted to the psych floor they figured out what works for him (in their mind) so they saw him as stable enough for discharge

Heads up! The relationship he had with his neighbor was all in his head. If you rewatch the scene youll notice she doesnt know anything about him other than he lives in her building. And they show all the times they shiwed them together, he was actually alone.

In comic terms, this was the absolute perfect portrayal of the "clown prince of crime" joker. There are three version. Clown prince is the second. The first was the joker type from batman 66'. The last was basically your true psychopath joker that heath ledger played perfectly. That version was like the first two twisted together.

When he dance the first time afther the 3 killings in the sub... Thats his Swane dance. He became the black swane over there🖤 His dark site is comming out. God i love this movie. My mom was mentally ill and his laugh ... so the same.. i always cry when i see this masterpiece

I watched this film with a live orchestra playing all the music, to say it was something different is an understatement. Phoenix acted his arse off in the film and was very deserving of all the accalaids he got for his "Joker". This film is phenomenal!! Great reaction guys 👍👊🇬🇧

38:46 that is probably the most genuine reaction I have ever seen to that scene. BJ’s reaction was priceless.

While doing radio interviews 30 years ago in Omaha, I got to meet for a minute, Ceaser Romero, the Joker from the Batman series in the 60s.

This right here is art my man kills it as Joker ... can't wait for Joker 2 ❤

“What kinda clown carries a fuckin gun?” *The kind that lives in the hood! In Gotham City!*

Bruce and Joker may not be biological brothers but they are brothers in MADNESS. Joker is crazy but so is Bruce, the guy dresses up in a batsuit and goes out at night to fight crime. The Joker dresses up in a clown suit to commit crimes.

Awesome reactions and commentary to the best character study of Joker I've seen so far. I enjoyed riding along with y'all on this one.

The awakening of a murderer, a psychopath discovered his abilities with pride. Euphoria and release bringing extract and joy and laughter.

15:20 there was a Batman animated series that was for kids however if you read some of the comics they are very dark. The movie was largely influenced by "The Killing Joke" which has a lot of adult themes in it.

One of the details I love about this movie that a lot of people miss is how Arthur is constantly sustaining head injuries throughout the movie, no doubt exacerbating his mental illness. It's easy to overlook because audiences have become numb to violence and Arthur himself seems to stoically have little reaction to it so you almost forget that this poor guy is getting his brain scrambled multiple times a day. It's so much more painful to think about if you know the story of Chris Benoit.

Joker, incredible movie. I loved it. I love you guys ❤❤❤❤❤❤.

Asia and BJ both of you are my favorite on KZfaq to watch reactions from you are the goats. You couldn't ask for two more pleasant people. I appreciate you entertaining me for about 2 years now!

the media hated this movie and always called it controversial to the point the cops were stationed at the movie theaters. i remember them with assault rifles hanging out when i saw it.

I thought this was a kid movie😂😂😂

'Signs' came out in 2002...Joaquin looks older because it's been 21 years lmao Plus they've weathered him for the character.

"Is he dancing? He's dancing!" Haha yall funny af, subbed

I'm so glad you guys did this one! Comic books can be very dark. They are graphic stories- Just like any book but given in smaller bite sized pieces with lots of pictures to illustrate the story. Now Asia knows that a comic book movie can be high drama and not just laughs and I'm thrilled for the door this opens for you both! 😆 I think comic books became so popular with people at the time because back then many people didn't have a good education and may not necessarily be able to read well (or at all). Comics gave those people the same escapism that people who could read enjoyed.

....and that`s how you get an Oscar... !!!! So well deserved... Amazing acting !!

"Just don't tell anybody that. Keep it between the 2 of us." 🤭

Phoenix is levels as an actor I fkn loves him almost as much as I loves y'all ❤

I love watching movies with yall, it's the highlight of my week

The trailer for this movie knocked my socks off. For the first 90% of it, I found it fascinating. Then they drop the bomb. “Oh by the way, this is a Joker movie!” Most filmmakers would have put that detail closer to the front….

The blood smile scene at the end gives me CHILLS

The actor who played Raphael in the 1990 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES movie plays Authors boss

One of the best depictions of mental illness captured on film.

I have severe paranoia and hallucinations due to a very bad long line of abuse and stress. My life is crumbling to dust and all I can do is watch it happen. Everyone expects you to be okay because you’re the one who has to carry them on your shoulders.

The canon of the Batman story is that Bruce witnessed his parents murder in the alley outside the movie theater, but the various versions of Batman movies cover that event in different ways. Don't get confused about what are known as "universes". The joker portrayed in the Christopher Nolan movies is the same character, but in a different universe. So in the 1989 Batman, that character's real name was Jack Napier, unknown in the Christopher Nolan series and Arthur Fleck in Joker. Same character but completely different backstories.

This was so deep, but so good. Phoenix really brought the Joker to a much higher, personal, deeper level. More of a human touch.

I absolutely love this movie

One of jokers’s most famous lines to Batman is the difference between me, and you is just one bad day

Even tho the composer of the score for this movie won an Oscar, the score itself doesnt get enough praise. It's damn near a character in itself. It perfectly depicts the mood of the scene, the environment and Arthur's turmoil as a whole. From the dred to his dancing, which I always equated to his metamorphosis into Joker, it's all perfect. It's just moody af throughout the entire film but when he spread that blood across his smile, it became triumphant and i couldnt be happier for him.

I just saw this movie five days ago. It blew me away.

44:13 Exactly this BJ. The end of the movie was essentially the moment Joker fully embraces his psychologically disturbed and Bruce's moment he too begins his psychological disturbed journey. Also don't try to bridge all these Batman movies/stories because each movie/universe is a bit of their own thing. If we're talking about comics only, this movie's interpretation of the events leading up to Bruce's parent's death doesn't really follow the comics. It was great storytelling though for this movie.

Batman IS in the movie; he's the little kid Joker goes to see behind the gates of Wayne Manor , when the young Bruce slides down his climb frame on a pole it's an homage to the 1960s TV Batman , Adam West, who had a batpole to the Batcave ;)

Well technically in the comics, Joker has the same ability as Deadpool. He is able to see through the fourth wall. He knows whatever medium he is in. Comics, video games, movies, etc. So I can't confirm this but given the scene flash to Bruce's parents while he is in the asylum, I assume by that point he has awakened that ability and knows that little Bruce will become batman because of him. And that the only people that will get the "joke" is the real life audience watching the movie. Again I can't confirm that as far as the movie goes but if so, it's awesome.

Last joke is about killing therapist and it's a pun+setup+punchline all in one: *she wouldn't get it 'cause she will be dead.* 💀

This movie gave me the same feel as my hometown of The Bronx in the 1970s/80s. NYC was dirty, falling apart, with sky high crime. The city nearly went bankrupt, so all city services were cutback. A serial killer, named "The Son of Sam" was stalking the city. Property owners would pay delinquent teenagers to burn their buildings for the insurance payoff money. It really felt like they filmed this movie during that time.

27:06 That's the general Batman origin story, it shows up in every series of Batman movies.

I saw this in the theater when it came out, after I sat in my car for like 10 mins in silence completely stunned and disturbed by this brilliance

Joaquin earned his Oscar for this one and I can’t wait for JOKER 2 to see more of Joaquin and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn!