Joker (2019 film)



""For my whole life, I didn’t know if I even really existed. But I do, and people are starting to notice.""

- Arthur Fleck

Joker is a 2019 American Psychological Thriller film directed by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver. The film, based on DC Comics characters, stars Joaquin Phoenix as The Joker. An origin story set in 1981, the film follows Arthur Fleck, a failed stand-up comedian who turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City.

Joker is heavily inspired by Martin Scorsese films such as Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. It is the first live-action theatrical Batman film to receive an R-rating due to its violent and disturbing content.

"Joker: Knock knock. Murray: Who's there? Joker: It's the police, ma'am! Your son's been hit by a drunk driver. He's dead!"
 * Actor Allusion / Casting Gag: Robert De Niro plays a talk show host in the film, the opposite of his roles in The King of Comedy and Taxi Driver, where he played disturbed individuals.
 * Ascended Meme: Arthur/Joker blames his actions on "a society" during his appearance on Murray Franklin's talk show. This drew comparisons to the "we live in a society" Joker memes.
 * Because You Were Nice to Me: Arthur spares Gary because of this reason.
 * Black Comedy:
 * After Randall's murder, a traumatized Gary, when attempting to leave Arthur's apartment, can't reach the chain-lock because he's too short.
 * On Murray's show, Joker makes a dark Knock-Knock Joke:


 * Boom! Headshot!: Joker shoots Murray in the head on live TV.
 * Downer Beginning: The first scene of the film is Arthur smiling in great pain. The second has street kids stealing his sign and beating him up in an alleyway.