Joker

Until just recently, it seemed like we knew everything there was to know about the Joker: the crazy eyes, big smile, intelligence, and deadly precision inscribed in the canon of iconic villains through the immortal performances of Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. Well, surprise! Not only does Joker give us one of the most successful and fascinating origin stories in history, but the individual responsible for it is none other than the creator of Borat and Hangover—the sort of twist that cinema just loves. Playing the title role is Joaquin Phoenix, one of the most versatile and most talented actors of his generation and a three-time Oscar nominee (for Gladiator, Walk the Line, and The Master). His Arthur Fleck is a sad, lonely man who is lost in life. He lives with his mother, and his idol is the host of a television program (Robert De Niro) who, in some bizarre way, is a stand-in for the father he never had. Joker is like a passionate character study, but it’s also a warning, with echoes of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and The King of the Comedy in the background.