Joaquin Phoenix won a Golden Globe for his work in Joker (source: Warner Bros.)
Think of the last time you were the only one who laughed at something; it may have been at the movies, during a get together with your friends or perhaps you made a joke that didn’t land the way you intended. If you feel anything like me, it was an uncomfortable situation for all parties involved. There is, in a brief moment, a feeling of isolation and awkwardness, which is why having someone in your life who laughs at the same things you do, no matter how odd or silly, someone who shares your sense of humor, feels like such a blessing.
An unsettling drama
Todd Phillips, the writer and director of Joker, has previously written and directed movies that didn’t share any of the most distinguishable elements of his latest piece of work. Among his credits you can find the comedy classic Old School, the hugely successful Hangover (and its two unfortunate sequels) and most recently, the slightly darker in tone War Dogs. If it weren’t for his past credits, it would be hard to believe that the director of those absurd comedies is the same director of this very serious psychological thriller, which I would categorize as a drama.
