Category Archives: Movie Review

Joker

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There. I described the movie in one word – explosive. But that’s not all, this movie is a tribute to anyone who has attempted to bring this character to life, come close to showcasing the madness, and has brought the character on paper. This movie is a montage.

Taxi Driver. The killing joke. The king of comedy. American psycho. The machinist. The dark knight. And many more.

I saw this movie on 2nd October. I sat on my seat barely 30 seconds before the movie started. The movie did not have an opening credits scene. It plunged the audience into the make believe world of Arthur Fleck, who is painting his face.

The name of the movie is, in itself, a giveaway. You’re not expecting a fairy tale. You know you’re expecting a gut wrenching, mind boggling, spine chilling, quasi emotional tale of a guy descending into madness. The movie delivers, and then some. The long and high staircase is reminiscent of Arthur trying to maintain his sanity, climbing the steps one at a time.



He gets beaten, he is ostracized, he is tempted, he is shattered, he is abused, he is lost and he is found.

Not giving away any spoilers, I’ll say this – watch the movie with an open mind, because this movie is not faithful to the material. This movie is a standalone origins movie of an antagonist who juxtaposes the character of Bruce Wayne.

The background score is a powerful reminder of The Dark Knight and The Game of Shadows. The scene would have a lesser impact if the background music wasn’t there. The cinematography is real, as if it is being told from the eyes of a toddler. The movie doesn’t shy away from matricide, homicide or a riot.

As I woke up today, I saw at least 20 of my contacts having posted about watching the movie. When I watched the movie, the audience was silent – eerily silent. They were immersed in the movie. Except for the iconic scenes, the audience didn’t dare munch a pop corn, lest they should make a noise.

The ending followed a standing ovation from the audience.

I wondered if the claims were true, that this movie will justify madness, incite incel violence, and chaos. It doesn’t. No matter what Arthur does, no matter what he goes through, you sympathize but don’t empathize. You know he’s digging a deeper hole to bury himself. He’s waiting to be recognized. He believes that he is not visible to the world, that an act of homicide makes him believe that he exists. A patient of delusional psychosis himself, he doesn’t shy away from admitting that he needs help.

Even as he is an elevator with a mental patient who can’t hold himself. The patient is seen struggling to be unchained, to be unleashed. We see what Arthur is feeling from within. He is struggling to let himself loose.

He believed that his life was a tragedy, but alas, his life was a comedy.

And then, he walks off. As he takes each step, you notice that his footprints are visible on the white vinyl floor. They are marked by blood. He walks non chalantly, leaving enough clues, and reaches a crescendo when he feels his heart filled with joy. This is who he is.

His mother told him that he’s here to spread joy and laughter in this cold, dark world.

What PK should have made us talk about

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As I am writing this, PK would’ve crossed 300Cr mark. No, maybe 400Cr? 500Cr? Does it matter? Is any of the viewer going to get a concession? Or any organization going to get an assistance? No. That’s something which we don’t talk. Ssshhhhh. Ok, for a change let’s talk about that which we didn’t talk but should’ve talked.

1. PK (like OMG) targeted Godmen, not Gods

The director knows it, the actor knows it, but the viewers don’t. That is what I call moviemaking. PK should’ve actually helped us question the new-found and well-established “Managers” or Godmen — some are in jail, and some are in freezer boxes waiting to be ushered out of their Samadhi. PK is an epitome against those Godmen who claim that the God is in the skies (this line is indirectly lifted from a famous novel). But, we hold on to one scene where Shiva is shown running and stage protests.

2. PK expects us to understand our Gods

How many of us understand our Gods? By God, I mean anyone — be it Vishnu, Shiva, Jesus, Allah, et al. We all adore, try to imbibe, but how many of us understand? To understand is to accept the wholesome image which that God represents, and not just selective aspects of it. We all know Shiva drank poison, and saves the world when needed most. How many of us accept Shiva as a drug-addict (he has bhaang, and weed)? We all know Vishnu as our honest Ram, or lovable Krishna. How many us accept Krishna as a thief, manipulator, liar? Before anybody tells that I’m attacking only Hindu Gods, I’m a Hindu and I know of my religion best. I understand my religion, Gods, and accept them the way they are. And, we needed a PK to help us understand that.

3. PK invites us to see the visible connection between controversy and box-office collections

Statistics prove that controversy is related to box-office collections, in a positive way. Look at the success story of PK, Insaaf Ka Tarazu, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, etc. I seriously wonder whether Raj Hirani and Aamir Khan actually invited the leaders of the political groups and asked them, “Please do some protests. Shatter some theatres. People will definitely line up to watch the movie to judge whether your protests were based on valid reasons or not. After that, they’ll post in FB and the cycle will go on and on”. And we viewers, we generously gave away our hard earned money to get entertained (read fooled) and havve a hearty laugh, only to come out and utter “I should’ve offered that Sari to a beggar than to a temple!”. Well, true. You should also have used that money (with which you bought movie ticket) and spent it at a well-meaning cause. But, if you had done that, who would’ve taught you the glorious lesson which PK wants to learn?

4. PK teaches us to question — the way a child does

Above all, it teaches us all to question — not only in religion (where PK confined itself), but in governance, ethics, and all other areas. “Why”, “What”, “How” should be your motto. “Why do this?”, “Why do that?” should be the new conversation starters. Then will you get answers. One should question to know, to reason, not to ridicule. And, my dear readers, in your pursuit to question, find your religion. True, if you see it in a way — by questioning, you tend to be an atheist — you find no reason for God to exist. Also true, by questioning, you understand mythologies, theology, and your religion better. In both ways, you free yourself from being manipulated by communal elements and find yourself on a higher plane of understanding.

 Quite easily we ignored the 4 lessons which PK offered, and got the message which PK forced down your throat.