Such an amazing film. I would watch it over and over if I could. Wasn’t sure what I was expecting but honestly Phoenix’s portrayal of the joker and the focus on his descent into madness and his overwhelming struggle with his mental illnesses was raw, unnerving but so powerful. A cinematic masterpiece brilliantly executed from the beginning to the very end - the COLOUR PALETTE (ughhhhh so good, the rich colours contrasted against the background of dirty grimey Gotham), the dialogue, music score, the acting, the cinematography, the composition of each shot.... all working to bring us into the life of a mentally ill man falling further and deeper into his sickness beyond return. How they made the joker relatable, yet still scary and dark is beyond me.

And damn. That scene of him dancing on the car with the blood on his mouth and turning it into that signature “smile”. Such an amazing, amazing cinematic moment. How he was surrounded by chaos and destruction, him essentially being the driving force of it all. Finally able to “succeed” or fit in in a world that worked so hard against him in every way possible.

Honestly was just a treat to have watched this. That is all. Completely different from Ledger’s joker but on its own and all its entirety, Phoenix’s joker was truly wonderful.