It's been three weeks since the release of Joker and there have been insanely hilarious memes and mixed reviews. I was able to watch the movie with my best friend Sarah the week after it came out. I honestly loved the movie and the message it had, but I could see where all the mixed reviews were coming from. So, let's sit back, maybe have a glass of wine or five, and analyze the highly popular film.
***Warning: Spoiler Alert In Effect.***
In case you haven't heard, people have been walking out of the theater while the film is rolling because of its intense gun use. Arthur Fleck, who has been tormented by everyone surrounding him, is given a gun by a coworker to defend himself after being attacked by a gang. In some cases, this is considered a straw purchase because Arthur not being a licensed gun holder now illegally owns a gun, given to him by a man who I'm sure isn't licensed to have a gun either.
This film also touches base with mental health and the struggles that comes with it. Arthur suffers from pathological laughter and depends on social services to receive the counselling and medication needed. Life, however, likes to kick people in the balls, and Arthur soon finds that the funding has been cut from social services and is left without the proper mediation.
If you as my opinion, I feel that the people that are complaining about the extreme gun use and the "exposure" on mental health are the very same people that refuse to see that America has a very serious problem when addressing mental health and the Second Amendment. In fact, a lot of people, even the president, believe that the issue with gun violence is because of mental health. This is what I have to say; CREATE STRONGER GUN LAWS! Not all shooters have psychological issues. The gun crimes that have been occurring today are driven by pure hate. People with actual mental health problems find it hard to seek the help they need because our current administration blames gun violence on mental health.
While watching this film if you ever get the chance, please keep in mind that there are multiple universes in DC Comics. Although this is considered an origins movie, this is an origin to one universe. The original story line behind the Joker character isn't as dark as this film perceives it to be. This film is more realistic because it takes one bad day to change someone. Arthur was bullied, but he was harmless until he shot the men on the subway. Maybe people should just start being nice for a change.
I don't want to dwell into the movie anymore because I know a lot of you still have not watched it yet. I do enjoy discussing it further because I still have so much to say about it. I leave this post up for discussion. If you've seen Joker, please share your thoughts below and we can do a discussion blog as my next post.