Joker

A closer look at the story

In the Gotham City of the 1980s, Arthur Fleck is a lonely man who dreams of being a comedian but cannot find his footing on stage. He scrapes a living as a clown and lives with his mother, who still calls him by his childhood nickname, Happy. Ignored by society and repeatedly bullied, Arthur feels his fragile mind crack a little more with every new blow. Eventually that pent-up rage pushes him into crime and chaos, and Arthur gradually gives way to the Joker. Directed by Todd Phillips, who wrote it with Scott Silver, the 122-minute 2019 film features Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur alongside Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz and Frances Conroy in a dark character drama.