Film of the Week: Joker

For those familiar with the comics, do any of you know of this scene. Batman uses the Mobius Chair, a computer than can answer any question posed to it, without fail, so he asks the question he’s never gotten the answer to: The Joker’s real name. If you are familiar with the scene, you may be up to date with what the Mobius Chair’s answer was, and for those who aren’t up to date, I won’t spoil the surprise. But I will say, even when Batman reveals what he was told, we, the readers, are still shrouded with mystery. He gives us an answer that’s packed with information but yet still incredibly vague, subsequently creating more questions answers. And that is in-keeping with the Joker’s characterisation. 

The Joker is one of the most recognisable characters in comics, he’s Batman’s greatest enemy. He’s put Batman to the test numerous times – pushing so far that even when Batman eventually gets the upper hand and stops the Joker from acting upon whatever plan he has on the go at the time, it doesn’t always feel like a victory. 

The Joker is also one of the most mysterious characters in the comics, because throughout the 70-year run, we’ve learnt hardly anything about the guy. He’s had multiple origin stories, each one detailing something completely different the previous one, and there was a series when the Joker believed he had succeeded in killing off Batman that he became sane. Without Batman, Joker has no purpose so he became a normal civilian, until he discovered he wasn’t successful and that Batman was still alive. This made Joker snap once more. In The Dark Knight, the Joker told three different stories detailing how he received those scars. In the comics, there is no definitive origin. 

This film is the closest we’re going to get to a definitive origin to the character, but can be easily filed with the others that’s been told before. This film explains a hell of a lot about the person before becoming Joker, whilst also maintaining the vagueness, creating the necessary questions that mustn’t be left out from any story involving the Joker. 

There was a brief moment when Arthur and we the audience believe that the Joker’s dad was Thomas Wayne, which would make Bruce Wayne and the Joker step-brothers. Those scenes are what reminded me of the panels above. The revelation that shakes Batman to his core. Thomas ultimately denies that he’s the father by stating Arthur was adopted by his mother, who worked for Thomas Wayne as a maid before going crazy and submitted into the Arkham Asylum. We later learn that Thomas was telling the truth about Arthur being adopted, so we immediately believe he’s not his father, but what if he was. What if Thomas actually is the Joker’s father, he got adopted by someone who worked for him, but for whatever reason she snapped. That’s some strong head cannon there, and once looked at throughout the Joker’s 70-year run, puts a whole new perspective on things. 

Batman is the world’s greatest detective, yet the Joker always remained a mystery to him, making the number of mysteries he’s never been able to solve to 2: The Joker’s read identity and who killed his parents. This film does present an explanation on why Bruce’s parents were killed, a set of events brought on by none other than the Joker himself, making him indirectly responsible, adding even more layers to the two characters. 

Joker dives into a character confidence, and gives us a believable origin story, whilst also giving us plenty of things to talk about. There has been so many articles written about this film, analysing Arthur’s descent into insanity, and if the entire film is all happening in his head, which can be believed considering it does blur the line between what’s fiction and fact throughout the film. I was genuinely confused the neighbour down the hall barely knew who he was when sitting in her apartment, only to be equally as shocked as her to discover that their relationship was happening entirely in his head. 

Joker puts just enough on the table to give us what we want, but deliberately leaves out the pieces that explains everything. In other words, this film as a whole, plays of the Joker’s characterisation and mysteriousness perfectly, keeping the 70-year old question of who exactly he is, alive? This film just reignites that question once more. 

Thanks for reading 

Antony Hudson 

(TonyHadNouns)