Arthur's been told his mother is delusional and maybe he doesn't want to accept that and live with that? I don't know what Randall did that provoked Joker to do what he did. It doesn't tie into any other comic book or movie continuity, but is still based on the DC character. 2) Arthur's actual age isn't as old as Phoenix and he just looks that way because he's unwell and a smoker; Fleck could begin taking care of himself and be a villain for a very young Batman (depending on Canon Batman starts at 25, so if Fleck is just an old looking 35, he would be 52 when "Year One" takes place). Failed comedian turned anarchist murderer, mob boss using the insanity plea, a pure force of chaos and evil- Gotham's dark side personified. When Arthur admitted on Murray's show that he killed the three Wall Street guys on subway why didn't he simply say it was self defense that way someone would understand how Arthur became Joker? Why didn't Murray have Arthur frisked for weapons near the end? Arthur gets away with it, too, with it presumed that doctors believed she died as a result of her stroke rather than anything much more sinister. "Not all people are awful." In Joker (2019), why did Randall give the Joker the gun? His "girlfriend": He most likely did not kill her and just left the apartment. It's more likely that Arthur became overpowered with rage, when Randall began to discuss the police investigations, and forgot about the wine. Edit, Clowns are silly and Wayne though the people were silly. Perhaps he even expected his crew to check for weapons, but they slipped up. One such moment is when Randall (the same Randall who gave him a gun and lied about it) visits his apartment with dwarf David by his side. He didn't know that Arthur brought a gun with him, and there were several other people in the studio. He is obviously very thin, his skeletal appearance is similar to that of a person suffering from anorexia. Murray was, hoping for something similar. except for the fact that obviously he's using it to justify his own actions to the point of considering 'funny' to commit murder in the context of the perspective change when he starts considering his tragic life a whole big joke with no punchline. That means people pick on him and when a colleague named Randall gives him a gun because he's his "boy" and he needs to "protect himself." Arthur decides to take him up on the offer. He always got in trouble even when he didn't do anything wrong like when he got fired or when his boss thought he stole the sign so he started doing things intentionally to get in trouble and escalate events since either way he was always punished. Note also that scenes with Randall and Arthur always showed Randall towering over the skinny Arthur. That's how many times something he couldn't control bothered/annoyed/confused someone, that he had to go out and have a card specially made just to receive a modicum of understanding. Here's the "joke": Randall was murdered by the patsy he wanted to set up as a murderer. Did Sophie, who was at best cordial and smiled at Arthur in the elevator, also escape death for being "nice" to him? Edit, Yes, within the scope of this movie these things are absolutely possible. Arthur was denied access to his mother's medical records by a black clerk -- those files revealed Arthur's adopted status. Did nurses give them to him? Share. Randall is the secondary antagonist of the 2019 psychological thriller film Joker. Or perhaps it's pity on the woman's face. That means people pick on him and when a colleague named Randall gives him a gun because hes his "boy" and he needs to "protect himself." This is before the era of ubiquitous metal detectors, photo i.d. Randall represents the elite whereas Garry is a symbol of the lower classes. Take that scene in the bathroom between Arthur and Thomas Wayne. Edit, Arthur's therapy and medication are paid for by the city government. At the beginning of the film they're both shown to be good enough friends that they joke together. If Arthur had been abused so badly as a kid by his mom and her boyfriend, then why doesn't he remember, and why wasn't he taken away from her by child protective services? -- One could deduce that Arthur could have fired as few as 3 or 4 rounds, with the actual incident being less dramatic than depicted. Brett Cullen and Joaquin Phoenix have an age difference of about 20 years, so this could realistically be true.However, it would imply a large deviation from the comics by making Arthur Bruce's brother. The inside of a fridge is not only cold, but it is dark and relatively sound-proof. The supremely dark new movie "Joker" is the type of flick that offers itself up to many interpretations - both positive and negative. Categories Randall sounds genuinely sympathetic towards Arthur at first, before its discovered its merely a ruse and that he paid the visit to learn what the police know about his firearm. His death or being dead would make more sense to him than his own life of living, OR He . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Edit, Although it's never mentioned in the film, it's heavily implied that Arthur may have anorexia nervosa, which is a disorder that affects women and men. Why does Robert De Niro's character not scream for security or run off set when he realizes he is sat next to a psychopathic killer. Arthur was lying in bed touching himself when the personnel from the Murray Franklin show called him at home. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Edit, Probably. He cuts a terrifying figure and he quotes the Joker from the comics when he says "Ive had a bad day." The scene is harrowing as he calmly places a pillow over her face, applying pressure in order to suffocate her. We never see him eat, but we do see him feed his mother, and eat nothing himself. The movie doesn't say. Just tried to build up something that we could relate to in these days and also have something related to the comic book series.Edit: Gotham is based on Chicago and Metropolis (where Superman/Clark Kent lives) is based on New York as per the DC wiki. "Alternatively, in the bag that Randall gave him, it looked like there were plenty of bullets, even if one doesn't assume that the gun came pre-loaded. Arthur figured out that Randall set him down this path into madness and wronged him which is why he murders him out of vengeance. Metacritic Reviews. Since Arthur is unreliable as a narrator (assuming that the end of the movie showing Arthur in the hospital is him having lost his mind and talking about his past), did he imagine killing Randall as payback? To be absolutely fair, the Arkham case file is more evidence than just the word of a clearly deranged woman. Edit, Penny used to work for the Wayne family and may have been able to afford it at the time. Because if he was, that scene must be in his head. The entire program was cut and Arthur can't afford it on his own. The scene at the very end, with Arthur locked up talking to the doctor/social worker - is it meant to be later, after he's been captured again, or is it a flashback to when he was hospitalised before, as was referenced earlier in the movie? Maybe what he does could be seen as less idiotic and more heroic in that light. Todd makes it clear she wasn't killed. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. After this we see Joker's face in frustration. If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Telegram to get the latest updates. I tensed up. Ergo, him calling him clowns. This films many similarities to 'The King Of Comedy' ,filmed in 1981 & released in 1982 may also be a pointer to the time it is set. Joker 2019 movie scene HDFILM DESCRIPTION:Forever alone in a crowd, failed comedian Arthur Fleck seeks connection as he walks the streets of Gotham City. May as well try and see how the maniac's mind works.4.) Arthur had his signboard taken from him by a group of teens of colour, who proceeded to beat him up. There are so many theories about the ending of Joker that its tough to know where to start. Its unclear whether or not he kills her and her young child but given we see sirens flashing outside in the following scene, its likely that he killed her. In his mind, Arthur comes off relatively normal and even heroic (Arthur is proud that he takes care of his mother), but in real-life he is awkward, gangly and unrelatable. Was Detective Burke an antagonist? Arthur starts to get ready for his appearance on Murray's show and paints his face white. PS: Because if things didn't fall into place, the director would have no way to make arthur fleck the joker, and justify the name of the movie That whole scene had me on edge for some reason and it was beautifully shot. But wasnt Arthur afraid at all that Gary would go to the police and tell him that Arthur killed Randall? Well first, you answered your own question as Arthur saw Gary as his only real friend. One thing I didn't quite understand in Joker was why Randall betrayed Arthur so quickly when the gun was found. When the young Bruce first sees Arthur outside the wall at Wayne Manor, he slides down a pole to go to the gate. Plus he did bring the gun in the children hospital (the same way he started dancing with it and shot the wall in his apartment) not something he did for no purpose he did want to carry the gun for self-defense even though it's a firing offense if he is caught with it. Comments Fincher made shows that he did not like the film, criticizing it as another Hollywood franchise film that steals from more original films, namely Taxi Driver and the King of Comedy. If youve ever wanted to shoot your shot at being an influencer, nows your chance. Edit, You can see that Murray himself does little goofy dances all the time during his show and Arthur sorta seems to have taken that trait from him. Edit, 1981- 82 .The Cinema seen near the end the end of the film is showing 'Blow Out' .This film was first released in New York in July 1981. Arthur took a lot of anti depressant medication, and didn't seem to accept being offered alcohol, like when Randall and Gary came to his apartment with what appeared to be a wine bottle so did Arthur have to avoid alcohol while taking his anti depressant medication? The Joker in comic book canon has been quoted as saying that if he had to have a past, he would prefer that it be multiple choice. Archived post. Showing the clip of the lousy performance and then having Arthur give another lousy performance live would have been bad television, and Murray is, if nothing else, a good television host. Was the whole movie a reality, or was all just in Arthur's head and he was incarcerated the whole time? It's a suicidal fantasy, which would explain why it quickly cuts to him lying on the bed. Even though she's frightened she still acts quite nice to Arthur (offering to get his mother) and even though she could call the police, Arthur doesn't seem to be thinking that far ahead stll (he let Gary go despite every chance he'd call the cops). When Arthur is told by his mother, Penny Fleck, that hes related to Thomas Wayne, he takes her words at face value. Is Thomas Wayne considered an antagonist in this film? But one aspect can't be argued: It is disturbing and . He's committed there instead of going to jail because of his insanity (in the comics, whenever the Joker is confined, it is at Arkham Asylum, never a regular penitentiary). It could be that it's someone else's fault Murray got killed because his team didn't up security on the show like they really should have. Randall was so brilliantly evil that Rolling Stone ranked him 31st in the "40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time" list. Why does Arthur seem to stagger a bit on one of his legs whenever he's walking, as if he has adapted a limping gait. He could have gotten them through a visitor of another patient, or perhaps even through a cigarette vending machine at the hospital. The FAQ items below may give away important plot points. [CDATA[ Did the Golden Gate Bridge 'flatten' under the weight of 300,000 people in 1987? Arthur is killing people who've wronged him in a certain way, and Sophie never wronged him." Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Edit, Arthur suffers from schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, post-traumatic stress and gelastic seizures (uncontrolled laughter). What is Wario dropping at the end of Super Mario Land 2 and why? Edit, The film is geared to provide a more sympathetic look into who the Joker is and less towards who Thomas Wayne is, the opposite that is normally done regarding Batman's history. Besides Phoenix himself, which other actors auditioned for the part of Fleck/Joker before Phoenix won the role? But as a political statement that the victims of oppression and economic destitution in 1980s Gotham City, which is a mirror of New York city, are predominantly black? Was he too smooth and not awkward enough? It could just be a Joker.Note that this problem also occurred in the Batman film of 1989, in which the Joker was said to have killed Bruce Wayne's parents, when Bruce was only a child. In The Dark Knight, when The Joker plans to kill the Mayor at a public gathering. While some version of these events may have happened, there's no concrete evidence that they played out in any way like we see in the film, they could just be what Arthur believes / wishes happened. What did Arthur mean when he said "They couldn't carry a tune to save their lives"? Why doesn't Arthur's doctor recommend a new doctor after their sessions end so he can keep getting his meds? Edit, There is none. Ergo, Hoping his life makes more cents being dead than living would argue that people just wouldnt care if he was dead on the ground in the first place. In Joker (2019), why did Randall give the Joker the gun? Contact us There's also the likelihood of (physical) trauma-induced amnesia or he simply repressed the memory. He was writing the script with a thought, that Joaquin is the Joker. I'm pretty sure they hadn't invented VHS-recorders back then. It's possible he was incapable of any human emotion anymore, besides, it would seem, glee at destruction, mayhem, and homicide. Arthur wouldn't have so many problems and sloppy miserable fantasies if it was all entirely imagined. Arthur then killed Randall, when Randall and Gary came to visit. Perhaps even he wanted to end her suffering? User Reviews Edit, As it is a stand-alone Joker is able to avoid this problem; some possibilities are: When Arthur Fleck inadvertently started a movement of ''poor vs rich'', the poor donned clown masks, and started to protest. Arthur decides to take him up on the offer. In Arthur's mind, he imagines himself as a normal person. Published Oct 4, 2019. It might have been a bizarre passing scene to many moviegoers, almost somewhat funny, but that part about Arthur removing the contents of his fridge and hiding inside is poignant. He lets fellow clown Gary (Leigh Gill) escape his apartment after Arthur stabs Randall in the eye and bashes his brains in. Just like no one thought his comedy bits were funny but him. Should we treat this as such a choice? We explain what was really happening and what it means. Or was this scene a fantasy, a retelling of what supposedly happened or a wish of what happened? Edit, Because Arthur realized the reason why he was asked to go on the show was to embarrass him. Joker's ending takes Arthur Fleck to the promised dark place in an unexpected way. Arthur's counsellor who eventually cut off his access to meds, which led him spiralling downwards even further, was also a black woman -- even though it was the system that failed both her and Arthur. Also Arthur & his mother have Video Players & telephone answer machines - not common to 'lower working class families' in the 70s. When he made fun of Arthur, he didn't know Arthur had a mental illness which caused him to laugh so much. That's the true end to the story. It only takes a minute to sign up. Overall, Thomas' character is portrayed as a corrupt scumbag, so it is plausible he forged papers to save face. For more information, please see our At the time, it would not have been unusual to allow Arthur to enter without frisking. He says: "Want to hear a joke?". Knowing he cant trust a word his mother says, Joker decides to kill her. Privacy policy. Edit. Why can't the police find Arthur after the subway shooting? Joker's Ending Explained. The Joker sends death threats pinned to the chest of two corpses whose last names equal the threatened (Harvey Dent). I feel as though Randall played some role in abusing Arthur as an adult. It is further evidence he is likely to be on the spectrum. 1) He is likely still sore from the jumping he took at the beginning of the movie. That said, it's likely that Penny's issues have a deeper root cause than mere sadness. Advertise with us Murray may have realized that either he was going to get lots of ratings or make television history. October 08, 2019, 02:18 AM. The Sophie twist puts into question just how much of the events depicted on screen are taking place inside of Arthur's head and how much are real. Joker was a very diligent son who took care of his mother, regularly mailing her letters and bathing her. Arthur tries running after them (calling for help and getting no response), which isn't easy given he's wearing oversized shoes. **It's like Ask Science, but all questions and answers are written with answers gleaned from the universe itself. Privacy Policy. The events showing Arthur firing 8 rounds, none of which missed, could not have happened for two main reasons. Arthur and his mother live in poverty, so how could they afford to own both an answering machine and a videocassette recorder? Metaphorically Gotham is presented to us as a cold place, in which whatever the character does he's punished for.