Andy Farnsworth Has No Plans To Ever Watch ‘Joker’ Again

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Mired in both praise and controversy, “Joker” is on every critic’s lips as it opens nationally Friday.

KSL Newsradio’s Andy Farnsworth, who hosts the “Fan Effects” podcast, is an admitted fan of comic books and comic book movies. However, “Joker,” based on DC character, was not a film he was looking forward to.

“I’ve never quite understood people’s fascination and even — for some — glorification of villains and psychopaths,” he said. “Do we really need to know why Joker is the way he is? He’s Batman’s big villain/arch rival, and he is crazy. Does it really, really matter how he got there?”

The movie centers around a man named Arthur Fleck  (Joaquin Phoenix), a socially-awkward man who works as a clown. However, his dream is to be a standup comedian.

He also deals with mental illness and condition that leaves him laughing uncontrollably — even when there’s nothing to laugh about. This, along with his having to take care of his ailing mother, puts a strain on Arthur and he begins to lose his grip on reality.

His actions unwittingly inspire a populist movement advocating violent rebellion against the rich with Arthur as the the symbol.

“I did not like this movie …,” Farnsworth said, “but I also cannot deny that it was a well-made film.”

Farnsworth praised “Joker” for its visual shots of obvious and hidden symbolic meanings, and he was impressed with Phoenix’s performance.

“He was equal parts amazing and terrifying,” he said.

But Farnsworth has some warnings: “Joker” is not a movie for children, for teens, or “for people who like to feel good while watching a film.”

“There is no redeeming moment, character or part,” he said. “It’s deservedly rated R for graphic violence, language and very disturbing imagery and situations.”

“This is not Joker from Batman’s animated series, the video games, the ’60s TV show or even Jack Nicholson’s movie version,” he added. “Heath Ledger’s version is the closest to what you’ll see here, though this is beyond even that.”

Farnsworth said moviegoers should see “Joker” at their own risk.

He rated it two out of four stars “to split the difference between how impressed I was at some of the cinematic aspects and acting, and the distasteful feeling I had leaving the movie.”