Film: Joker

Today, of course (usually the reason for a lack of preview), was film - and leading the pack was the hugely popular Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix as the title character, in an imagination of how the twisted psychopath of the Batman stories came to be. Frances Conroy plays his ailing, aged mother. Also stars Robert de Niro, as the host of a talk show he longs to appear on, fulfilling his dream of being a stand-up comedian. Delighted to be seeing the one everyone's talking about. Closest showing is in the Barbican - nice n close, and not selling out, as it's been out for a little while now. And I was rather glad not be socialising, so I could rest my throat.

I walked there - the first time, I noted, I'd come straight from home, so I had to check my route. And I remarked that it was damn cold. When I bought my ticket, I discovered they've gone cashless - happily, the same is not true of the cafe, where I fancied something to nibble on while I waited. Until I heard the lady in front of me order a hot chocolate - ooh now, think I, that suits the weather perfectly! And would soothe my still-hoarse, and slightly raw, throat. So I had one, and used some cash - and my, it was lovely.

They took an age to let us in - and I settled into a lovely, comfy, leather seat. I keep forgetting what nice seats they have - it's not so often I come to the cinema here. It did pretty much fill up, in the end.

I've heard this film described, mostly, as "sad". Yes - but what stuck with me was the feeling that it's dark, deranged - and beautiful. We are carried along the Joker's gradual and inevitable descent into madness - and frankly, when he does tip over the edge, I don't think anyone would blame him. He lives in squalor, can't catch a break - he suffers from something like Tourette's that causes him to break into spontaneous and uncontrollable laughter at times of stress. His mother, BTW, is obsessed with a local tycoon called Thomas Wayne - she used to work for him, and keeps writing to him to ask for help. Doesn't get a response. Of course, here we're being set up for the hatred he later feels for Thomas' son, Bruce - who will later choose Batman as his alter-ego..

I always thought that Joaquin Phoenix could play an excellent psychopath - or more correctly, perhaps, a sociopath, all charm one minute but ready to turn on a whim. Take his performance in Gladiator, as the power-crazy Commodus, who murders his father and seeks to marry his sister. Mind you, he was better fed in that one - here, he's emaciated. And utterly mesmerising, as we literally don't know what to expect from him next. He apparently gave some thought to perfecting Joker's maniacal laughter. The director, apparently, was going for a Scorsese-esque feel - so the streets of Gotham are grey, damp and miserable, and every spare surface (at least where Joker lives) is covered in graffiti.

Through the whole thing, Phoenix is completely absorbing, as we watch a believable transformation into the crazy character from the Batman stories. Highly recommended - but very, very dark. So I loved it. Just a pity the supermarkets were closed on the way home..

Tomorrow, back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) at Sadler's Wells, for a Rambert2 double bill - the first of two performances.

On Tuesday, I'm going to the comedy The Man in the White Suit, at Wyndham's. Stars Stephen Mangan as the chemist who develops a material that never gets dirty! and finds himself suddenly in huge demand.

On Wednesday, back with UITCS for The Antipodes, at the National - a play about stories and storytelling, sounds irresistible. Mixed reviews, I hear, but I can hardly miss this.

On Thursday, back with Spooky London for their monthly drinks - and Ivan, who has business in the City that day, has expressed an interest in coming. This month, it's in the Prospect of Whitby. Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.

And on the 11th, I'm back with UITCS (as always!) for a night of comedy with Sara Pascoe, at the Backyard Comedy Club.