16 JOKER

Director: Todd Phillips

A supervillain origin story, Phillips’ take on the maladjusted loner Arthur Fleck (Phoenix, again) who eventually becomes Batman’s nemesis passes by on a cascade of Scorsese references (Taxi Driver; King Of Comedy) and a killer performance from the lead. The film strove to be a statement for our times, though was at its best when locked on to the committed intensity of Phoenix’s turn as God’s Lonely Clown.