While I wasn't expecting it to be so interesting -- particularly Harley Quinzel -- the movie writing was so convoluted and a let down at the end.
Much of the movie was a great build-up, but instead of delivering on that build-up, we get sucker punched right at the end twice.
To double-down on this point, the filmmaker had no obvious reason to reverse-pivot the film's build-up and drop the audience on our heads: the comics have a Joker-Harley Quinn relationship, the cartoons do, the entire milieu has them as a duo and it re-invigorates the Joker. But in this movie, the writer is unable to go there. I can't fathom why not, as that is the payoff fans all deserve.
Another painful flaw of the movie, which happens over and over, is the incredibly slow pacing. We watch people walk, smoke full cigarettes, and sit in silence. I fast-forwarded the stillness a bunch of times, only to be surprised that it was continuing. So grateful not to see this in the movie theater! If there was ever an example of seeing a movie at home being better than in a theater, this is it. I'm not a captive audience, I have a remote! Ha Ha!
I also fast-forwarded a number of gratuitous musical numbers. I appreciated !the concept of it, but was not a fan. Nope.
So the movie is a combo of many movie failings -- - protagonists unable to take their own actions,
- prolonged scenes with no real action,
- the dramatic tension released unnecessarily by out-of-character foible (aka 'screenwriter's betrayal') that doesn't do justice to source material / character,
- gobs of musical scenes,
- more unnecessary origin story arc,
- a final act that comes off as 'ok, lets wrap it up' with something that doesn't fit the tone or timing of the last 2+hrs.
While visually interesting and bursting with potential, the writer/directors were unable to give permission for any characters to 'do their thing' and instead left a movie that almost had stuff in it, but didn't.
Do writers / directors expect something like this to get audience approval? Seems impossible! They want blockbusters, but then remove the heart of the story (aka climax or pinacle) and leave the audience with a gaping hole.
Saw that film & actors are nominated for Razzies - worst film & worst actors.
Film writing / director maybe deserves a Razzie.
Acting however was truly incredible, so I dont see them deserving the negativity there.
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