Just saw it.
That was overall a very strange movie experience. At times it felt like it wasn't based on comic book at all. Then other times, it would have to be in a comic book universe, for example, treating a murderer like a political hero just wouldn't happen in real life...then again maybe that was part of Arthur's delusions too.
As far as the depiction of Joker, there were definitely some pretty great aspects. The fact that Phoenix was in every scene really added to the sense of surrealism. You weren't sure what was real and what wasn't. Very much like the Joker in the comics, who has no single origin.
Overall, it wasn't something you were really supposed to enjoy. You can say that about a lot of great films though. For example, "Doubt" was great film, but probably one of the least enjoyable things I've ever watched.
I also don't think that you were supposed to be cheering for the Joker at any time in this. A lot of the other characters in the film are jerks, but how are you supposed to know what is and what isn't real. The Joker's odd behaviour also kind of rationalizes the way some others treat him, or at the very least it's a somewhat realistic depiction. Maybe that's all the point though? Maybe the movie could have benefited from showing more negative reactions to the Joker's behaviour, but maybe that would have taken away from the surrealism of the film too?
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