Joker - That's Life...Or So They Say

Interesting how such a song has real use in the Joker film. At times songs in a film will be picked out due to the director's bias or just because it sounds good in the given scene. At other times there is an actual artistic reason for selecting a song in film's soundtrack. What makes Frank Sinatra's song so wonderful is how it applies to both our protagonist, Arthur Fleck and a particular theme in the film.

A little history first. Although not originally written and recorded by Frank Sinatra, That's Life is one of his most famous and beloved songs. First recording of the song was in 1963, by Marion Montgomery. Dean Kay and Kelly Gordon wrote the song. Upon it's release in late 1966, it peaked at #4 on Billboard. Joker is not the first film to feature this song, A Bronx Tale and License to Drive also feature this track. Many artists will go on to cover this song as well, ranging from Aretha Franklin, Bono of U2, Michael Bolton and much more.

Looking At The Lyrics

Not all the time, except on a few rare occasions, the lyrics do not always tie into the film. One exception can be Disney songs, written exclusively for the film. Remember, this is a song from the sixties but fits in well with several aspects of the film. Excuse the history of the song and its singer, you might be able to persuade a few young people into believing this song for the film. Let us look at some of these lyrics and contextualize it within the film.

I said, that's life (that's life) and as funny as it may seem

Some people get their kicks

Stompin' on a dream

But I don't let it, let it get me down

'Cause this fine old world it keeps spinnin' around

Sadly, this is true. It does sound funny, but what Sinatra means, funny as in odd, that some people get their kicks by stomping on others dreams. We see this at one pivotal moment in the film when Murray shows footage of Arthur Fleck's stand-up. Never does Murray said directly, but he hints that Arthur should quit comedy and that he is far from funny. What makes it worse is that Murray is hardly direct but turns this into a joke. Arthur even points this out when he comes to the show, "Playing my video. Inviting me on the show. You just wanted to make fun of me." Originally, this does detract Arthur. Yet, he ends up getting the upper hand by moving on and shooting Murray.

I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate

A poet, a pawn and a king

I've been up and down and over and out

And I know one thing

Each time I find myself flat on my face

I pick myself up and get back in the race

Arthur goes through something of a cycle as the one here. He is a clown-for-hire, not his own. Hence, a puppet. We see his poor living conditions. Times are tough in the film's setting. Social services get cut which lead to even more despair, as I covered here. Now add his termination and Arthur is a pauper ten-fold. Next, the pirate takes the lives of those men on the subway. Later on he takes those files by force from Arkham State Hospital. His former co-worker, Randall shows up to his apartment to check-in on Arthur. Really he is only there to find out what Arthur told the detectives, so he can create a narrative for his own purposes, editing the gun he gave him out of the story. Does anything have to be said about Murray using Joker on his talk-show? This has already been addressed. Finally, we see him become something of a king by the end of the film. Joker stands atop of the police car with many on-lookers cheering him on. One dissident is thrusting up a chair in the background, here to give Joker his throne.

Throughout the film Joker does fall down and fail in his life. He gets robbed, picked on, fired and more. With even the bare minimal psychological knowledge we can assume this man is emotionally compromised and probably suicidal. Yet, he goes to his therapist and does his homework. He wants to take his medication and keeps going. Remember he plans to end his life on Murray's show, but that changes too.

That's What People Say

One key theme this song plays into in the film is the lack of empathy and the safety net for people like Arthur Fleck. Now keep in mind, the song is not about that but ends up playing into that in the film. There is a sense of that's life...but things move on. Remember, there is always tomorrow. It's brighter on the other side. Things can only get better. Sinatra's song comes off as this. Instead, the song is cliché's and platitudes in hopes to make that helpless person feel better.

Telling someone it's going to get better is hardly a good way to treat someone. People like Arthur Fleck do require a social safety net. They may require therapy and possible medication. This 'that's life' mentality is hardly constructive or therapeutic. Strangely, Joker turns this motto on its head. He shoots Murray live on television and looks in the camera, reminding them 'that's life' before he is cut off. Can one not say the same thing? Hey, the comedian was shot by his guest on T.V. buy hey, that's just life, right? Yet, I feel in a real scenario like this, that rationalization would not comfort many people.