[FILM REVIEW] JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX Review (2024)
Summary: Arthur Fleck is institutionalized at Arkham, awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker. While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.
Year: 2024
Cinema Release Dates: 3rd October 2024 (Australia), 3rd October 2024 (Thailand), 4th October 2024 (UK), 4th October 2024 (USA)
VOD Release Dates: TBA
Country: Canada, USA
Director: Todd Phillips
Screenwriter: Scott Silver, Todd Phillips
Cast: Zazie Beetz (Sophie Dumond), June Carryl (Dr. Louise Beatty), Steve Coogan (Paddy Meyers), Leigh Gill (Gary Puddles), Brendan Gleeson (Jackie Sullivan), Catherine Keener (Maryanne Stewart), Lady Gaga (Lee Quinzel), Harry Lawtey (Harvey Dent), Ken Leung (Dr. Victor Liu), Jacob Lofland (Ricky Meline), Joaquin Phoenix (Arthur Fleck), Bill Smitrovich (Judge Herman Rothwax), Stephen Stanton (Stan L. Brooks), Alfred Rubin Thompson (Ernie Bullock), Sharon Washington (Debra Kane)
Running Time: 138 minutes
Classification: MA15+ (Australia), 15 (Thailand), 15 (UK), R (USA)
OUR JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX REVIEWS
David Griffiths’s JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX Review
The problem with making a brilliant film is where do you go from there? Do you leave it as a stand-alone piece of cinematic brilliance, or do you try to expand on what you have created. That is the question that filmmaker Todd Phillips was left with after the success of Joker back in 2019.
Joker was a remarkable film that transcended anything that had ever happened with a comic book movie previously. Fans loved it, critics applauded it and the film even managed to win 2 Oscars while being nominated for 9 others. Then there was the performance of Joaquin Phoenix (Gladiator) – not only did he win awards for it but he had his peers enthralled with what they called ‘a performance for the ages.’
So where was Phillips and his team to go after that? Do you just continue with the story, do you try to do something completely different or do you try to reach out into the DC Comics universe and try to bring other characters into the plot.
The choice made by Phillips was to try and do a little bit of each and deliver Joker: Folie A Deux but I have to say that even after letting the dust settle for a few days after watching the film for a few days I have to say that I am still not absolutely convinced that this movie has won me over – in fact I feel that it may have even been lacking a little.
The plot itself picks up not long after the events of the original film. Arthur Fleck aka The Joker (Phoenix) is in Arkham Asylum under the watchful eye of guards like Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson – The Guard).
Arthur is considered somewhat of a celebrity both inside and out of Arkham. Inside it feels like inmates and even Jackie are in awe of him while outside an army of supporters protest about him being incarcerated – something that is angering officials including prosecutor Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey – The Pale Blue Eye) who is trying to build a strong enough case to have Arthur off the streets forever.
For Arthur it feels like he is trapped inside in his own little musical world where his fantasies are played out in his mind with Broadway flair, and that is only further enhanced when he meets an inmate that seems to ‘get him’ – Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga – A Star Is Born). Before long the two are madly in love and Arthur is fighting for his freedom in the court room.
Okay, so why am I so divided with my thoughts on Joker: Folie A Deux? Well first of all I have to pay credit to the performances of Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga and Brendan Gleeson. It is their performances that recapture some of the magic of the original film.
Lady Gaga brings a more human side to the character of Harley Quinn that what we have previously seen from Margot Robbie. That is not to take anything away from Robbie because the briefs the two actress were very, very different. Robbie is playing a whimsical more disturbed version of Quinn while Lady Gaga is playing a deeply serious version where the audience is left questioning her end-game.
Then there are the scenes between Phoenix and Gleeson. Gleeson brilliantly plays a very three-dimensional prison guard – one that goes from observing Fleck like he can’t live without him and then a day later wanting to beat his head in. His frustration is almost reminiscent of what the audience is going through while watching the film.
But of course what most people are interested in here is the performance of Joaquin Phoenix. Once again he brings his A-game and is completely enchanting as he takes the audience into a world of metal illness rarely depicted like this on screen. And whether or not he is delivering one of The Joker’s song and dance delusions or taking up the role of Ringmaster in the Court Room Phoenix delivers in such a way that he should at least once again be at least nominated for some of the major awards in Hollywood this year.
Those musical pieces are what separates this film from the original and they do it in a pretty special way – but I would say just perhaps there were one or two numbers too many – but Phillips does use them remarkably well and it is creative approach to revealing the extent of Fleck’s mental illness.
Where my issue with Joker: Folie A Deux lies is the with the finale. I give credit to Phillips it is a complete surprise to the audience but at the same time it is the kind of pay-off that leaves you feeling a little cheated. Yes, it is creative and hits you in the face like The Joker’s hammer but without going into spoiler territory I have to say it also left me thinking “well why have I just sat through two films to get to this point if everything I have just watched is a lie.”
With that ending in mind I found myself even questioning why Harley Quinn got brought into this – is it a waste of one of DC’s most intriguing characters or will Phillips expand this universe even more now? What I am sure of though is that like me most people will like Joker: Folie A Deux and not love it the way they did the original which may cause some issues for Phillips if he does want to venture more into the world of DC.
The best way to face Joker: Folie A Deux is to go into it expecting something very, very different. By all means be entertained, be impressed but also be prepared for a finale that may not leave you completely fulfilled.
Dave’s rating Out Of 5
Alex First’s JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX Review
The second instalment of Joker is in significant part a musical. Who would have thought that, notwithstanding the starring role for Lady Gaga?
It is hardly mainstream entertainment. Rather, it has the feel of a strong and decidedly dark independent film, which I appreciated for the layers within in.
Like he did so brilliantly in Joker, Joaquin Phoenix is a revelation as Arthur Fleck/Joker.
So, to the storyline:
Arthur is in prison awaiting trial for the murder spree Joker went on, slaying five (or is that six) people in quick time, including one on live TV.
He appears to be a forlorn character, not responding to the guards’ taunts to tell them a joke.
One who rewards him for good behaviour is Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson), who takes him along to a music therapy session.
That is where he connects with an inmate by the name of Lee Quinzel/aka Harley Quinn (Gaga).
She claims that she is from the same neighbourhood as Fleck and had a terrible home life, being insitutionalised by her mother.
She is driven to Joker and he to her. The pair starts an intense relationship, in which they fantasise about what might be.
Meanwhile, Fleck’s legal representative Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener) is trying to convince him to play along with her defence strategy of a split personality.
The court case sees a groundswell of support for Joker.
Lee, who is increasingly influencing Fleck’s decision making, is at odds with Stewart’s tactics.
The former, who has adopted the Harley Quinn make up and dress sense, tells Fleck he can do anything.
Written by Scott Silver and director Todd Phillips (the combination behind Joker), Joker: Folie a Deux delves deep into mental illness and psychosis.
Dreams and hallucinations play a large part and this is often when Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix are seen singing together.
In one scene, Phoenix resorts to tap dancing.
The pair has a potent connection, while Gleeson is memorable as the guard who gives Fleck some latitude.
I also appreciated the cameo of Steve Coogan as tabloid TV interviewer Paddy Meyers, who legal eagle Stewart lines up to question Fleck before the trial.
The music is an undoubted feature of the work, although I dare say some will find it out of place. Not me. I thought the choices were most appropriate.
So, too, the period production values associated with the film.
I expect Joker: Folie a Deux to be a divisive movie among critics and the fee-paying public, many of whom will find it hard going and not to their liking.
Apart from thinking it was probably 20 minutes too long, I am in the positive camp. I thought what Phoenix, Gaga and the writers and director brought to the table was a compelling dive into the abyss that is the essence of a troubled mind … or two.
Alex’s rating Out Of 5
Average Subculture rating Out Of 5
Other Joker: Folie a Deux Reviews
You can read our review of Joker: Folie A Deux that appeared in The Phuket News right here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/joker-sequel-a-portrait-of-madness-93895.php
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