Joker: Folie à Deux
October 3rd, 2024
MOVIE: JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX
STARRING: JOAQUIN PHOENIX, LADY GAGA, BRENDAN GLEESON, CATHERINE KEENER
DIRECTED BY: TODD PHILLIPS
AMovieGuy.com’s RATING: 1 ½ STARS (Out of 4)
The first Joker film had its merits, particularly the hyperrealistic portrayal of the iconic Batman villain and Joaquin Phoenix’s committed performance. Its aesthetic drew heavily from Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, creating a striking visual experience. However, the overall tone was overwhelmingly miserable, exploring themes of abuse and the failures of mental health services under the guise of a villain’s origin story.
Unfortunately, Joker: Folie à Deux doesn’t stray far from this path. This sequel rehashes the original’s narrative, adding Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, which opens the door for musical numbers and a new dynamic for Arthur Fleck, a.k.a. the Joker. What may come as a shock, however, is that Folie à Deux is utterly boring. The musical sequences fail to energize the film, leaving audiences feeling colder than ever. The joke is, perhaps, on anyone who thought this would work.
The screenplay, crafted by director Todd Phillips and Scott Silver, neglects to advance Arthur’s story, instead revisiting familiar plot points from the first film. Arthur is now incarcerated in Arkham, awaiting trial for the five gruesome murders he committed, while being taunted by guards like Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson in a relatively forgettable role). During a transfer for a psychological evaluation, Arthur encounters fellow inmate Lee Quinzel (Gaga), and a romance develops as they bond over their shared chaos.
Narratively, the most intriguing moments occur during musical dream sequences that showcase Gaga’s immense talent. While her renditions of classics like “I’ve Got the World on a String” and “Bewitched” are enjoyable, they quickly become repetitive. The second half of the film focuses on Arthur’s courtroom trial, which feels mundane and derivative, lacking any real shock or awe. One can’t help but wonder if Phillips was working with a collection of ideas rather than a cohesive plot. It feels like a mix of New York, New York, and Shawshank Redemption as if Phillips were punishing us for allowing him to revisit this material. The result is neither inspired nor groundbreaking and deserves to be held in contempt.
If you can withstand the tedium of Folie à Deux, the effortless charisma of Lady Gaga is a small reward, but it’s not enough to carry the film. Phoenix, while in tune with his role, seems to be coasting. The majority of the blame lies with Phillips, whose direction mimics Scorsese without engaging with the deeper conflicts that made Scorsese an iconic filmmaker. Ultimately, Joker: Folie à Deux is surprisingly worse than its predecessor; it has plenty of songs but is completely out of tune.
1 ½ STARS
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 4TH, 2024.
Written by: Leo Brady
leo@amovieguy.com
