Joker Folie à Deux
Harleen Quinzel: Who are you?
Arthur Fleck: Me? I’m the Joker, baby!
I admit, I really didn’t like the direction “Joker Folie à Deux” went. As much as I was thrilled with the first part, the second one disappointed me that much.
Don’t misunderstand me, the film isn’t so bad… but I really couldn’t imagine Arthur Fleck’s quasi-Joker in a jukebox musical variant with such a serious tone. But it’s not just that I couldn’t imagine it, even the execution didn’t manage to leave a somewhat positive impression.
And on top of all that, it seems the lead actor wasn’t thrilled with how this film was realized either…
But, let’s go in order…
Arthur Fleck is in custody at Arkham hospital and waiting for trial for the chaos he committed two years ago. His lawyer Maryanne believes Arthur suffers from dissociative identity disorder (DID) and that the Joker persona committed the monstrous deeds, not Arthur, and with that plans to fight in court and prevent the electric chair for her client.
At one music therapy session, Arthur meets Lee (Harley Quinzel), who claims she grew up in the same miserable conditions as Arthur, and that she greatly admires his character and work. And she slowly and gradually starts influencing Arthur with her views and a strange emotion resembling love develops between them.
Soon the famous trial begins that the public follows with great attention. The assistant district attorney, Harvey Dent, calls witnesses who clearly indicate Arthur is a sick person and there’s no room for the idea of some split personality that could prevent him from the death penalty.
On top of everything, Arthur learns, during a break between trials, that Lee isn’t at all the girl she presented herself as, and when he confronts her, she reveals everything to him.
Arthur in the continuation of the trial makes serious cuts. He fires his lawyer, announces he’ll defend himself in court and comes dressed as the Joker. And starts his performance.
And meanwhile, a large number of fans support the Joker, as a symbol of some new Gotham.
And what fate will await Arthur Fleck, you’ll find out if you watch “Joker Folie à Deux”.
Let’s start with the plot…
This musical won’t be remembered like “West Side Story,” “Phantom of the Paradise,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Moulin Rouge!,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Mary Poppins” and other classics… or an average Indian film… because it simply doesn’t seem sensibly cobbled together (even compared to Indian films). Simply, what should have been the center of the plot (Arthur’s trial, his psychological problems and relationship with Harley) seems to be moved to second plan for the sake of singing sections where Harley (i.e., Lady Gaga) should dominate. Even if we take that the film’s logic is that all the singing sections happen in Arthur’s head and should present the state of his mind, it still doesn’t seem logical to me to have so much singing. I expected Harley here to be a secondary character who should give us better insight into Arthur/Joker, not to turn into the main hero, for the simple reason that Harley Quinn is known to everyone, and Arthur Fleck (as precursor to the real Joker) is generally unknown to us. Ok, the twist in Arthur’s behavior in the film’s finale was unexpected and nicely “shook up” the film, but still…
Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker… I don’t know what to tell you. The man is incredibly talented and a true psychophysical chameleon of acting, but somehow I have the feeling that, unlike the first part, here he more focused on doing his role professionally, than getting into the role like in the first part. This impression especially seemed to me in scenes where he’s with Lady Gaga… like he resigned himself to the fact this film will turn out very differently (and not in a good way). However, in certain scenes (where, ironically, Lady Gaga isn’t present), at moments his acting genius flashes (especially courtroom scenes, and those in custody). Maybe it just seems to me, but I have the impression this sequel the man wants to forget as soon as possible.
Lady Gaga as Harley “Lee” Quinzel… I don’t know what to tell you here either. If we leave aside the film “A Star is Born” which many will invoke (I haven’t gotten around to watching it yet), Gaga really doesn’t seem to me (at this moment) like actress material. They talk about how she’s doing method acting, but… I’m not really convinced here. She had one or two scenes where I thought “ok, here it seems there’s material for something more,” but I have the feeling they forced her and her singing more than they should have. From the musical-vocal side, I really have nothing to complain about, she is after all a name in the world of music, and she has a voice.
From the audio-visual side, the film maintained the quality of the first part, so there’s nothing to add or subtract there.
And what to say now about “Joker Folie à Deux”?
If you ask me (I know you’re not asking, but it’s my site, I can 🤣), this film could have been spectacular if more time was devoted to the trial, where Phoenix would be allowed to spread his wings. I don’t know why, but the whole time I was watching the film, I was thinking how this could have been some top-notch courtroom film… well, not exactly in the range of “12 Angry Men” or “A Few Good Men,” but at least it could have been fun in the range of the series “Suits”. Simply to switch to hardcore courtroom drama mode. Also, we could have had more insight into Arthur’s psychological state (and not in the form of singing), and the relationship between Arthur and Harley could have been developed a bit better. But, it seems to me the film’s creators wanted to try the approach “let’s play it safe, but like also shock the audience, so let it be a musical,” but in the end everything turned out lukewarm and shoddy.
“Joker Folie à Deux” turned out like 2024. We all had high expectations of it, we welcomed it with lots of motivation, but it started serving us all kinds of sh*t from January and complicating everything or bringing it to a state of standstill, at some moments we hoped the situation would start getting better, but still nothing and we can’t wait to forget it all, but we’ll occasionally remember it with regret for what it could have been… but wasn’t…
Therefore, goodbye to both the film and 2024 and let it not be repeated. 😅
And you, dear reader, how did this year seem to you… and the film?
Trailer
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Format: Film
Premiere: 2024
Runtime: 138 minutes
