Review: JOKER: Folie à Deux

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(Beware some spoilers)

Warner Bros, DC Studios and Todd Phillips bring you a continuation of one of comic books most iconic, divisive and chaotic villains in this DC Elseworlds version of the Joker played by Academy Award Winner (Best Actor-Joker) Joaquin Phoenix and Academy Award Winner (Best Original Song-A Star is Born) Lady Gaga. The first Joker lit the the film world metaphorically on fire, while this new one seems to have put a divisive gasoline on the story. In a good way or bad way, now that will be your decision as a viewer. Cinematographer Lawrence Sher shoots this movie beautifully, capturing the colour and contrast of Gotham City, showcasing the grime and chaos of the have nots and the decadence of the obnoxiously wealthy elite. Two years have passed since the events in Joker where Arthur Fleck/the Joker shot and killed Murray on his own talk show on national TV in cold blood. While the the first Joker was a very visceral experience which seemed to gather momentum thanks to its internal perspective, this second one was very much a psychological journey. It looks at an individual bullied, forgotten, and abused since childhood who basically snaps by committing heinous evil crimes of shooting a group of obnoxious, bullying spiteful yuppies on a train. An unsympathetic talk show host made him become a symbol for the voiceless and disenfranchised in Gotham City, which seemed to have translated to people watching the film worldwide. In this second part, the consequences of his actions are examined by the city and the people of Gotham in the murder trial of Arthur Fleck which tries to examine the dual identities of Arthur Fleck and the Joker. He meets a new inmate at Arkham named Lee who has a talent for singing and arson tendencies, and it turns out to be Harleen Frances Quinzel a former graduate of psychology. He falls head over heels with her and embarks on an eccentric, slightly complicated relationship with Harleen during his trial, showcasing two people who need to be healed through trauma internally and externally. We experience them singing when the Joker and Harley sing various numbers when we go inside Arthur Fleck’s mind in his fantastical dream-like world. The best scenes are the court scenes when he is in full Joker costume, make-up and going up against a very young assistant DA (District Attorney) named Harvey Dent, which was quite the entertaining exchange and easter egg for comic book fans. Him firing his lawyer and his cross-examination of his former friend and colleague Gary Puddles is both hilarious and brutally unnerving while his fans, along with Harley push him to continue to embrace his true persona. JOKER: Folie à Deux had the potential to give more. It would have been fascinating to deeply examine the consequences on the people of Gotham from the rich elite to the impoverished residents of the city after the uprising and the death of the Wayne’s. I won’t give too much more away, but it felt like a lot more story was left on the table. The film is an interesting experiment in examining our relationships with our shadow selves, but it lacks the constant visceral electricity and menace of the original. This film only has it in shorter parts, such as his confrontation with the Arkham guards where the commentary on class, villains and heroes could have been pushed much more and further as the two leads have chemistry, especially in some of their more personal moments. The ironic thing is that what makes these Joker movies so polarizing is that his world is far closer to our world then we would like to admit, where certain celebrity status surpasses human nature’s moral compass at times, be it in politics, sports, music and various entertainment.

“We’re Gonna Build A Mountain” – Harley Quinn

“They Believe Arthur Fleck To Be Some Kind Of Martyr. Well, He’s Not. He’s A Monster” – Harvey Dent

“Look Around. Look At All These People! I Will No Longer Allow Any Of You To Keep Me Down– Joker

Official Warner Bros. Synopsis for :

Joker: Folie À Deux

Starring:

Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Zazie Beetz

                   From acclaimed writer/director/producer Todd Phillips comes “Joker: Folie À Deux,” the much-anticipated follow-up to 2019’s Academy Award-winning “Joker,” which earned more than $1 billion at the global box office and remains the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.  The new film stars Joaquin Phoenix once again in his Oscar-winning dual role as Arthur Fleck/Joker, opposite Oscar winner Lady Gaga (“A Star Is Born”).

“Joker: Folie À Deux” finds Arthur Fleck 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.

            The film also stars Oscar nominees Brendan Gleeson (“The Banshees of Inisherin”) and Catherine Keener (“Get Out,” “Capote”), alongside Zazie Beetz, reprising her role from “Joker.”

            Phillips, who was nominated for Oscars for directing, writing and producing “Joker,” directed “Joker: Folie À Deux” from a screenplay by fellow Oscar nominee Scott Silver & Phillips, based on characters from DC.  The film was produced by Phillips, Oscar nominee Emma Tillinger Koskoff and Joseph Garner.  Lady Gaga served as music consultant.  The film’s executive producers are Michael E. Uslan, Georgia Kacandes, Silver, Mark Friedberg and Jason Ruder.

            Working with Phillips behind the camera are his team from “Joker,” including Oscar-nominated director of photography Lawrence Sher, production designer Mark Friedberg, Oscar-nominated editor Jeff Groth, and composer Hildur Guđnadóttir, who won the Oscar for her work on the first film.  New to the team is Oscar-nominated costume designer Arianne Phillips (“Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood,” “Don’t Worry Darling”).  Ruder is the film’s executive music producer and the music supervisors are Randall Poster and George Drakoulias.  Casting is by Francine Maisler (the “Dune” films, “Challengers”).

            Warner Bros. Pictures Presents A Joint Effort Production, A Film by Todd Phillips, “Joker: Folie À Deux.”  The film will be released worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.