Before Joker: Folie à Deux, Another DC Movie Did Harley Quinn Right

As a longtime DC comics fan and aficionado of cinematic adaptations that do justice to the source material, I must say that my experience with “Joker: Folie à Deux” has left me feeling quite underwhelmed, to put it mildly. While Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn was undeniably captivating and unique, the film itself seemed to miss the mark in terms of truly understanding and showcasing the complexities of this iconic character.

Over the weekend, the new film Joker: Madness Duet, a continuation of the 2019 blockbuster hit Joker, was released. As a sequel, it aimed to surpass its predecessor with fresh elements, such as the introduction of Lady Gaga’s character, Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn. However, since its release in cinemas, the film’s success has been questionable, receiving mixed reactions from audiences and underperforming at the box office. One of the most contentious aspects has been the portrayal of Harley herself, with many critics claiming that the film either misrepresented or failed to fully explore her character. This discussion has led many to acknowledge that a previous DC film, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), from 2020, offered a more fitting portrayal of Harley on the big screen.

Moving on from the turbulent and debate-worthy setting of the first Joker movie, to Lady Gaga’s surprising and Academy Award-nominated acting journey, we anticipated that Folie ? Deux would offer a fresh perspective on Harley Quinn even before its release. With leaked photos from set and glimpses of the film trailers displaying Gaga’s Harley in intricate costumes and dark makeup, it appeared she could become a striking and dramatic counterpart to Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck / Joker, while staying true to the character’s comic book roots. It remained unclear whether the story would primarily revolve around Harley or Arthur, or what her final goal in the movie might be, but the possibilities were intriguing.

It’s possible to contend that the final outcome of “Folie à Deux” doesn’t fully realize its potential. The film seldom refers to her by her full name, abbreviating it to “Lee.” Instead of focusing on the comic book-faithful narrative of her as a brilliant psychologist consumed by The Joker, “Folie à Deux” offers two inconsistent origin stories for her. One version suggests that she grew up in poverty and was institutionalized after committing violent acts, while another portrays her with a stable childhood and voluntarily admitting herself to Arkham Asylum to be near him. Furthermore, almost every action Lee undertakes towards Arthur – such as planning their temporary escape from Arkham, courting him, moving into his apartment building, and serving as his spokesperson to the media – is portrayed as manipulative and untrustworthy.

A significant portion of Lee’s character development takes place outside the screen, such as her transformation into Harley Quinn, her possible pregnancy with Arthur, her sudden abandonment of him at the film’s end after he renounces the Joker persona, and even their romantic relationship which mirrors real-life infatuations of women towards imprisoned serial killers. However, much of this development seems disconnected from the classic Harley Quinn character. Instead, Lee’s complex feelings towards The Joker concept might be more fitting for a newer DC character, Alexis Kaye/Punchline, who emerged in the comics shortly after the debut of the first Joker film.

As a devoted fan, I’d like to share my perspective on “Birds of Prey”. This film brilliantly spotlights Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn in a captivating and fulfilling way. It also introduces lesser-known DC heroines like Jurnee Smollett’s Dinah Lance / Black Canary and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Helena Bertinelli / Huntress, but it primarily focuses on Harley’s solo journey post-Joker breakup.

Joker: Folie ? Deux is now playing exclusively in theaters.

2024-10-08 02:40

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