Joker Folie a Deux – REVIEW

As a longtime fan of the Batman universe and a connoisseur of the Joker’s chaotic charm, I must say that my expectations for Joker: Folie à Deux were sky-high. However, this film left me feeling more like a victim of a prank than a participant in a grand cinematic experience.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting the sequel to Joker, the unexpected box office hit and Oscar winner, due to its unprecedented success. The upcoming movie is titled Joker: Folie a Deux, and Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck, better known as the Joker. After committing five murders that sparked a city-wide riot, the Joker now finds himself incarcerated in Arkham Asylum, moving about weakly as he awaits his trial. The second half of the film follows this court case.

In the initial part, the story unfolds in an asylum, where he delves into his childhood as a trigger for his psychosis. Interestingly, during this phase, he encounters Lee Quinzel, who serves as Harley Quinn’s love interest in the comics, but here she is portrayed as a patient instead of a psychiatrist. Upon their first glance, there’s an immediate connection between them that leads to shared musical and dance sequences, where they perform well-known numbers. Lady Gaga excels in these performances, while Phoenix delivers a voice affected by the vocal fry commonly heard among teenagers and young adults.

This flatness is carried through to the trial itself, traditionally where some of the finest dramas have been set but there’s nothing gripping about the cross examination. Fleck is there in full Joker make –up with the judge ludicrously telling him he won’t have his court room turned into a circus, which is a pity because it would have enlivened things immeasurably. With a baby faced Harvey Dent (Harry Lawley) prosecuting and a waspish defence lawyer (Catherine Keener) its witness Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill ) who is the stand out performance. Wracked with guilt, fearful of Fleck and regretful that his own dwarfism thwarted nay attempt at preventing Fleck murdering his friend his plight is a sympathetic one and it’s one of the best scenes in a film that has few stand out moments.

In Joker, it’s not just Gill’s character that leaves a lasting impact; Steve Coogan’s portrayal of antagonistic reporter Paddy Meyers also lingers, reminiscent of Robert Downey Jr.’s scene in Natural Born Killers, albeit with a better-executed American accent here. Additionally, Brendan Gleeson plays the head guard who navigates between being an ally and adversary to Fleck, adding another layer to the film. However, some viewers may feel let down by Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, as it seems similar to his work in the first movie. Similarly, Lady Gaga fails to impress in a role that falls short compared to Margot Robbie’s more impactful performance.

Essentially, what seems desired is for Joker to stay true to his comic book persona, the wicked mastermind behind chaotic chaos, yet the movie delves deeply into whether he murdered because of childhood wounds or psychological instability. Instead of showcasing one of our most iconic villains, we get a film that’s agonizingly uneventful. With a runtime exceeding two hours, Joker: Duet is a challenging watch. Director Todd Phillips has stated this will be his last Joker movie, but if a series had existed, this dreary follow-up could potentially end it.

Here’s the Joker Folie a Deux trailer….

2024-10-04 02:23

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