MOVIE SCENE CANADA
JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX
I Warner Bros. Pictures Canada I October 4, 2024 I 138 mins. I
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33%
* As of 10/4/24
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Zazie Beetz, Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan
Directed By: Todd Phillips
Joker: Folie à Deux finds Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) 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.
REVIEW BY: Darren Zakus - 10/01/24
RATING 4 out of 5
Joker: Folie à Deux is a bold and daring sequel that breathes new life into the twisted romance between Joker and Harley Quinn through dazzling musical numbers, that with a more compassionate storyline full of intoxicating romance and rich courtroom drama, gives a dazzling showcase to Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn who without question delivers one of the most sensational performances of the year.
The first Joker film became a runaway box office sensation that was the highest grossing R-rated film ever made until it was surpassed this summer by Deadpool & Wolverine. With Arthur Fleck’s spiral of mental illness only allowing him to transform into the titular Joker in the film’s final act, and given the DC Comics roots of the character, a sequel was inevitable to continue this iteration of the character. To make sure that Joker: Folie à Deux does not retread the same ground as the first film, director and co-writer Todd Phillips is taking the film somewhere that comic book cinema has never been before: musicals. Yes, infusing the film with jukebox musical numbers and casting music superstar Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn (or as she goes by in this film Lee), Joker: Folie à Deux is another experimental comic book film that mixes a courtroom drama with beautifully shot, upbeat musical sequences. And much like its predecessor, it’s bound to be just as divisive… if not even more so. As a musical fan and someone who did not like the original Joker film one bit, Joker: Folie à Deux felt refreshing and perfectly captured the twisted, co-dependent nature of Joker and Harley, featuring another sensational Lady Gaga performance, even if the narrative of this sequel waivers from the narrative that the first film emphatically established.
The most challenging aspect of Joker: Folie à Deux is the narrative it sets out to tell. The first film was all about defiance and how an uncaring society resulted in a monster like Arthur Fleck, to such an extent that it glorified Arthur Fleck’s murderous rampage in a truly disturbing manner, and the sequel initially follows this narrative footstep. While at Arkham State Hospital, the beginnings of the twisted Joker and Harley relationship are explored as the effect Arthur's crimes had on the city of Gotham show the cult-like following behind him. The romance is beautiful as Joker and Harley explore their deranged connection in infectious, toe tapping musical numbers of standards from the 1950s and 1960s. But unlike the cast and creative team who have been hesitant to call the film a musical press tour, there is no doubt that this film is a musical with a capital M! These musical numbers capture the comic book madness of Harley and Joker through infectious entertainment that makes it a perfect match for the characters, even if it seems out of place in a film that otherwise wants to be incredibly dark.
As the film enters its second act, it morphs into a courtroom drama, with some interesting discussion around Arthur’s two personalities and childhood abuse for the characters of Maryanne Stewart and Harvey Dent. It strengthens the ideas of the first film, while you see Arthur try to contain the Joker within him before the infamous villain takes control. But, as the story reaches its climax, it backtracks on everything that made the first film standout as a piece of comic book cinema. It becomes a film about conformity, which is shocking given everything Phillips has done up to this moment in this iteration of the Joker character. But at the same time, the final scene hits home his idea that Joker is created by an uncaring society, and not a vat of toxic waste as suggested by the comics, with one truly shocking decision that is going to have audiences talking. The musical numbers are more than certain to sour fans of the original film who do not like musicals against Joker: Folie à Deux, but it’s the film’s final moments that is truly going to make or break the entire film for many.
What is undeniable and certain to capture the attention of anyone who watches the film is how gorgeous it looks. The cinematography is striking, especially during the musical numbers using the lighting and shadows to create a truly theatrical experience. With nods to some of the biggest movie musicals of all time like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, La La Land, Moulin Rouge and Chicago, the set design and costuming for the musical numbers captures a grand nature that matches the talents and energy of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s live singing on set, only amplified by a great sound design that rocks in a theatrical setting. Compared to other musicals that have released so far this year, Joker: Folie à Deux calls back to the grandness of the musical genre of decades past while echoing the stylings of Chicago with extravagant musical numbers that take place in a fantasy setting removed from the film’s main narrative, displaying why Hollywood continues to make movie musicals.
Phoenix won his first Academy Award for his performance as Arthur Fleck in the first film, delivering a whirlwind performance that was unpredictable, starting and down right brilliant. It’s not that he is bad in the sequel, as he is not and once again proves he is a decent singer after portraying Johnny Cash and singing in Walk the Line, but it’s missing that invigorating spark that took the world by shock as you watched him spiral into madness in the first film. Catherine Keener is great as Arthur’s lawyer Maryanne Stewart, handling herself well in the courtroom scenes as she balances compassion for Arthur’s sickness while being a steadfast advocate against a system designed to work against him. While it’s a smaller performance, I was very impressed with Harry Lawtey as Harvey Dent as he effortlessly captured the smug lawyer who believes himself untouchable as he talks circles around every witness on the stand, putting on a true show despite never singing once himself.
Though, it is Lady Gaga as Harley who is the shining star of the film. From the second she appears and before uttering a single word, Lady Gaga is mesmerizing with the mystery she brings to Harley. As the film progresses and she is given more substance to work with (even though her character as a whole was underused), she is absolutely intoxicating as you watch her Harley reverse the tables on Joker and manipulate him, unlike all past iterations where Joker is the one manipulating Harley. There is a deranged darkness to her performance that perfectly captures the twisted, co-dependent relationship between Joker and Harley, but also a self-centered coldness that echoes what Phoenix did in the first film with his character. And when it comes to the musical numbers, Lady Gaga of course reigns supreme and proves herself cements herself as a superstar as she belts out each song and dazzles on camera, especially with “That’s Life” and “Gonna Build A Mountain”, leaving no question in audiences’ minds that no other actress could portray this iteration of Harley. Much like her performances in A Star is Born and House of Gucci, Lady Gaga gives a terrific performance that will launch her right into awards consideration yet again, proving that she is a true triple threat!
Tonally different in every way imaginable from the first Joker film, Joker: Folie à Deux is one of the year’s most daring films as it takes massive creative swings that are certain to either delight audiences or leave them fuming in their seats. Todd Phillips continues to challenge viewers with his iteration of Gotham City and Joker, though it's the deeper respect this film has for mental illness that allows for more meaningful exploration of its character, which is only heightened by the film’s show-stopping musical numbers. Featuring excellent musical numbers full of wonderful set and costume design, gorgeous cinematography that captures true beauty in an otherwise dark film, and a tour de force performance from Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, Joker: Folie à Deux is a one of a kind sequel that turns the original film on its head as it creates a richer and less disturbing film that audiences who hated the first film are going to fall in love with.