I would assume this is the greatest transformation of opinion from a fan base to a movie because of its sequel. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that sequels are tricky business But I’m guessing that watching part one from now on is gonna have some pain associated with it because of knowing what happened in part 2. I won’t even be surprised if this experience casts a bitter shadow on any Joker depiction in future projects. I’m flipping the movie in my head trying to find an angle that I can approach it from so it makes sense .. and I can’t.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Events of Joker: Folie a Deux focus on the next phase of Arthur Fleck’s journey after the events of “Joker” that was released in 2019. Fleck is now awaiting trial while being locked up in Arkham hospital. Following his sense of isolation and under the effect of his medicine, he now appears lifeless physically and psychologically. Until one day he meets Harleen Quinzel who shows great admiration towards him and through his relation with her, Fleck finds love, fantasy and music.
Joker: Folie a Deux transcends the definition of an “unnecessary movie” to be an “offensive movie”. Offensive to its genres, offensive to its hero, offensive to the legacy of the first film and offensive to the fan base. In terms of genre, though the film feels so limited in the viewing experience, it’s actually rich in classifications. It’s a comic book movie, it’s a musical, it’s a courtroom drama, it’s a prison drama and it’s a love story. And it’s really difficult to tell in which genre it performs worse. This might be the part that hurts the most and I’m saying that as someone who doesn’t count himself among the fan base of the first film. Couldn’t you at least get one right?
As a comic book movie .. well, it’s not really a comic book movie .. never was. The first movie set itself free from the bounds of the character storylines in the comic books so .. sky is the limit. The second movie feels restricted by its own shackles .. what on earth could’ve forced the screenplay to be so uninspiring?! As a musical, and I’m saying that as someone who doesn’t count himself among the fan base of musicals, it’s not really a musical. Most of the songs are not original. The design of the dancing numbers presented in the fantasies of the two leading characters is so basic. The movie cost 190 million dollars to make and I really didn’t see even half this budget on the screen.
To me, only one dancing number was interesting and only due to the physical performance of Joaquin Phoenix in it. Courtroom drama? .. one interesting testimony .. only because of the performance of the two actors involved in it. Prison drama .. so confusing and lacks any kind of logical progression due to the contradicting angles of the guard character portrayed by Brendand Gleeson. And I’m guessing you already raised an eyebrow when you heard me say “love story” earlier.
The best thing in the movie is of course the performance of Joaquin Phoenix. Which was wasted most of the time displaying what we already know about his abilities and the character in the first part. But every now and then he would showcase a moment of brilliance that might actually be the lifebuoy of the movie. Not to make it a good movie, not even to make it slightly better, but maybe, in a few months .. might make me wanna watch it again. The best character in the film in my opinion is that of Harleen Quinzel. She makes sense, her quest makes sense, her transformations make sense, and yes, among the characters of this film, that makes it an achievement. Gaga’s musical potential is wasted in the confinement of the songs the movie offered. But all in all, I believe this part could’ve been a step forward to Lady Gaga in the world of cinema only if it didn’t exist in this mess.
Wasn’t a fan of any element of the visual experience of the movie, and wasn’t annoyed much either. There’s a surprising and shocking sequence in the third act, that I believe was amazing visually and can be the key thing that cinematography can show for. But I believe it will also be a painful memory because of how poorly the screenplay dealt with its consequences.
I saw Joker: Folie a Deux 5 days ago and it’s among the longest times I’ve ever given a movie to marinate in my mind to try and see what I couldn’t see while watching it. See the point, see the purpose, see how it can be a good film even if I didn’t like it. See how it can have a positive score because I just couldn’t believe I can make a review and give the film a negative score no matter how many problems it had. I liked one dramatic scene with one dialogue. I liked one long sequence with great cinematography and amazing perspective. I liked one song because a good actor danced and acted so well in it .. And that’s it. I rate “Joker: Folie a Deux” at 3.5/10 .. like Arthur Fleck in this film, I fantasize about a world where this movie was never made.