As a die-hard fan of the Joker franchise, I must say that Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie à Deux” has certainly lived up to my expectations and then some! The story’s exploration of the human psyche, particularly the character of Arthur Fleck, is nothing short of captivating.
According to Todd Phillips, the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux” isn’t a critique of fan entitlement or problematic fandom, but rather, it explores what transpires when someone is saddled with a title they never desired. Specifically, Phillips refers to Joaquin Phoenix’s character Arthur Fleck accepting the identity of Joker as it provides him with purpose and importance in his otherwise dismal existence. (This discussion contains spoilers for “Joker: Folie à Deux.”)
In an interview with IGN, Philips explained that the focus wasn’t on combating toxic fan behavior, but rather on exploring the consequences of something being thrust upon someone who isn’t truly representative of it.
As we delve deeper, Phillips added that the film additionally delves into how Arthur responds in the most challenging situation, one he deems as catastrophic. This occurs when Lee (portrayed by Lady Gaga) reveals that she is enamored not with him, but with his Joker persona.
In the initial Joker film, Arthur expresses that he doesn’t hold any beliefs, choosing to adopt the Joker persona primarily for its comedic potential. It was Murray, portrayed by Robert De Niro, who proposed the name Joker as a way to degrade and embarrass him, boosting ratings on his program. In retaliation, Arthur ultimately kills Franklin during a live broadcast as a form of revenge.
During the interview, Phillips continued to stand by the 2019 Joker film, arguing that it was a responsible piece due to its portrayal of how violence impacts individuals. He explained, “In my view, it wasn’t romanticizing gun use but rather depicting, ‘Wow, this is harsh.’ I think the gritty nature of it might have been what made some viewers uncomfortable.
Phillips emphasizes that he intended to deliver a comparable message in the sequel, and this is notably demonstrated during a courtroom scene where Arthur interrogates Gary (played by Leigh Gill). In this particular scene, Gary has been deeply affected by the violence Arthur displayed in the initial film – mercilessly slaying a man in his presence. This incident marks a significant turning point for Arthur.
In the film, it’s been about two or three years since the events took place, and Gary continues to struggle with insomnia. Additionally, he hasn’t returned to work yet. According to Phillips, this scene aims to depict some of the lingering effects of violence from the storyline, although the topic of toxic fandom wasn’t directly explored in this particular scene. However, it does spark an interesting thought about addressing such issues in future projects.
In Folie à Deux, there’s a significant turn of events where Arthur confesses to his wrongdoings and relinquishes his Joker identity. This causes Lee to leave him, leaving Arthur a solitary figure filled with sadness once more. It’s revealed that he wasn’t the genuine Joker all along.
The film “Folie à Deux” has amassed $120 million globally, yet it’s failing to approach the billion-dollar earnings of the 2019 film, a movie that its sequel wasn’t predicted to rival or outshine in financial success. Despite not achieving the same level of commercial and critical acclaim, directors Phillips and Phoenix likely aren’t concerned, as they each received substantial paychecks for the original production. Reports suggest that Phillips pocketed over $100 million from the first movie due to the specifics of his contract, while Phoenix earned an Academy Award for his role as Joker and the film was nominated for Best Picture.
To learn more about Folie à Deux, explore TopMob’s analysis of the movie’s astonishing finale. Additionally, delve into possible issues that could have arisen during the production of the sequel.
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2024-10-09 18:39