As a movie critic who has been around long enough to remember when “Joker” was first released and the ensuing hullabaloo it caused, I must say that its sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux,” feels more like a desperate attempt to cash in on the controversy than a genuine effort to tell a compelling story.
When the film Joker was released in 2019, it sparked intense debate due to concerns about its possible influence on violent behavior, bordering on moral hysteria. This reaction wasn’t unfounded. Todd Phillips’s unique take on a comic book origin story set in a Gotham City reminiscent of the 1970s New York, drawing inspiration from films like Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, portrayed the transformation of failed comedian Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) into a killer. The film’s portrayal of a disenfranchised outcast who resorts to violence and wears clown makeup resonated with certain online subcultures, such as edgelord 4chan memes, and was linked to the 2012 Aurora mass shooting at a screening of The Dark Knight Rises. Although it wasn’t directly inspired by the DC villain, due to an inaccurate statement from then–New York police commissioner Ray Kelly, the film remains associated with the character. Fortunately, Joker did not prove to be dangerous. Instead, it became a box office success, a deliberately ambiguous movie that boasted of psychological depth but didn’t necessarily demonstrate deep thinking, positioning itself as more intelligent than typical blockbusters
It’s possible that Todd Phillips might have been influenced more by public discourse surrounding the original “Joker” movie rather than having a clear concept for the sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux.” The storyline we see is significantly shaped by reactions to the first film and its events. Two years after Arthur, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, murdered talk-show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) on live television, sparking sympathetic riots, he finds himself in a high-security ward at Arkham State Hospital, where he’s been heavily medicated. Despite being repeatedly declared mentally competent, Arthur is finally set for trial for the murders (including his mother), an event that becomes a media spectacle and further elevates him to folk hero status among nihilistic outcasts who rally outside the courthouse in support
In the musical “Folie à Deux,” the irony lies in its jukebox nature, as it features songs ranging from Stevie Wonder to MGM classics, yet it seems intent on minimizing enjoyment from its melodies and dances. However, an exception arises when Arthur attends a movie-night screening of the 1953 film “The Band Wagon” featuring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse. This scene primarily involves less-secure patients such as Harley “Lee” Quinn, portrayed by Lady Gaga. They first encounter each other in the hallway, with Lee mimicking a self-shooting gesture while Arthur is escorted away by guards. Their relationship deepens during one of the institution’s music classes
Initially, “Folie à Deux” provides a captivating image: a bird’s eye view of Arthur being escorted through the rain by four guards carrying colorful umbrellas, only to discover that they are actually black when viewed from behind. However, the film tends to shy away from such intriguing jumps into fantasy, despite its musical scenes allegedly symbolizing the romantic illusions shared by Arthur and Lee. If Phillips aimed for these instances to feel more melodic rather than abrupt, like in “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” he might have considered that the visually striking Jacques Demy musical could have enhanced this effect. In its persistent gloom, “Folie à Deux” places Gaga in a visitation booth where she tries to feign not being able to shatter the plexiglass walls with her performance of “Close to You.” This is unfortunate use of her talent, though the courtroom-style Harley Quinn outfit she adopts towards the end, which is bound to inspire numerous imitators during Halloween, is unavoidable. Gaga’s Lee character, however, is not an equal collaborator with Arthur but rather a decorative element in his tragic tale – a high-powered, eerie-eyed interpretation of a serial killer groupie
As a movie enthusiast, I found “Joker: Folie à Deux” to be Arthur’s story, yet I couldn’t help but feel that Arthur himself was not particularly captivating, despite the remarkable effort put in by Phoenix in portraying him as a tormented soul, both mentally and physically. In this film, Arthur seems like an empty canvas upon which others project their desires. According to his devoted lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (played by Catherine Keener), he has a dual personality. On the other hand, DA Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) views him as a fraud feigning mental illness. To his fans, including Lee, who witnessed his murder of Murray Franklin, Arthur is a charismatic provocateur who makes the world feel less lonely
Read More
- The Last Epoch Dilemma: Confronting the Gold Dupe Crisis
- UFO PREDICTION. UFO cryptocurrency
- BONE PREDICTION. BONE cryptocurrency
- Diablo Accomplishments: Epic Journey Through the Pit and Beyond
- Last Epoch: Why Keystroke Registration Issues Are Frustrating Players
- Celebrating Hu Tao’s Birthday in Genshin Impact
- Michelle Yeoh Will Not Appear in ‘Avatar 3,’ Says James Cameron: ‘She’s in 4 and 5’
- PBX PREDICTION. PBX cryptocurrency
- Skull and Bones: Gamers’ Frustrations with Ubisoft’s Premium Content Delivery
- EUR INR PREDICTION
2024-09-04 22:04