The highly anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed 2019 film Joker is out now in theaters; unfortunately, its critical and commercial reception has been less than stellar. Joker: Folie á Deux subverts expectations in a multitude of ways. The film, directed once again by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix as the titular character, is a jukebox musical. With Lady Gaga co-starring in the film opposite Phoenix, general audiences should’ve expected as much; however, many fans have been disappointed by the film’s unique take on presenting the madness of the Joker. Despite the outpouring of hate from critics and fans alike, I found Joker: Folie á Deux to be really great. It has some problems, sure, but it is nowhere near as bad as many have made it out to be.
Joker: Folie á Deux picks up approximately two years after the end of the first movie, with Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) being incarcerated for the crimes he committed under the name “Joker”. While in prison, Arthur meets Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) in a music class, and the two quickly form an unbreakable bond. The film follows two major plot lines from here: Arthur’s experiences in prison with an abusive head guard (Brendan Gleeson) and his court appearances for his murder trial. As such, there is a lot less going on in this movie than the first movie in terms of plot. To combat this seemingly barebones plot, there are plenty of musical sequences spread out between court scenes and jail scenes. The biggest criticism I can throw at the movie is that its pacing can be repetitive at times, with the order almost always being courtroom, jail, song: courtroom, jail, song. I was never bored by the film, I just believe it could’ve been a bit shorter and more concise.
This film loses many audiences in three specific categories: the music, Arthur’s inner turmoil, and the film’s ending. Without spoilers, I found all three aspects of the film to work quite well; however, for many, these aspects completely ruin the film. What appeals to me most about these aspects is that they are unafraid to embrace the uniqueness of this Joker story. As evidenced by the first movie, Phillips’ portrayal of Joker is not the “clown prince of crime” that he is in Batman’s stories: he is far more realistic. This Joker is someone you can imagine existing in our world. Arthur, despite clearly being a violent person, is a sympathetic character. When he is hurt the audience feels for him. Many people went into Joker: Folie á Deux expecting Arthur to become the Joker they know from the comics, and left very disappointed when that is unfulfilled. In terms of the film’s ending, I personally liked it as it is true to this world and this specific Joker story; but, I can see why some may feel let down by what these two movies culminate in.
Beyond these three controversial parts of the movie, Joker: Folie á Deux excels on a purely technical level. The film is shot and edited with finesse, bringing this world to life. Namely, the musical sections are standout. The colors, sounds and sights of these scenes are some of the most memorable from the movie as a whole. My favorite sequence is when Arthur imagines himself dancing and singing around the courtroom, lamenting how he is always looked down upon. Every song in the movie is a cover of classic songs such as “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra, sung masterfully by (mostly) Gaga and (sometimes) Phoenix. The two leads play off of each other very well and once again Lady Gaga cements herself as a great actor.
In conclusion, despite its largely negative reception, Joker: Folie á Deux is a captivating story about identity, social tension, and mental health. Arthur is an extremely interesting character whose inner turmoil is presented in a unique manner: through music. Let me be clear: Arthur is not a good person. In truth, though, he is a sympathetic character that makes the audience reflect on how society perceives people with mental illness. It makes the audience wonder: had Arthur gotten the help he needed in the first place, would he have committed the crimes he did? Is the Joker another personality of Arthur’s, or just a mask to hide behind? With Arthur’s failing mental state, what is real and what is fantasy? If you aren’t interested in these questions, and would much prefer a movie where Joker commits crimes and brings terror to Gotham City, then this film is not for you. If, however, you are interested in getting these questions answered in a slow-burn thriller with some musical elements on the side, this movie is right up your alley. I rate Joker: Folie á Deux an 8/10.
