“Joker: Folie à deux” is a wooden genre experiment
Published 2024-10-02 11.46
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full screen”Joker: Folie à deux” Photo: Niko Tavernise & Dc Comics
Joker: Folie à deux
Directed by Todd Phillips, with Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan
MOVIE REVIEW. Joaquin Phoenix is back in the Joker role that won him an Oscar, now alongside Lady Gaga.
THRILLER/MUSICAL. “Joker: Folie à deux” kicks off at a hysterical pace, with an animated this-has-happened sequence in classic Looney Tunes style. The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) is awaiting trial for the five (six) murders he committed in the previous film, and has since recently become a celebrity and gained an even bigger fan base.
Then the curtain rises, and behind it sits the Joker, bony, crooked and worn in cell E258 in Arkham’s psych ward. Mocked by the guards (among others Brendan Gleeson) and the other inmates, while his lawyer (Catherine Keener) has brought in psychologists to base the defense on the fact that, due to his childhood traumas, he was forced to split his personality into two.
With a possible death sentence hanging over his head, the Joker meets (Har)Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) at the prison’s music therapy and immediately falls in love. Together with her, he feels less alone, together, according to her, they will accomplish great deeds.
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full screen Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker Photo: Niko Tavernise
“Joker” was a beyond dark and harrowing film about a lonely, depressed and broken man who boiled over, a visually magnificent mix of comic book and Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi driver” and “King of comedy”.
Here they have taken it in a completely different direction and made the sequel a thriller musical with songs like “Get happy”, “What the world needs now” and “That’s life”. Why is unclear, since the result has been a gimmick fest that holds up neither as a thriller nor a musical. Most of all, you get the feeling of a wooden but lavish playhouse and ditto genre experiment.
In the main roles: one who can’t sing and one who can’t act with any further work height. Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn easily stands up to Margot Robbie’s in the “Suicide squad” films and “Birds of prey”.
One wonders who “Joker: Folie à deux” is really for. Not for the series fans. Not for the musical fans. Possibly for the hardcore Lady Gaga fans. Regardless: if you’re going to see it, you should definitely see it on the big screen.
Even if the visuals feel wasted in context, this Joker is also an experience for the eyes, and here too there are scenes that stay with you. Just not nearly as many.
Shown in cinemas.
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full screen “Singin’ in the rain” Photo: Mgm
Also be sure to see…
… “Singin’ in the rain” – and see a proper musical.
Did you know that…
… the Looney Tunes-inspired opening sequence is animated by “Belleville Trio” director Sylvain Chomet?
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