It seems that what is broken is best to erase it from one’s life and remember it in its prime and all its glory, than to see every morning stuck, injured, decayed.
While in Arkham Asylum, Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) meets Harley Quinn, a psychiatrist who is fascinated by his disturbed personality. Lady Gaga embodies Queen with a chaotic energy, characterized by vulnerability and obsession. The film highlights Harley’s gradual descent into madness as she is drawn into Arthur’s world, transitioning from cool psychiatrist to willing partner of the Joker.
Joker: Madness for Two, directed by Todd Phillips, who co-wrote the screenplay with Scott Silver, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The director uses the couple’s relationship to examine co-dependency, delusion and shared psychosis. The union of the Joker and Quinn turns into an explosive dance of mutual destruction, enhanced by the musical scenes that sometimes harmoniously sometimes not, with the chaotic narrative. The musical aspect serves as a metaphorical expression of their twisted mind, turning moments of violence and madness into dark theatrical settings. The result is a world where the line between reality and delusion is constantly blurred, a fact enhanced by the writers’ choice to incorporate surreal elements, such as the fictional TV show they co-host.
The setting of the film further enhances this sense of frustration. Gotham remains an oppressive, crumbling society. But this time, with the menacing anti-hero Joker and Quinn seemingly thriving in their delusion, they become public figures in their own minds – reveling in the anarchy they cause. The pair imagine themselves as media darlings, enjoying a fantasy world where they are the adored faces of a broken system. These scenes are imbued with irony, highlighting their disconnection from reality and the true horror of their actions.
Zazie Beach returns briefly as Sophie Dumont, offering a small reminder of Arthur’s tragic past and his inability to form healthy human relationships. Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener star in major roles in the film, with Gleeson playing a key figure within Arkham and Keener as an authoritative voice trying to combat the madness spreading across Gotham.
“Joker: Madness for Two” deepens the character study of the Joker, exploring themes of obsession, identity and common delusion. The creators’ risky choice to introduce musical elements into a psychological thriller pays off, turning this sequel into a hauntingly operatic spectacle of madness. But it seems that the rhythm and interest is lost in some places, especially in the middle of the film. Phoenix and Gaga’s performances form the backbone of the film, which becomes both a love story and a disturbing exploration of psychosis.
Her bold choice to combine a psychological thriller with musical theater is one of the film’s major achievements. The musical numbers, while unexpected, serve as a surreal extension of the Joker’s fractured mind, peering into his delusional world. Joaquin Phoenix gives another strong performance, investing his character with disturbing undertones, further elevating Arthur Fleck’s descent into madness. Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn is both chaotic and magnetic, capturing the essence of the character’s maniacal yet romantic devotion to the Joker.
Directed by Todd Phillips Todd brings out all the grimy, decadent grandeur of Gotham City. The film’s use of vivid color contrasts and dream sequences effectively contrasts Arthur’s bleak reality with the surreal imaginings of the musical scenes. The addition of returning cast member Zazie Beach, as well as Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener adds layers to the story, particularly through the exploration of power dynamics and social alienation.
However, the film’s mixing of genres can be disorienting. The musical sections, while artistically ambitious, can seem disjointed, pushing us out of the tense psychological narrative. Additionally, the film’s pacing drags at some points, particularly in the film’s middle act, where the plot feels more like an exercise in style than substance. But subtlety and elegance are very important things in life, because the best style is the one that doesn’t scream, isn’t even noticeable.
#Dark #unconnected #codependencies
