The tragedy of Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) continues... Two years after the events of Joker, Arthur is in Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial for his crimes. There he meets Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga), and a chaotic relationship between the pair begins. But is it Arthur that Lee is interested in, or Joker?
It's both strange, and hardly surprising that what felt like a perfect standalone movie, Joker, got a sequel. Joker: Folie à Deux somehow manages to feel both engaging and rather unnecessary. There's no denying the interest that circulated prior to release - I was certainly interested to catch up with Arthur Fleck, even after Folie à Deux was met with great criticism. But even though I was interested in a sequel, I wouldn't say I was desperate for it to happen. And now there's quite a few people that wish it hadn't, although I'm not sure I'm one of them.
Unsurprisingly, Folie à Deux is a very different movie to its predecessor, even without the musical element. To me this story has always been a tragedy; watching this unnoticed person, who can't even cry for help because no one would notice, get crushed by a heartless society. If the first movie was about Arthur being pushed to the brink of sanity and the birth of Joker, this is the battle of his personalities. Which can feel a bit odd, because at times it's like Arthur isn't doing much at all, he's simply a spectator in his own story, along for the ride. In some ways his return can feel a little underwhelming, even if it makes sense to find him where we do at the start of the movie.
The interesting part is seeing the man who felt unnoticed and unappreciated, dealing with sudden popularity and fame. While also struggling to be this persona he has created. Of course, his fans want him to be Joker, but is that who he really is? Joaquin Phoenix once again does an incredible job of bringing the very troubled Arthur to life. Much like before, his portrayal is about as far from a comic book as you can get. And even though he may have adopted a pseudonym associated with one of Gotham City's most notorious criminals, Phoenix humanises Arthur, showing him to be this regular guy. So much so that despite all he's done, you can't help feeling sorry for him.
Those feelings of pity only amplify when 'Lee' comes into his life. Lady Gaga is perfectly unhinged as the Joker obsessed Lee Quinzel. The chemistry between her and Phoenix is electric, and it's not long before you're imagining all of the chaos the pair could cause. What didn't work, however, is the musical side of things. Don't get me wrong, it was all very well done, Lady Gaga is undeniably an excellent singer and Phoenix does well to hold his own opposite her. But it kills any sense of mystery. Whereas before you were seeing the world from his point of view, leaving you wondering what is real and what is fantasy, now it's plain as day because everyone of Arthur's fantasies is a musical number. That said, there is at least some mystery in where all this is going.
Ultimately, I'm not sure I agree with Todd Phillips idea that in this world, rather than being *The* Joker, Arthur could be the guy that inspired him. The Clown Prince of Gotham never seemed like the type to borrow another guy's act. Although I never saw Arthur's Joker going up against Batman either. To me, the Arthur Fleck story was more of an examination or commentary on the ills of our society through a known and established character; Joker. But a Joker in a far flung corner of the multiverse. And that's why I think Folie à Deux works for me, on some level, anyway. Because this isn't about him becoming a super villain, it's about a man who snapped, and his continued suffering.
It lacks the punch of the first movie, and the musical stylings kill any sense of mystery, but the tragedy of Arthur Fleck continues to be a gripping affair.
7/10
What did you think of Joker: Folie à Deux? Leave a comment below or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Threads. You can also email us at moviemoustache@gmail.com.
Comments
Post a Comment