REVIEW: Joker Folie a Deux: Todd Phillips’s direction is excellently crafted yet the story is far too restricted

Written by on 7th October 2024

If you cast your mind back to 2019, Joker came bulldozing into the spotlight for various reasons, some good, some bad. It broke box-office records and earned $1 billion dollars on a $65 million dollar budget (the only film to have grossed that much on a budget that low). However, not only did the film prove divisive among critics, but it also sparked widespread controversy due to its message and portrayal of violence in society, as some viewed the film as inciting crime. At the time director Todd Phillips, the man who brought you The Hangover films, said the film would have no sequel and serve as a standalone. One thing is always for certain in Hollywood though, money talks. Fast forward five-years, we now have Joker: Folie a Deux. Why? Well, because the numbers say so.

Joker: Folie a Deux takes place in Arkham State Hospital, where Arthur Fleck aka Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) is awaiting a hearing to determine if he was suffering from mental illness and therefore not guilty of murder. Here, he meets Harley ‘Lee’ Quinzel (Lady Gaga), and the two instantly fall for each other. From then on, a strange and fantastical relationship begins to blossom.

Viewers will have to overcome the fact that a sequel was not anticipated, which I sadly was unable to do. Whilst I was very impressed with Todd Phillip’s execution (I for one believe he has has proved himself as a proper filmmaker because of Joker and this sequel), the film still remains very flawed. Joker: Folie a Deux’s biggest task and obstacle is convincing you why it is that it exists other than for financial profit and gain. It did not convince me in the slightest. That is all thanks to the weak story, which just does not have enough meat on its bones.

It seems as though the film has shot itself in the foot, at least in my eyes. Despite its mixed reception, I was very impressed by the first film. A dirty, dark and gritty Martin Scorsese-eque (who served as a producer on that in fact) story about a man’s self-destruction that reveled in a bleak and unforgiving 1970s New York setting and called to mind iconic masterpieces such as Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. The film featured one of the best scores I’ve heard in a mainstream Hollywood flick, thanks to composer Hildur Guonadottir, who’s soundtrack I had on very hard rotation at the time and which helped to give the film significant emotion and atmosphere. I would say she was one of the driving forces that made the film work so well.

Folie a Deux has a lot on its plate given what came before, and it can’t live up to any of it. One of the few saving graces is Guonadottir once again, who elevates most scenes with another mesmerizing array of music. If you are aware of the director’s statements about not wanting to do a sequel, that makes it all the more frustrating. The plot is philosophically and geographically confined, too much so for my satisfaction. Very little happens and nothing sticks with you, and it is repetitive in attempting to deal with it themes. Its empty and frankly rather boring. In the end, I don’t agree with the story direction they’ve gone for nor do I think it was strong enough, especially when following on from what Joker’s plot achieved.

How they’ve managed to stretched to two hours and eighteen minutes is impressive, but bear in mind they are fifteen songs that are performed. Making this a musical was an intriguing choice, a choice I remain conflicted about. The film does at least revel in its madness and uses musical set pieces to convey this, so at least there is a sense of self-awareness in what it is trying to do. In a world where so much superhero / comic book material exists and everything is the same, one could also say that is admirably brave that this is the only comic book film to feature musical elements. Phoenix (who won an Oscar for Joker) and Gaga are very good and have great chemistry and you do believe in their relationship.

Brendan Gleeson, who plays a tough and gruff prison guard, is also a standout. Whilst he still gives a dedicated performance, I couldn’t help but detect a slight feeling of reluctance on Phoenix’s part, as he too must be aware that this is not really heading anywhere. Much like the DCEU (DC Extended Universe) that came before and failed so terribly, Joker ends with a disappointing whimper.

Overall, this is a forced sequel brought about solely because the finances said it needed to exist. As miserable and bleak as the first one was, it did try hard for what it was trying to accomplish, rather well in my opinion. This does not feel as though it has any of the heart or soul as its predecessor.

5/10

In cinemas now.


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