If you have not seen the 2019 Joker film directed by Todd Phillips, please do yourself a favor and watch that film before viewing the sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux, that arrives in theaters October 4th – you will be happier with the first film and storytelling from Phillips, Scott Silver and Bob Kane, with Joaquin Phoenix portraying the protagonist. He won an Academy Award, for sure. The sequel is good from the same director and writers, but as much as I love the music in the film not called a musical, it does not appeal the same as the first script does.
Joker: Folie à Deux shows the audience that Arthur “Joker” Fleck (Phoenix) is held at the Arkham State Hospital in the maximum-security wing. He is awaiting trial for the murder of five people, including talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro). As to be expected, he is on medication and very quiet with little to say – especially no jokes for the lead Irish guard Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson, excellent in his role). Life is dull until he is escorted to another wing and makes eye contact with Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga), a non-maximum-security patient who makes sure she connects with him.
While the audience sees some of their relationship with Lee begin to develop, much of the film appears to be a courtroom drama, returning to Arthur’s trial, the jail cell and a musical number – more than once. He is represented by Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener) as she presents information about his past as an abused child to use for the insanity plea. Gotham City district attorney, Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) opposes and insists that Arthur is not insane, pushing for the death penalty.
Phoenix and Gaga are great in their scenes of madness and fantasy – an escape from what they have lived in the past, their current life and what can be when they are together. They imagine singing and dancing, orchestra and all, to music from the 50s and other decades, including “Get Happy,” “That’s Life,” and “If My Friends Could See Me Now.” Lee (Gaga) is enamored with Arthur/Joker who she learned about from watching a movie about his life. She wants to be part of that world and claim they are madly in love, proclaiming loudly to the media outside of a courthouse. She gets the limelight then. But will the fantasy/obsession last? Lady Gaga is excellent in the role, and of course, in all musical numbers.
Lady Gaga has released a companion album titled Harlequin. Her name is Lee in this movie, and I do not recall she was ever called “Harley Quinn” in the film.
The film is rated R and has a runtime of two hours and 18 minutes. Catch the film on the next discount day in your local cinema.
Joker: Folie à Deux opens in theaters Oct. 4.
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
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