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Joker: Folie à Deux Review - What if Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga danced through Gotham in an Imtiaz Ali tale?

Joker: Folie à Deux dares to do what the comic nerds hate the most, take two legendary anti-heroes and tell their story away from the superhero clutter and it falters too.

3.5/5
Shubham Kulkarni
Oct 02, 2024
Joker: Folie à Deux Review - What if Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga danced through Gotham in an Imtiaz Ali tale?

Joker: Folie à Deux Movie Review

Joker

Joker: Folie à Deux Review: Plot: Arthur Fleck, aka Joker, aka The Clown Prince of Crime (Joaquin Phoenix), is now in Arkham Asylum after he killed five people, including talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) on live television—and six if you include his mother. He awaits the trial that will decide his punishment. While his attorney continues to convince the world that he has bipolar disorder, Arthur meets Lee, aka Harley Quinzel (Lady Gaga). Their detachment from the real world and love for chaos make them fall for each other, but the prison stands between them, and music cannot break them free from it as it liberates their souls. So, what do they do? 

Joker: Folie à Deux Review: Analysis

Comic books are holy grimoires for nerds who have consumed them word for word, cover to cover, taking in every bit of illustration. They will not easily let someone snatch characters from their fantasy world and tell stories that are not in sync with what they have cherished so far. Either the filmmaker must be a genius like Todd Phillips, who chose to tell a story that took us back in time or have a cunning mind like Matt Reeves, who has blended his tales into universally accepted and praised styles (look how The Penguin resembles The Sopranos). Todd, who gave us Joker (2019) five years ago, takes us back to the '80s, where Arthur is now in Arkham Asylum waiting for trial. The idea that someone could have Joker under the radar of the law, being questioned while building his love story with Harley, is wild and quite brave.

The criminals of Gotham are not easily found testifying, especially with Harvey Dent in the room but against them. Phillips does that by boldly entering uncharted territory. With his Joker writing partner Scott Silver, Phillips envisions a tale that oscillates between a courtroom and Arkham Asylum, making it the entire world for Arthur, who is about to find love in the most unexpected circumstances. Just as he is returning from a session with his attorney, there she is, singing with the choir.

If you're expecting a brutal Arthur who might kill some more people, this is not that film. It is an unapologetic love story of two mad people madly in love with each other. Todd explores a man probably controlled by a shadow, his bipolar disorder, and his mental illness. For this, he references the Joker: Me and My Shadow comic. But does that make him any less of a criminal? Certainly not.

But it is Folie à Deux, which means two people with similar delusional beliefs together. So he meets his Lee—a woman so madly in love with Joker that she wants him to be Joker all the time and never let Arthur take over again. Their romance is so Imtiaz Ali-coded that Indian viewers don’t even need to scratch the surface to see the similarities. She is chasing the man she saw on TV when he killed someone. But when she meets the man behind the mask, who acts normal, she doesn’t want him. Their love is destructive, but for them, it’s the only form of love they know. They even dream of building a mountain when they run away from all of this—a MOUNTAIN. Imtiaz, were you involved?

Also Read: The Penguin Review (Ep 1): Gotham’s never felt more real, and Oz has never been more raw

Joker: Folie à Deux is not intended to be a sequel if you look at it as a standalone movie. It borrows the central conflict from the first film, weaving a journey that dissects the mind of a man who is probably the most messed up in the room while he watches the world form opinions about him being televised. Todd Phillips builds a dam with Arthur that could break at any time—and it does. When it does, Arthur takes matters into his own hands and stands up for himself. This is where the writing misses the mark in the sequel. After Joker takes over Arthur again, triggered by Lee, we expect him to transform into the wild man who casually killed a talk show host. Folie à Deux never lets him go mad again, instead giving him a moment of complete breakdown that brings him back to being Arthur in a randomly placed sequence.

Joker: Folie à Deux picks up the pace when it should slow down. The 20 minutes before the climax feel like a random montage leading to a conclusion that comic fans will criticize for ages. The climax does make you gasp, though. But that doesn’t change the fact that key moments, like the system’s sexual abuse of Arthur, Lee making him realize she has always loved Joker, and Arthur's realization that there’s no way out for him except being Joker, come too fast and pass too quickly. These moments don’t have the impact they should.

Do I need to tell you how phenomenal Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga are? Phoenix knows exactly what being the Clown Prince of Crime means and what it takes to embody him. He never lets Joaquin peep through his performance and elevates the entire film to new levels. Lady Gaga, who knows how to play off the energy Phoenix throws at her, supports him with confidence. She plays a woman convinced that a brutal killer is the man of her dreams, and there’s nothing that can change her mind—what a performer! Brendan Gleeson as Jackie delivers an interesting performance because he’s so unpredictable, and that’s the best part.

Lawrence Sher’s cinematography is top-notch, especially in the sequence where Arthur and Harley briefly break free from the Asylum. The entire sequence is shot brilliantly. Another standout moment is when the lights in the Asylum go out, and you see the silhouette of Arthur lighting a cigarette—brilliance. The music, which creates a parallel world mostly in the head of delusional Arthur, is spot on. Even when the writing fails to balance the musical element with storytelling at times, the songs and scores are still brilliantly composed and executed. Hildur Guðnadóttir deserves praise for showcasing the musical talent of both Gaga and Phoenix.

Joker: Folie à Deux Review: Final Verdict

Joker: Folie à Deux is not as terrific as Joker (2019), but its intent is certainly to tell a story that doesn’t cash in on its predecessor. It falters and lags but is daring and has a beating heart, with two of the most outstanding performances this year from Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga!

Joker: Folie à Deux releases in India on October 2, 2024, and on October 4, 2024, in the rest of the world. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more reviews and updates from the world of streaming and films.

Also Read: Joker 2 ft. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga to be the only live-action DC movie to release in 2024 just like MCU’s Deadpool 3 – Details inside

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Cast and Crew

James P. Harkins

Thomas Wayne's Body Guard

Dj Nino Carta

Orderly

Jason John Cicalese

Protester

Tony D. Head

WGC Anchorman

Jamaal Burcher

Hospital Visitor

Joseph Garner

Olivia Mae Davis

Roger Squitero

Murray Franklin Band

Damian Emmanuel

Street Kid

Xavyer Ureña

Street Kid

Rocco Luna

GiGi Dumond

Alonzo Wright

Murray Franklin Band

Craig Austin

Paramedic

Vito Gerbino

Street Kid

Lou Young

ANC News Reporter

Steven Elson

Murray Franklin Band

Jack Wilkins

Murray Franklin Band

John Alldred

Murray Franklin Band

Adam Quezada

Street Kid

Mick Szal

Woman on Subway

Demetrius Dotson II

Boy on Bus

Richard Baratta

Murray Franklin Band

Emma Tillinger Koskoff

Bradley Cooper

Jessica Lichtner

Sandy Hamilton

Jeff Groth

Scott Silver

Timothy Metzger

John Cashin

Arkham Patient

Brett Cullen

Thomas Wayne

Josh Pais

Hoyt Vaughn

Joaquin Phoenix

Arthur Fleck

Zazie Beetz

Sophie Dumond

Bill Camp

Detective Garrity

Leigh Gill

Gary

Sondra James

Dr. Sally

Douglas Hodge

Alfred Pennyworth

Carrie Louise Putrello

Martha Wayne

Hannah Gross

Young Penny

Brian Tyree Henry

Carl

Michael Benz

Wall Street Three

Gary Gulman

Comedian

Chris Redd

Comedy Club Emcee

Ray Iannicelli

Haha's Clown

Peter Benson

Good Morning Host

Evan Rosado

Street Kid

Mike Troll

Clown Protestor

David Gibson

WBC News Anchor

Jeff McCarthy

NCB Anchor

Michael-Scott Druckenmiller

Paramedic

John Cenatiempo

Aftermath Police Officer

Keith Buterbaugh

Band Leader

Rich Campbell

Murray Franklin Band

Marshall Axt

Theater Goer

Roger Brenner

Gotham City Paramedic

Matt Bruzzio

Protester

Marko Caka

Gala Special Guest

Kadrolsha Ona Carole

Clown Faced Rioter

Blaise Corrigan

Taxi Driver

Helen Darras

Protester

Brandon Essig

Protester

Matthias Sebastiun Garry

Arkham Patient

Brayson Goss

Gotham General Sick Kid

Paul Kulis

MFS Audience

Mark Lotito

Wayne Tower Security

Justin Mahalsky

Murray Franklin Fan

Alexander Mercier

Clown

Josh Mowery

Train Passenger

Mick O'Rourke

Screaming Man

Jon Douglas Rainey

Businessman

Tamiz U. Rezvi

Clown Face Protester

Emmanuel Rodriguez

Protestor

Sacco Sarkis

Police Officer

Stephen Stanton

Gotham Health Commissioner

Frank Stellato

Buddy

Chuck Taber

Delivery Man

Justin Theroux

Ethan Chase

Frankie Verroca

Crazed Homeless Derelict

Gregory Vlachakis

Theatre Special Guest

Julia Weldon

Protestor #1

Lauren Yaffe

Pogo

Robert De Niro

Murray Franklin

Frances Conroy

Penny Fleck

Shea Whigham

Detective Burke

Glenn Fleshler

Randall

Marc Maron

Gene Ufland

Murphy Guyer

Barry O'Donnell

Dante Pereira-Olson

Bruce Wayne

Sharon Washington

Social Worker

Frank Wood

Dr. Stoner

April Grace

Arkham Psychiatrist

Carl Lundstedt

Wall Street Three

Ben Warheit

Wall Street Three

Sam Morril

Open Mic Comic

Mandela Bellamy

Mother on Bus

Greer Barnes

Haha's Clown

Bryan Callen

Haha's Stripper

Jane Fergus

IBN Anchorwoman

Kim Brockington

NCB Co-Anchor

Danny Schoch

Aftermath Police Officer

James Ciccone

Murray Franklin Band

Graham Maby

Murray Franklin Band

Alissa Bourne

Anna

Winslow Bright

Young Woman at Wayne Tower

Brendan Patrick Connor

Mr. Slotnick

Mark Falvo

Protester

Michael James Fry

Protester

Dennis Jay Funny

Gotham Citizen

Alexandra Lopez Galan

Protester and Gotham Pedestrian

Ben Heyman

Protestor

David Iacono

Flirting Man on the Bus

Sean Kilkenny

Protester

Bob Leszczak

Commuter

Adrienne Lovette

Middle Aged Woman

Mary Kate Malat

Murray Franklin Intern

Scott Martin

Homeless Derelict

Nathan Nauroth

Gotham City Pedestrian

Joe Ochman

Business Man

Annie Pisapia

Pedestrian

Jivan Xander Ramesh

Bronx School Kid

Steven Rimdzius

Sexy Criminal #4

Ray Rosario

Arkham Patient

Shade Rupe

Bartender

Jesse Schratz

Gotham City Sick Kid

Jimmy Star

Clown Faced Rioter

Thomas W. Stewart

Subway Rider

Zak Takowsky

Pedestrian

Vincent Tumeo

Gala Guest

Matthew Vincini

Protester

Jaidon Walls

Kid

Jaine Ye

Protestor

David Berry

Hoodrat

Gary Curasi

Taxi Driver