Dir: Todd Phillips
Studio: Warner Bros. & DC Studios
Review by: Robbie Fleming
It pains me to say that Joker (2019) was the last film from DC that I truly enjoyed because it shined for me thanks to its unique style and more nuanced portrayal of the iconic Batman villain. I also thought it was a perfect stand-alone film that didn't require a sequel. However, Joker: Folie a Deux came out 5 years later and honestly, I was extremely sceptical about it as I didn't know how it would play out.
In Joker: Folie a Deux, we see Arthur Fleck, 2 years after the first film's events, awaiting trial for his crime whilst in custody at Arkham State Hospital. There, he meets another inmate there called Harleen "Lee" Quinzel (played by Lady Gaga), who he seems to grow affection for. Oh wait, did I also mention this film is a musical?
Was it worth the watch? Is it a worthy sequel? Here are my thoughts on Joker: Folie a Deux (or “Joker 2: The Musical” as I call it)
The only aspect of the film I thought was an improvement over the first film was the visual style. The production design felt real and Imaginative, in how it immerses you in the setting of the film. The cinematography was the grand highlight as each shot and frame feels like a painting as it captures the gritty reality and the colourful fantasy sequences beautifully. If this film only gets 1 nomination, I hope it gets one for cinematography as it felt like the saving grace of the film for me.
Before the film started, there was an animated short, directed by Triplets of Belleville director Sylvain Chomet, in the style of a Looney Tunes cartoon about Joker fighting his shadow. I thought this was a fun beginning playing homage to how animated shorts used to play at the start of the film. Whilst it was also a unique and interesting way of opening the film, I just think they should of played it into the film
Reprising his Oscar-winning role from the first film, Joaquin Phoenix delivers another solid performance as Fleck and carries the film by embodying the role. Despite being more of a supporting player rather than a co-lead, Lady Gaga delivers an interesting portrayal of Harley Quinn but nothing special compared to Margot Robbie’s version in previous DC Films. I also praise Catherine Keener and Brendan Gleeson for their performances in the film and it was nice to see Zazie Beetz and Leigh Gill also return from the first film.
I get that fans of comic book films aren’t big on musicals and don’t want to see a musical but it's one of the aspects that drew me into the film. I liked it when the musical sequences were in his head but the scenes where Arthur was singing in reality were a bit poor. However, there were a few solid needle drops in the film including the original version of one of my favourite songs, Dancing in the Moonlight.
Whilst, Hildur Guðnadóttir’s score was another grand highlight of the first film, her score in this film feels completely overlooked because of the musical numbers and needle drops. Her score doesn't really drive the film forward like her score for the first film did and honestly, feels instantly forgettable, which is a shame because of how talented she is as a composer.
Now let's get on with the big flaw of the film, the writing. I felt like there were too many plots going on at once and it felt a bit too convoluted. Whilst the courtroom storyline was interesting, the whole plot involving Arthur and Lee’s love story felt underwritten with Lee’s role in the film feeling too small. I also found some of the parts where he's in prison to be a bit boring at times too as it felt too generic.
If I were to rewrite the film, I’d make the courtroom drama elements more of the main plot and make it more of a commentary on high-profile courtroom cases (like the OJ Simpson trial or the recent Johnny Depp, Amber Heard trial). I’d still have the courtroom scenes play out the same way but have it be the main focus.
I don’t fault Todd Phillips' directing for being the overall blame for the film’s problem, he's a great director who knows how to make a functional film. I honestly think he tried his best to continue Arthur’s storyline and make another unique take on comic book characters. I blame Warner Bros for pushing for a sequel since the first film made a ton of money! I’ve followed Philip’s career for many years and I can honestly say, this is far from his worst film, just not his best.
Overall, Joker: Folie a Deux does have its flaws in terms of its plotlines, characters and musical score, I don’t think the film is a completely bad film. The cinematography, production design, musical numbers and performances stand out to help make the film bearable. I don’t see it as DC’s worst film as it's a stronger film than Green Lantern and most of the worst films that came out of the DCEU. However, it doesn't reach the same heights or have the same impact the first Joker film did and I can see why many viewers find it a massive step down.
For me, I give Joker: Folie a Deux a rating of 7/10 and a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Far from the worst film I've seen this year but it certainly is not in my top 10.
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