‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ REVIEW: All dies, no smiles
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ REVIEW: All dies, no smiles
Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) basking in the rain from Joker: Folie à Deux | Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
It took me a while to put my thoughts into words. Aside from being busy, I frankly didn’t know what to say about Joker: Folie à Deux when I first saw it. I have mentioned before that this was my most anticipated film of the year. Not because I’m a fan of the comics or the first film, but as a Little Monster, I have longed to watch this sequel since Lady Gaga was announced to play the role of Lee Quinzel.
Ask any fan of the musician-actress, and they’ll say that the days leading up to the release of this movie have been nothing but delightful. Lady Gaga used what she knows best to promote the film, releasing the companion album Harlequin, an exceptional work of art — something Joker: Folie à Deux isn’t.
And unlike the smash hit of a song Die With A Smile, the movie is a complete washout. I am not even speaking in terms of box office, but just how it’s got pretentiousness and mediocrity all over it. I can’t remember how many times I was laughing in the theater because of how terrible it was, and what’s frustrating is that I wanted it so badly to be good.
Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga) and Arthur in his Joker makeup from Joker: Folie à Deux | Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
Joker: Folie à Deux is guilty of the first film’s sin — trying so hard to be deep. At least in that one, there was an aim to tell a compelling story that Joaquin Phoenix even won an Oscar for. But you can’t use music as a guise for shallowness (see what I did there?). Every song felt ingenuine, and whenever Joaquin Phoenix or Lady Gaga bursts into a performance, you’ll hear a “Not again!” from the audience.
No, I don’t see this as people hating it for being a musical; I, for one, adore such films. What’s bugging me is why they tried to hide that in the first place when it’s central to their characters. I can see why they didn’t care enough to highlight that it’s also a legal drama, but it’s a musical through and through. I just know that an alternative version of this film exists in another universe where it succeeds in attempting to be an homage to musicals or old Hollywood in general, bringing more people to love Gene Kelly and even Jacques Demy.
It’s this lack of commitment that brings the movie to its downfall. Halfheartedness serves no one but indolence, and you can’t blame people when they’re left wanting. If the first film was good in its character study, this one clearly went above and beyond with character assassination, making you question what the purpose of all of this is.
Joker: Folie à Deux can ride the waves of the first film’s success and Lady Gaga’s bankability and star power, but it will never change the fact that it’s a forced and unnecessary sequel. Some have tried to justify bits and pieces (that disastrous ending in particular) through different theories. I say it’s all a bunch of nonsense. And to Lady Gaga: mother, please get better film projects.
‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ is still screening in select cinemas nationwide.
