Joker: Folie à Deux

Let me start by saying, I thought Joker: Folie à Deux was excellent. Despite masses flooding to social media to slam some of the choices made for this film following the success of the first, I would hedge my bets that the negative reaction falls down to two issues.

Firstly, in comparison with the first, the action sequences in this sequel are few and far between. If audiences are anticipating more violent and crazed murders in the public eye then they will be left underwhelmed.

Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, the film’s timing aligns with a growing trend in cinema: movies that downplay their musical elements in marketing, only to surprise viewers with a musical-heavy narrative. Joker: Folie à Deux is the latest example of this, failing to fully prepare audiences for the extent to which music drives Arthur Fleck's next chapter. Given the surge of poorly received movie musicals in recent years, some viewers may feel misled, fearing another subpar experience. Had the film been clearer in its intent to tell this story through music then perhaps it may have had a warmer reaction, at the risk of losing out on box office sales. Instead fans that have found out through social media have been left outraged with some unwilling to give it a chance. Despite a theme of the film being bands of inmates chanting 'When the saints go marching in' it seems the only thing marching out is disappointed fans. But honestly- considering lady gaga is a key part of this project- what were people expecting?

I won't deny that I am a big musical theatre fan (so perhaps I am biased?) and that the prospect of songs being used to further understand Arthur Fleck's mind was intriguing. It wasn't long after the film began that it also became clear that the films intent and focus was to dissect and battle with Arthur Fleck's psychological state and question his sanity and awareness of his actions that led to his imprisonment. It’s crucial to have seen the original Joker to fully grasp the ongoing question: are Arthur’s violent actions the result of a psychopathic mind shaped by abuse and a traumatic upbringing, or is the "Joker" persona a separate entity born from his trauma, acting independently of his conscious self? This ambiguity is left open to interpretation, but the use of music and performance offers a compelling and entertaining way to explore Arthur’s inner psyche and his desired outcomes during raw and exposing moments for him.

The musical sequences are not just a stylistic choice but an artistic means of expressing Arthur’s raw emotions and fractured mental state. Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga deliver masterful performances, particularly through song, using music as a vehicle to portray vulnerability and intensity. A standout moment for me was Todd Phillip's direction of For Once in My Life, which allowed Phoenix to skilfully convey the gap between Arthur's reality and his inner monologue. This was further highlighted in his haunting performance of Bewitched, that further contrasted Arthur’s outward presentation with his inner turmoil.

All the choices of music also felt like incredibly smart and suitable choices considering that they were not written for the film but in fact were carefully, cleverly selected to narrate Joker and Harley Quinn (Lee Quinzel)'s story. As the film progresses, I appreciated how the showbiz element of the songs intensified. After all, Joker is an entertainer at heart, and his fantasy of being in a setting reminiscent of The Sonny & Cher Show seemed a natural extension of how he projected his feelings toward Quinzel.

Together on screen, Gaga and Pheonix, are wonderful in portraying the characters influence on one another & their eventual unravelling as a disturbed and maddening couple. Their shared optimism and insanely warped view on the world, heavily influenced by Gaga's character, is powerful in driving the plot and keeping me invested in the outcome of their story. Harley Quinn's development was delightful to see unravel but I was left with so many questions regarding Quinzel's actions. This character really felt unresolved for me as it was incredibly difficult to decipher the characters intentions and motives, but was entertaining and gripping nonetheless. I do wish that more answers were given regarding her circumstances but I am curious as to whether this has been left open for a potential spin-off. Even if this was the idea I am unsure that this will ever be realised due to the reception to this film but is something I would have been interested to see given how much I enjoyed Lady Gaga's take on this character. Gaga's performance during If my friends could see me now was wild, energetic and excellent in portraying a subject in which Joker was able to find magnetic & as the film progressed Gaga was able to finely portray the character arc of Quinzel, her manipulating actions and quickly evolving feelings for Fleck.

That said, as the film progressed, the musical numbers began to feel less essential. At times, it seemed the songs were included more for stylistic consistency than to advance the plot. Instead of wondering what would happen next, I found myself anticipating when the next song would begin. This interrupted the flow of the plot as the film went on as the songs no longer seemed necessary in driving the plot. From this perspective I do understand some of the negative reactions to the musical choices in the film but it didn't hugely disrupt my enjoyment. I would absolutely recommend that people to see the film but with realistic expectations. This film takes a more introspective, stylistic approach to exploring Joker's story, and it’s important to recognise that going in.

© Warner Bros Pictures