Joaquin Phoenix returns to the DC Universe as failed comedian Arthur Fleck in the musical drama “Joker: Folie a Deux.” The addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn adds yet another comic book favorite, and Director Todd Phillips provides a brand new avenue into the twisted mind of the institutionalized Joker as he grapples between his fantasy world and the dreary reality within Gotham City.
“Joker: Folie a Deux” serves as a sequel to the 2019 film “Joker,” which became the first R-rated movie to gross over one billion dollars worldwide, receiving wide acclaim from both audiences and critics. Many fans hoped the sequel would continue developing the chaotic Joker as he tears through Gotham City — this time alongside Harley Quinn. However, “Folie a Deux” centers on the internal battle within Arthur Fleck as he comes to terms with his delusions and fantasies.
In “Folie a Deux,” Phoenix’s Joker completely subverts audience expectations. This is not the same fan-favorite character that we’ve seen in the comics and other film portrayals. He is not the martyr that the troubled citizens of Gotham have made him out to be. He is not the hysterical villain that runs rampant through the city committing countless heinous crimes; he is not the Joker at all. Just like any other citizen of Gotham, Arthur Fleck is a man who finds himself sick and helpless within the desolate city.
Throughout the movie, Phillips illustrates a hopeless love story between the people of Gotham and Arthur Fleck as he is put on a televised trial. The public’s infatuation with the character of Joker as a symbol of rebellion for the people of Gotham leaves Fleck behind to deal with the harsh consequences of his actions.
In his fantasy, Fleck’s Joker persona — one which he created to cope with his own trauma and depleting mental state — is on top of the world. Widely renowned and celebrated as a performer, Joker works with Harley Quinn to entertain their die-hard fans in a series of cutaway scenes throughout the movie. Fleck becomes so immersed in his daydreaming that he fails to come to terms with his reality. The sobering truth that Arthur Fleck is simply another mentally ill loser in a city that is full of them, goes against the expectations of both the audience and the people of Gotham City.
The movie provides a unique portrayal of how the problematic nature of martyrdom leaves only one real victim: the martyr. This theme is reflected through our own society, where we see many people, celebrities and others struggling with mental health issues publically, exploited during their lowest moments.
In the end, fans who came into the movie expecting a haunting thriller in the dark world of Gotham were let down, as they misinterpreted the persona of Joker.
On the other hand, while the film conveys a very substantial message, it does so in a way that fails to keep audiences engaged. Lacking depth and complexity, “Folie a Deux” confines and constricts itself to a bland storyline that comes across as both boring and awkward in many places.
The movie primarily takes place between two very stagnant settings, Arkham Asylum, a literal prison where Arthur Fleck is institutionalized, and the courtroom in which his trial is carried out. Both settings leave much to be desired, as audiences are locked into cold and dull scenes that drag on as prison sentences for viewers in the theater.
There are also multiple scenes where the movie fully embraces its role as a musical, and while they are intended to help immerse the audience in Fleck’s fantasies, they rarely strike a real chord with viewers. Most of them come off as awkward, languid covers of old-timey songs. The attempt to bring depth to the mind of Fleck is hopeful, but it falls flat and leaves the audience with many questions.
Phoenix’s amazing, Oscar-winning performance in the original “Joker” had set expectations high, but his return to the role failed to reach the same heights that it did in 2019. Visually, the movie replicates much of its predecessor and is executed well in some areas, however, the unsettling atmosphere of the film along with the storyline fails to haunt audiences the same way.
Overall, “Joker: Folie a Deux” fails to grab audiences’ attention the same way that the first movie did. While it carries an important message, its deliverance was let down by poor execution, and a narrative lacking in depth and engagement.
