After the success of Joker (2019) from Todd Phillips making £1.08 billion, there was no chance a sequel was not on the cards.
Joker: Folie a Deux (2024) is a film that wants to use musical elements but at the same time thinks it is too cool to be a musical and the sequences themselves often feel like padding for the runtime.
I recently watched Chicago (2002) with GCU Film Society, yes Chicago is a full-on musical, but each sequence moves the film and characters forward whereas with Folie a Deux there is not really any sense of movement in the sequences.
The first couple of sequences in Arkham are not as memorable except from the dream Arthur has as the Joker dancing with Harley on the rooftop and at the talk show with Harley.
Another issue with Folie is audiences could feel that Phillips is re-trading ground with Arthur/Jokers identity as Joker (2019) is a film that starts with a man being unknown; then through the Joker identity he is no longer a blank canvas.
What Philips ensures though is his film looks fantastic; he was working with Lawrence Sher again who was the cinematographer for Joker (2019). I think he and Lawrence work well together. Their Gotham genuinely feels like a tip – you understand how it’s piled on to the people.
Lawrence does have some great shots; a specific standout is Joker having a smoke in the courtroom during another dream sequence. The shot itself is Joker on a stool with lights on him, and you can make out the outline of his body.
Hildur Guðnadóttir is back with a very uneasy score which I would say is better than some of the original music on display here.
The makeup department deserves special mention as this is one of the great Joker looks and along with Harley.
Performance wise Joaquin Phoenix is still incredible as Joker/Arthur. First from a physical perspective – the amount of weight Phoenix lost was incredible, it gets to the stage where you feel concerned for him. He also had a wonderful use of facial gestures. Joaquin clearly had a lot of fun, especially in the courtroom – nearer the end of the trial you can see Joaquin is allowed to run free.
Lady Gaga is our Harley. What audiences will like about her performance is you can clearly see how well Harley plays Jokers personality better than any of the doctors in Arkham could ever.
However – and this could be down to the trailers – but Harley does not have as much of a significant role as the audience will expect. There is a sense a lot has been put on the cutting room floor.
Steve Coogan is Paddy Meyers – a Piers Morgan inspired reporter – it’s an odd inclusion.
So overall Folie a Deux is like Joker (2019) in sense you have more than one great performance and a well-made movie. However, if you take those elements away the joke completely falls flat.
