The rumors are true: Musical hints run rampant in Joker: Folie à Deux, the daring and divisive sequel to the Batman nemesis’ origin story that was showered with Oscar nominations back in 2020 and even took home a trophy for its leading man. The new film has gotten some surprisingly harsh early reactions, but how soon we forget that even Joker pushed some boundaries and ruffled some feathers, despite that praise. Check the Rotten Tomatoes scores and DC fans’ comments for both of Todd Phillips’ Joker films, and you’ll remember the headlines confirming that each has stirred controversy and caused a bit of consternation.
Complaints about the first one might have read something like, “Why so morbidly violent, and celebrated as such? Isn’t this utterly derivative of The King of Comedy from 40 years ago?” And for the sequel: “Eh, a bit boring and meandering, no?” Well, I’m a fan of the first film and, believe it or not, am of a mind to declare Joker: Folie à Deux as another crowning achievement for Phillips, a skilled filmmaker who was once known for raunchy comedies like Old School and The Hangover. He’s finally back in action with writing partner Scott Silver, who Phillips recently quoted at the Los Angeles premiere of Joker 2 as saying, “As creative artists, we must take risks.” Amen, brother.
Madness for 2, Please
For those unfamiliar with the French expression, “folie à deux” translates to “madness of two,” referring to a sort of shared psychosis when evaluating a certain erratic behavior amongst a pair of individuals. The medical term is used cleverly for the title, as the eponymous villain’s lover and right-hand (wo)man is formally introduced in Phillips’ version of the DC universe with a shared drive for destruction.
Earlier this year, the acclaimed indie film The People’s Joker was released to offer a wildly alternative take on Harley Quinn’s origin story. Interestingly, Gaga is offered a much tamer approach than that to the iconic Batman villain. Arthur Fleck first meets her in a music class inside the correctional facility that’s housing him at the film’s opening.
But first: how the heck do you commence an inventive sequel to an inventive Joker origin film? Folie à Deux opens in vintage Warner Bros. Entertainment fashion, with a cartoon animation that serves as a darkly hilarious recap on how the first installment wrapped up. We quickly gather there’s a bit of a time jump between the two films, with Arthur now clearly settled into his day-to-day life at the local prison.
Arthur is still horrifically slimmed down, like the first go-around, but perhaps more severely now, since his friendly yet seemingly sinister guards like Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson) remark on how he hasn’t been himself — aka not telling the usual “jokes” Arthur is known for. It seems his only diet these days is cigarettes.
Gotham’s Jazziest Courtroom Drama
Joker: Folie à Deux is filmed for IMAX, by the way, and the reliably gorgeous cinematography quickly introduces us to Arthur’s lowly surroundings around the prison property, including his maniacal pals and the occasional folks who visit him, such as defense attorney Maryanne Stewart (the always sharp Catherine Keener) who’s ready to put Arthur on trial and get him off the hook. His defense? Well, those five grisly murders Fleck had committed in the first film, including talk-show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro), were simply an act of the uncontrollable Joker alter ego — not Arthur, of course!
And once the drama ultimately descends on the courthouse, viewers are in for a treat when it comes to performance. First, there are the returning players, including those subpoenaed from the first go-around who were witnesses to some of Arthur’s brutal killings during that epic four-week span, which began with the three bullies on the New York subway. The reliably dynamite Zazie Beetz takes the stand as Sophie Dumond at one point, to recount her chilling interactions with ex-neighbor Arthur before he unleashed his wrath — and we won’t spoil the other returning surprises here.
Then there are the lovely new faces, such as a young Harvey Dent, played by British hotshot Harry Lawtey, donning an American accent this time around. You’ll recognize him from HBO’s hit series Industry, and there’s a quick, fun little TV reunion with his co-star Ken Leung in the Joker courtroom, with the veteran character actor playing a prosecution-approved doctor claiming Arthur was of sound mind when he went on his killing spree in the first movie.
Very Little Lady Gaga and Even Less Action but Still Great
DC Comics diehards who might be looking “for a bit of the ol’ ultraviolence” (to paraphrase one of Joker’s biggest influences) in this sequel might be a bit disappointed by the lack thereof, with even less action than the first film. Some audiences may even cry “boredom” at times, but others will soak in the absurd but dramatic sequences that perhaps strike more of a nerve due to their ability to speak volumes about Arthur’s perpetually conflicted headspace.
It’s another masterclass performance by Phoenix as Arthur struggles to balance mania, people pleasing, rage, a splash of humanity, and his self-satisfying hilarity. Watch as he agrees to an on-camera interview in jail opposite an esteemed journalist (Steve Coogan, also sporting an American accent), who digs ever so deep into Arthur’s psyche with his unfortunately hard-hitting questions. We can all guess how their little chat might end.
And yes, musical numbers are indeed present in Joker: Folie à Deux, whether that’s a turn-off for the superhero fandom or not. Lady Gaga has already released the companion album Harlequin, perhaps a move to compensate for the arguably underwhelming amount of time she’s offered in the film. That’s not to say she doesn’t often go full throttle, but she sometimes feels like an obligation for the script rather than an opportunity.
At the end of Joker 2, the thrilling third act and conclusion set up their own sort of stars to be born, if Phillips goes back on his word and decides to continue with his own twisted DC universe. We shall see. But for now, we have this mad dance, and while it’s certainly not for everyone (sometimes by intention), there’s a real cinematic rush to it that I, for one, endorse. From Warner Bros. Pictures, Joker: Folie à Deux will be released in theaters on Oct. 4, 2024.
