Accused of multiple murders, failed comedian Arthur Fleck must stand trial, but will his chance meeting with Harleen Quinzel re-inspire his chaotic alter ego, the Joker?
Directed by Todd Phillips who gave us the hugely respected Joker in 2019, which became the first ever “R Rated” film to gross over $1 billion, comes the massively anticipated though initially unintended second film “Joker: Folie a Deux”. Co written by Scott Silver who also wrote the gritty “8 Mile”, we are in the second of what may possibly be three Joker films.
Starring Joaquin Phoenix who quite rightly won an Oscar for his magnificent portrayal as Joker in 2019 and Lady Gaga as Harleen “Lee” Quinzel we dive straight into the second of what may ultimately be only two films in the extended DC Black Joker movie series. Filmed between December 2022 to April 2023, in New York and Los Angeles and Essex County Isolation hospital in Belleville, New Jersey, Phillips has once again used the far heavier yet far more detailed 70mm IMAX cameras from the first Joker film that made the opening scenes of Nolan’s “Dark Knight Rises” so detailed and awe inspiring. This has translated across to create some stunning dream type dance sequences that are visually beautiful matching Joker’s want of something charming, something quite perfect.
Set in 1983, 2 years after the initial murders, Arthur Fleck, a nihilistic criminal, has been incarcerated in Arkham State hospital awaiting his trial for the killings. Having lost several stone and most of his mental fight his only chance now is his defence lawyer Maryanne Stewart played by Catherine Keener (Get Out) claiming “dissociative identity disorder” or SDD as his only chance of freedom, and his brutal alter ego hidden deep down in his mind to keep him from ultimately imploding back into the bullied person he grew from in New York to escape his failed life which ultimately led him here. With initial animation as our opening retracing the previous film, we are brought back up to speed from where we left off creating a bizarre beginning that actually works extremely well using a childlike medium to illustrate a brutal yet effective three minutes.
From what was meant to be a stand alone film, before wrapping “Joker”, Phoenix wasn’t ready to leave the clown prince behind and had a dream his character was a performer on stage singing and telling jokes and so having endless ideas with the possibility of creating a musical on Broadway or far more likely, a second Joker film. This was quashed by Phillips who had no intention of creating a ‘Clown Prince of Crime’ and ultimately going against the directors of Warner Bros who were looking to open this universe of tragic reality.
Broadening the boundaries of the Joker series and controversially creating something of a musical – although, this is debatable – Phillips worked with Phoenix’s idea of teaming Arthur with a “female Joker” and so Lady Gaga was brought in as Harleen “Lee” Quinzel. Who is of course a reimagining of the popular character ‘Harley Quinn’ from the comics/games and movies. Phillips of course knew of Gaga’s singing ability but wanted the feel of something far more streetwise and gritty and so shot the musical scenes as live using a pianist playing to their tempo asking Gaga to dial her range in wanting off key and honest from both actors, although the edit became something of a nightmare with the fluctuating musical timing, according to Phillips.
Ultimately “Joker: Folie á Deux” is a two-hander revolving around our main characters although Brendan Gleeson as abusive guard Jackie Sullivan plays a strong performance as supporting actor and Harry Lawtey as Harvey Dent although they fade into the background against the duel role Phoenix creates so disturbingly well. Bringing back Zazie Beetz as neighbour and witness Sophie Dumond and Leigh Gill as Gary Puddles, the link to Joker is complete with the jury out as to whether this trumps the first or fails. Do pay attention to Connor Storrie as Arkham’s other psychotic young inmate who’s role is best followed in the background for the ultimate payoff.
This film most definitely deals in the chaotic that Todd Phillips was looking for although unfortunately our anti heroes’ arc suffers from an almost continuous downward trajectory that sees our tragic clown ultimately fail. This has left many of his audience with the sinking feeling of disillusionment and the wonder of Todd’s narrative as to whether his choice of story line was the indeed the best.
Harleen’s line of “Let’s give them what they want”, would best be observed by Phillips who has unfortunately missed the beat that will possibly prevent Joker 3’s script ever seeing Phoenix’s brilliantly psychotic acting mind.
Author: Piers, Maidstone Store
