Joker Folie à Deux

The Joker films so far have been about how it all started for him. Jokers ‘origin story.’ Since this happens across two movies, I encourage everyone to watch the first movie again before seeing this one.

Director, producer, and co-writer Todd Phillips was wise to bring certain things back from the first film that you want and need to be reminded of and connected to. Here, he gives you quite an excellent opening credit sequence!! Make sure you’re not still getting your treats. It would be best if you watched the opening of the film.

Phillips, also responsible for the “Hangover” movies, puts the odds in Joker with this one. There’s an immense amount of character development. All actors are exceptional. There’s not a bad one in the bunch. Leigh Gill, who plays Gary again, tugs at the heartstrings when he’s on the stand in court. Lady Gaga is fabulous with her powerful singing voice and acting skills have polished since the last time we saw her. She’s growing quite a lot; however, she’s capable of so much more. I would have liked to have seen more done with her role.

Phoenix did a decent enough job with his singing and body movements to weird you out, a good thing, I assure you. He drilled deeply into character design, transforming into someone we didn’t recognize. He physically changed for this role, as well, much more than last time. I hope he ate some sandwiches after shooting.

What was very engaging was the idea of an insane mind falling so deeply into his psychosis that he creates his own perfect musical world, it was unique and well thought out, but the execution could have been a lot better. It was a compelling idea, but it needed more effort. What ultimately doesn’t work is their desire to make the movie a musical when the attempt was barely made.

You’ll like the song he sings into the phone. I heard it was “For Once in My Life.” It’s a song performed by Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, Tony Bennett, and Frank Sinatra before the Joker sings it to his love. That love is Lee Quinzel (Gaga) because she makes him unique. And what works in the scene is that Phoenix sings it more emotionally than the others. His heart is being torn out, and he makes you feel that. I loved it, the whole scene, and what it led to. If you give it a chance, you’ll be seduced by that entire bit. TO explain the title, “Folie à deux” is French for the madness of two people or shared psychosis, shared delusional disorder (SDD). It’s a syndrome in which symptoms of a delusional belief are transferred from one person to another. You can see if you love that person, how hard it would be if your love is not accepted.

Sadly, the film is slow in places, with some being entirely too repetitive. I think they should have stuck with the idea of being a Joker 2, something Phillips never wanted. He made it edgy and dark, but it should have been more so. But I hope where it goes works for you. If you were looking for great songs, let me disappoint you now. They’re not here.