By Robecca Leyden.
Please note this article might involve spoilers for Joker: Folie à Deux.
Releasing world wide October 3rd 2024, Joker: Folie à Deux is the sequel to Joker (2019). Loosely based on DC comic characters and staring Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the Joker, and Lady Gaga joining the cast as his love interest, Harley Quinn.
"Knock knock,
Whose there?
Arthur Fleck,
Arthur Fleck who?" Joaquin Phoenix mournfully asks himself as Joker, mid thousand yard stare. That seems to be the theme of Joker: Folie à Deux. Delivering another Oscar-worthy performance; Phoenix is mesmerising as our tortured anti-hero, caught between his Joker persona and real self.
The film has garnered mixed reviews, and without giving too much away, it's not difficult to see why. While the acting is phenomenal, the cinematography breath-taking; the story could give Dostoyevsky a run for his money when it comes to a critique of some of the darkest parts of human nature. If Joker was the gritty, darker antithesis to bubble-gum superhero movies (which let's face it, was desperately needed) Joker: Folie à Deux is the older sibling, waiting in the shadows to attack us with the bleak, brutality of humanity.
Margot Robbie once said that she thought of Harley Quinn like Macbeth, and she was excited to see how other's would portray the iconic role. And what a Lady Macbeth did our Gaga make. As keeping with the rest of the film, this was a Harley Quinn like no other. Gaga is in her element as the obsessive and manipulative 'Lee'.
Other stand out performances include Catherine Keener as Maryanne Stewart, Arthur's lawyer, and possibly the only true friend he has; and Leigh Gill reprising his role as Gary puddles. Gill delivers a truly heart breaking scene, one that looks at the after effects once trauma is experienced. Many scenes in the film are a hard watch, and if you were expecting anything like a traditional comic book or DC universe film, you will be VERY disappointed.
While I can say that this was one of the best made movies I've seen in a long time, however, I truly don't wish to see it a second time. I haven't felt that hollow and depressed coming out of a film, since, well, watching Russian cinema.
Oh yeah, and it's a musical.
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn Joaquin Phoenix as Joker.
