Movie Review: “Joker: Folie a Deux”
At risk of subverting any sense of suspense that can be constructed in this review, let me simply cut to the point: “Joker: Folie a Deux” is not a good movie. At times the pacing is too rushed, and at many others the pacing is too sluggish. The musical numbers feel painfully awkward within the film’s rather bleak tone, to the point of almost being laughable. There are baffling character and story moments at just about every turn. It is a car crash of a movie.
“Joker: Folie a Deux” is a bad movie. But I was somewhat mesmerized by it.
I enjoyed the first “Joker” for Joaquin’s incredible performance and for the striking cinematography. And yet while I enjoyed it I had my criticisms. The most paramount of these being the fact that the movie was very derivative of Martin Scorsese’s films, particularly “Taxi Driver” and “King of Comedy”. Well, I can confidently say that director Todd Phillips did not make a derivative film this time; the second “Joker” is absolutely its own movie. And while I can say that was certainly more what I was hoping for, sometimes you should be careful what you wish for.
Huge credit should go to Joaquin Phoenix in this movie because he once again is the best part of the movie. However, the thing that I admired in this movie about him, no matter how wacky or tone deaf a moment might be in this movie, Joaquin commits to the performance 1000%. No vanity. No hesitation. He has moments in this movie that defy competent storytelling and character, and he does not shy away from it no matter how absurd it might be. There’s musical numbers that feel far out of character and he commits completely. There’s a sex scene that is hysterically awkward and he is fiercely committed to it despite the silly execution. It’s a bonkers performance, and so many of the moments are not quality filmmaking. But oh boy, it’s a hoot to watch throughout the runtime.
I’ll also say that the film doesn’t take the arc you’d anticipate. While the first film sought to portray a clearly disturbed man and his spiral downward, “Joker: Folie a Deux” seeks to be a film about the consequences of the events of the first film. The consequence of the celebrity status the murders created, the consequence to those who knew Arthur before and after the murders, and the consequences Arthur himself is struggling with. It’s a bold direction and for those that wanted to view Joker as some sort of twisted anti-hero in the first movie, it completely rejects that premise. Had the musical elements been cut and the script had gone through a significant rewrite, I could see where it could have led to a more satisfying final product. Alas, it was not to be.
Lady Gaga does a fine job, although she is hindered by the film’s flaws as well. Clearly she nails the musical numbers, and I partially think that’s why she was given the role, but even in those moments the mixing for those scenes feels unpolished and incomplete. That is likely by design to fit the rest of the movie’s harsh tone, but I think it was a clear misstep. She’s only in the film for around 30 minutes, and I think because she’s in it less, it actually serves Gaga well because she’s not a part of as many of the movie’s more misguided beats. The biggest tragedy for me is Gaga and Phoenix have actual chemistry, but when it’s so often revealed in eye-rolling set pieces and choices, it fails to lift the film up.
It’s clear Phillips was trying to talk about some bigger ideas with this movie, and there are glimpses in the movie of these ideas coming across effectively. There are some truly stirring scenes and sequences commenting on the grotesque nature of fame, how systems fail to provide proper care for the mentally ill, and mistreatment of the imprisoned. But too often these moments that border on truly having something to say are undermined by some mind-numbing cliche dialogue or a musical number meant to evoke a variety show that feels so utterly out of place with the gritty tone of the rest of the film. Yes, the Joker has always had a penchant for gallows humor, but it does not at all feel like it fits the character properly in this film so often. If you even compare how the film begins and how it ends, it’s a fairly humorous contrast in just how much the tone of this entire movie has no focus. It should also be emphasized that the ending is an ugly, ridiculously silly, mean-spirited close that feels especially jarring after the events of the film.
I remember talking to my mother once about how I love certain types of bad movies, and she mentioned “Sharknado” as an example. I mentioned that “Sharknado” knew it was a bad movie and embraced it. While that is still a pretty fun watch, my favorite type of bad movie is where it’s clear everyone involved put their heart and soul into making art and it just does not work for a multitude of reasons. “Joker: Folie a Deux” is one of those films. Will I ever watch this film again to appreciate the artistry or simply enjoy as a lover of cinema? Heavens no. But if I find myself having a few beers with friends and we want to laugh and watch a disasterpiece together, I know just the movie.
4/10