Last Updated on October 10, 2024 by
Joker: Folie à Deux is a 2024 Movie Directed by Todd Phillips. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, and Lady Gaga, with a runtime of 2h 20M, and will be released on October 04, 2024.
The spin-off from Joker (2019) has arrived with all the rage and excitement that one might expect from Joachim Phoenix’s complex character. Directed by Todd Phillips (who is also famous for The Hangover movies), Joker: While Folie à Deux is still a typical Broadway musical at heart it makes a rather unexpected twist by actually incorporating music and songs from different artists in a fashion similar to a jukebox musical.
This movie is not just about mayhem and brutality, but rather about feelings – a new side of Joker, Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix again. It feels almost impossible to recreate the success of the first Joker movie, however, this sequel succeeds in introducing something new and original, which makes it one of the most nihilist comic book movies.
The story begins with the protagonist Arthur Fleck, who is spending time in Arkham State Hospital, a facility for mentally ill individuals. Here, Arthur is a man caught in a continuous loop of ennui and unable to escape the torment of his split personality as the Joker. Most of the other patients in the hospital blatantly taunt him and compel him to make them laugh, a torture that reminds him of his dreadful past.
However, this is not the end of the story as Arthur’s life takes a great turn for the better after interacting with the character Harleen Quinzel, who goes by the name of Lee and is played by an internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter Lady Gaga. Harleen is a psychiatrist and she met him in Arkham during the singing lesson they might be friends, he may or might not have an interest in her but they are not in a clear relationship. To them, music and singing are viewed as love in a form that they identify themselves with the songs that they sing. This is also interesting because it provides a unique spin to the film.
In the end, as Arthur is about to face trial for the murders committed in the first film, the entire world witnesses the event via a live television broadcast. In this trial scene, people from his past appear, one of which is Gary Puddles as portrayed by Leigh Gill. Gary informs the court how Arthur was before he transformed into Joker, stating that he was a lonely man with a pathetic life. Despite Gary’s sincere testimony, it only makes Arthur more devastating, which only reinforces the audience’s perception that the defendant is guilty beyond doubt and will undoubtedly be condemned. After the trial the fans and followers of Joker are seen outside the courthouse, showing that Arthur may be in prison, but he will always remain a part of Gotham.
In terms of describing what the audience could anticipate, the movie invites spectators to an uncanny and thrilling trip through the boundary of reality. From one scene, you see a dramatic trial scene while in the next, Arthur is dancing and singing as he demonstrates his split personality. One of the most memorable scenes of the film is the animated segment in the beginning which is reminiscent of a Looney Tunes cartoon. In it, Arthur battles his adversaries – one of whom is his shadow – which symbolizes his duality.
This scene establishes the theme of the movie, which is Joker as a person with an evil side which he tries to suppress but later cannot. Todd Phillips, the director, does not attempt to mimic the gritty scenes of the original film. However, he becomes more focused on the inner struggles of Arthur, enabling the listeners to empathize with the character.
As for the musical numbers, albeit being rather original and unusual for the given context, they look natural due to the script by Phillips and Scott Silver, the co-writer of The Fighter and 8 Mile. The songs are not mere productions for entertaining the audience; they help to illustrate the feelings of Joker and Harley, which cannot be conveyed through words. To watch both of them singing and showing affection to each other in the shape of their perverted affection is something that fans of DC characters would have never imagined. However, this particular movie is effective in portraying a rather unpredictable and slightly awkward love story. The fantastic scenes, such as the couple dancing on the roof of the building within the context of Gotham City and the dream sequence when the Joker proposes to Harley about marrying him.
The protagonist of the film is played again by Joaquin Phoenix who is magnificent as Joker just as he was in the first movie. This time, he not only captures the character’s inner demons of anger and depression but also contributes another layer in terms of singing and dancing. He portrays Joker’s insanity in a way that will make you both empathize with the clown and fear him at the same time. Harley Quinn, as depicted by Lady Gaga, has attributes that are unique compared to previous depictions of the comic character. Her Harley is not so wild and crass, but more low-profile, just as it is fitting for the film. Gaga is quite effective in the musical sequences and the audience will enjoy listening to her version of songs selected for the movie.
From an aesthetic perspective, the movie is outstanding. Lawrence Sher comes back as the director of photography, and he ensures that the environment of Gotham City remains as dirty and frightening as in the first installment. These colors were dark blues and oranges to align with the tale of the movie, and the music by Hildur Guðnadóttir, which she used for the first Joker movie that won the Oscars, helped to put more feeling into the scenes. However, unlike most superhero films, this movie avoids the traditional action-oriented approach. It brings creativity, and while it is not as dark as the first Joker, it is still a daring choice to make by the directors. Had they opted for a conservative approach, this could easily have been like any run-of-the-mill sequel. Instead, Joker: The concept of Folie à Deux, in my opinion, must sound like an inspiring and innovative approach to the characters.
In the end, Joker: Folie à Deux is a gutsy album that does not pull any punches and has presented some shocks. They will leave the audience wondering what happens next to Joker and Harley Quinn and whether Joker’s influence will continue to shape Gotham or not. The film is well directed and the performances delivered by Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga are remarkable and are what will keep people talking and guessing for a very long time. Despite how one feels about it, this portrayal of Joker and Harley Quinn’s affectionate involvement will forever be embedded in people’s minds.
Joker: Folie à Deux 2024 Parents Guide Age Rating
Joker: Folie à Deux is rated R by the Motion Picture Rating (MPA) for some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality, and brief full nudity
Violence: The movie has very many scenes that are full of violence and at times even repulsive. Arthur Fleck, who becomes the Joker by the end of the movie, is a criminal with a mental disorder whose emotions can break out in violent actions. Arthur illustrates violent behavior as he is shown fighting with inmates in Arkham State Hospital and gets angered when challenged. These scenes are intense and can include blood or injuries where Arthur gets into confrontations with the hospital guards especially one who is always an antagonist to him. The violence here is ugly and vicious, which is symbolic to show the suffering of Arthur. Having experienced the scenes of Arthur murdering people in the first film, the audience is informed of Arthur’s criminal past through narration and might be exposed to images or scenes of Arthur’s violent actions. One of the most tense trial scenes pits Arthur against his beautiful, traumatized former girlfriend. Sensitiveness regarding the defense testimony is comparatively high and distressing. They are shrouded with hideous and vio-lent imagery; one of the first sequences depicts Arthur (Joker) sparring against his shadow. Despite the blatant cartoony nature of this piece, the dancing figure symbolizes the struggle between sanity and insanity. Arthur has episodes of psychosis where he physically attacks people and inflicts severe injuries on them. These scenes are psychologically intense to watch as his struggles with mental health are depicted in graphic detail.
Language: Prevalence of obscene language throughout the movie. Profanity that has been employed frequently includes f**, s***, a******, and b****** when one is angry or greatly provoked. There are also scenes in which the characters, including Arthur, use obscenities when speaking to the other characters during different circumstances and situations, both normal and extreme. There are also cases of use of abusive language targeted at Arthur specifically from the guards or other prisoners in Arkham.
Sexuality and Nudity: There are scenes where characters are shown naked for a short period as the case in the scene where Arthur confined in Arkham is shown half-naked. This nudity is not erotic, but the director wanted to portray his weakness and declining health to the audience. Some parts might show Arthur in bed and partially naked during the scenes when he is in the hospital or when he is weak and unwell. For instance, there are scenes in the movie where one gets the feeling that Arthur and Lee (Harley Quinn) are involved. Odd and unconventional as their interactions may be, they still occasionally share tender moments that indicate that the two are in love. While there is no actual sex scene, there are intimate scenes depicting the growing attraction between the main characters, Arthur and Lee. This encompasses touching and closeness, although they rarely exhibit affection as they mostly do so through music instruments.
Substance Use: The theme of smoking is evident in the movie. Arthur often smokes cigarettes, most notably when he is focused on something, or when he ponders certain issues. Another aspect that contributes to his character as portrayed with declining mental health is that smoking is depicted as a way through which Arthur deals with his stresses.
Is it appropriate for teens?
It is recommended that this movie should not be viewed by persons under the age of 17 as it contains violent scenes, adult language and themes. As for the content warnings mentioned above, parents should consider them to determine whether this movie is suitable for their children.
