Funereal Plots

Horror Cinema reviews

Matthew M. Bartlett

Joker: Folie A Deux

Director: Todd Phillips

Writers: Todd Phillips and Scott Silver

It took me two mornings to watch this Joker sequel. I went in with high expectations; despite the near-universal panning of this movie, I had seen some positive reviews from people I trust. I remember finding the first film to be pretty good, especially given the misapprehensions about it that preceded its release, if derivative. I also remember Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as singular, and worthy of the Oscar he received for it. I didn’t remember much else, though.

And if I had stopped watching after the first half of this 2+ hour sequel, I might have panned it myself. Firstly, the choice to stage the movie as a “Jukebox Musical” is wonderfully bold if it pays off, and obnoxious if it doesn’t. For me, it added little more than padding to an already bloated run time. Secondly, though I’m instantly skeptical of people who say “nothing happens” in a movie, I thought it fit here. If you look at the plot summary on Wikipedia, it only takes them a paragraph to cover the entirety of the first half. One thing I did like was the opening animated sequence. Another was, of course, another astonishingly detailed and riveting performance by Phoenix.

So, I went into the second half impatient. But something clicked for me. Relieved of expectations, I found myself enjoying the movie—even the musical numbers. I like the dirty atmosphere, the laconic, wonderfully implausible courtroom scenes I liked Lady Gaga, who matched Phoenix’s performance masterfully, in the role of Harley Quinn, a fellow inmate who takes to the Joker and does what she has to in order to be near him. I felt they had really good onscreen chemistry.

I should interject that my knowledge of The Joker is pretty much limited to movies; I’m not a sequential art guy.

The movie has Arthur Fleck/joker in Arkham Asylum awaiting trial. He meets Quinn. Quinn leaves the asylum but attends the trial. There is friction between the couple when it’s revealed she lied to him. During the trial, Fleck undergoes several personality changes. A car bomb blows up, disrupting the trial and fleeing Fleck, who flees, aided by fans in Joker makeup. I think that’s about it. But the devil’s in the execution, in the atmosphere, in the performances, even the incidental ones. Small roles played by Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan, and Brendan Gleeson enrich the proceedings

It’s said that Phoenix pushed to reprise his role, pushed for a sequel. I can understand why; the character he plays is complex, troubled and troubling, dark, very dark—it must have been a blast. As unlikely as it seems, and despite the howls of betrayal from moviegoers expecting something different, Joker: Folie A Deux works, as long as you go in not expecting any kind of intricate plotting or superhero/supervillain shenanigans.