Film: Joker: Folie a Deux

 

GENRE: Drama/Musical
RATING: R for strong violence and language and brief nudity
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 18 minutes
PLATFORM: Movie Theatre
STARRING: Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line, Gladiator, Napoleon)
Lady Gaga (A Star is Born, House of Gucci); Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges)
DIRECTOR: Todd Phillips (Joker, The Hangover, Old School, Due Date)
WRITERS: Scott Silver (The Fighter, 8 Mile) & Phillips (Old School)
PLOT: Harley Quinn inspires Arthur Fleck while he is on trial for murder.  

FULL DISCLOSURE: Was pretty conflicted after seeing the trailer.

STORY STUFF: While the first Joker film was filled with dramatic contemplation and flights of fancy, there were also some good action sequences and humour. This one it pretty void of action and humour. The prison stuff is dark as it should be, but this is also a courtroom drama and with the exception of Gary Puddles on the stand, I was completely bored. I love courtroom stuff but this just didn’t work. The flights of fancy are musical numbers but they had no life to them. Give me a showstopper. I understand what Phillips was trying to do with this film but I didn’t enjoy the experience.  

ACTING STUFF: Phoenix continues the crazy and calm he brought to the first film. I thought Gaga did a good job as Lee Quinzel but I wanted more crazy from her. I enjoyed Gleeson as one of the guards, I found him captivating. I did not like Harry Lawtey (Industry) as Harvey Dent. What a boring DA. Show me some life. He’s supposed to be Two-Face eventually. Leigh Gill returning as Gary Puddles made the most of his screen time and created instant empathy for his character.        

ARTISTIC STUFF: This film is beautifully shot. It is the biggest highlight of the film for me. The images, the lighting, the movement, the colours all work in tandem to create amazing tableaux. I understand that lyrics and time period dictated the song choices but I was not a fan. Give me something bombastic. These a probably the saddest musical choices I have ever heard.   

VERDICT: Two stars out of five
SEE IT IF: You want a slower version of the first film.  
UPCOMING REVIEW:  Saturday Night