Todd Phillips’ “Joker: Folie a Deux” (hereafter known as “Joker 2”) defies expectations and can put to the check all the pre-packaged welcome and fanboy glee that greets it.
The return of Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, aka Joker, isn’t one other alternative to observe Phoenix homicide within the identify of nihilistic comedian guide authenticity, nor one other try to mimic (or steal outright from) Martin Scorsese’s “The King of Comedy” (1983) and “Taxi Driver” (1976).
As an alternative, Phillips has made an honest-to-goodness musical, with visible allusions to “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” (1964) and “Dancer within the Darkish” (2000) as just some of the numerous reference factors.
Phoenix’s Fleck is now incarcerated and awaiting trial, along with his extraordinarily affected person lawyer (Catherine Keener) struggling to maintain him restrained, whereas the lead jail guard (Brendan Gleason) abuses him. When Fleck meets Lee (Woman Gaga) a fascinating, darkish soul with an apparent crush on him, Fleck finds somebody to dwell for, at the same time as he’s simply barely attempting to maintain his Joker persona underneath wraps.
Contemplating how a lot Fleck’s story resembles the horror present of Bernie Goetz’s 1984 New York Metropolis subway taking pictures and the surprising turns that adopted, it’s fascinating to see Phillips and screenwriter Scott Silver take this within the path of a Goetz-infused daydream. I’m not sure that we’d like the fascinating however crass animated brief that opens the movie however I’m optimistic that Phillips missed a golden alternative by repeatedly referencing a TV film made about Fleck however by no means displaying us a clip.
Phillips’ movie is a high-wire act from begin to end, the uncommon event the place everybody concerned determined to take an actual probability on alienating materials and never merely present a much bigger sequel that retells the identical story. Even when the primary act remains to be warming up, Phillips directs the hell out of each scene, together with some lengthy monitoring photographs that should have been a nightmare to choreograph.
The story is gloomy and infrequently disagreeable, because it was within the first movie, however avoids being redundant and apparent, which was most of “Joker” (2019). Apart from the riveting sequence that pit Phoenix in opposition to Robert De Niro, there’s little within the blockbuster unique that I’d care to revisit.
The controversy, pre-release hype and accolades connected to Phoenix’s efficiency made it a phenomenon, however here’s a follow-up that’s not solely higher however, amusingly, disinterested in viewers adoration.
Though “Joker 2” is a musical, this a artistic alternative that avoids any apparent or industrial instructions, even with Woman Gaga within the forged. At instances, we’re seeing musical numbers get away, reflecting the fantasies of the characters.
Simply as regularly, characters merely get away into tune and generally it’s instinctive, resembling once we sing together with a tune on the automotive radio and aren’t even conscious of it.
The mannequin tailored for the musical numbers isn’t something conventional or modern, like “La La Land” (2016), however Dennis Potter musicals, like “Pennies from Heaven” (1978) or “The Singing Detective” (1986), the place musical numbers (fantasies or in any other case) are psychological escapes that wallpaper over the actual tragedies going down.
At instances, it’s a pleasure to listen to Woman Gaga belt a giant quantity on a extremely stylized set however, simply as usually, she’s giving an deliberately pitchy, rough-voiced tackle a radio normal. Likewise, Phoenix, whose singing right here ranges from tolerable to far lower than that.
It jogged my memory of Woody Allen’s “Everybody Says I Love You” (1996), a little-seen musical within the Potter mode the place actors are both singing effectively with correct accompaniment (like Edward Norton) or, as a rule, giving musical interpretations that sound like emotional, tone-deaf rounds of karaoke.
Sure, ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Is a Musical: All the things Joaquin Phoenix and Woman Gaga Have Mentioned About Its Singing https://t.co/N7vlAJKE7w
— Individuals (@folks) October 4, 2024
Phoenix remains to be giving a highly-mannered flip that may both strike some as tour de pressure appearing, a commentary on efficiency itself or a smattering of each. I nonetheless assume his finest efficiency is in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “The Grasp” (2012) and that his tackle Arthur Fleck is like an extension of his work within the Anderson movie.
At instances, his Brando-esque flip right here is extraordinary, however I additionally grew uninterested in it. Fortunately, he’s paired with the dazzling Woman Gaga – they’ve terrific chemistry, and her efficiency has depth and nuanced appearing decisions.
Not like Margot Robbie’s tackle the character, Woman Gaga isn’t enjoying Harley Quinn as gleefully loopy however as a misplaced soul who finds the fallacious man to be her messiah; Woman Gaga makes Harley Quinn susceptible and tragic.
I liked the musical numbers, at the same time as each single certainly one of them seems like a press-PAUSE intrusion on the story as a substitute of an extension of it. Though Phillips has made a musical with a three-act construction (jail movie, courtroom drama, love story), this isn’t a watered-down or any much less nihilistic work than its predecessor.
In actual fact – and I received’t describe it or present any spoilers – the disturbing ultimate scene, which is so merciless and comes as a shock, manages to be poetic justice and tragic on the identical time.
I haven’t stopped desirous about it.
“Joker 2” will likely be a problem for many, even those that adored the stubbornly unlovable unique. What Phillips and his workforce have created is distancing, usually experimental and dangerous.
Coming per week after the all-or-nothing roll of the cube that’s “Megalopolis” (which I like), it’s thrilling and inspiring to see one more lavish film, getting a mainstream large launch, that desires to problem its viewers as sincerely because it desires to entertain.
Three Stars