The second instalment of the Joker series is, in part, a musical. Who would have thought that, notwithstanding the starring role for Lady Gaga? But it’s hardly mainstream entertainment. Rather, it has the feel of a dark independent film, which I appreciated for the layers within. Like he did so brilliantly in Joker, Joaquin Phoenix is a revelation as Arthur Fleck/Joker.
So, to the storyline: Arthur is in prison awaiting trial for the murder spree Joker went on, slaying five (or is that six) people, including one on live TV. He appears to be a forlorn character, not responding to the guards’ taunts to tell them a joke. But one guard, Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson), rewards him for good behaviour by taking him to a music therapy session. There he connects with an inmate by the name of Lee Quinzel/aka Harley Quinn (Gaga). She claims to be from the same neighbourhood as Fleck and had a terrible family life, being insitutionalised by her mother. She’s driven to Joker and he to her. The pair starts an intense relationship, in which they fantasise about what might be.
Meanwhile, Fleck’s legal representative Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener) is trying to convince him to play along with her defence strategy of a split personality. The court case sees a groundswell of support for Joker. Lee, who’s increasingly influencing Fleck’s decisions, disagrees with Stewart’s tactics. Adopting the Harley Quinn make-up and dress sense, Lee tells Fleck he can do anything.
Written by Scott Silver and director Todd Phillips (the combination behind Joker), Joker: Folie a Deux delves deep into mental illness and psychosis. Dreams and hallucinations play a large part. They provide the backdrop for Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix to be singing together. In one scene, Phoenix resorts to tap dancing.
The pair has a potent connection, while Gleeson is memorable as the guard who gives Fleck some latitude. I also appreciated the cameo of Steve Coogan as tabloid TV interviewer Paddy Meyers, who Stewart arranges to question Fleck before the trial.
The music is an undoubted feature of the work, although some will find it out of place. Not me. I thought the choices were appropriate. So, too, were the period production values associated with the film.
I expect Joker: Folie a Deux to be a divisive movie among critics and the public, many of whom will find it hard going and not to their liking. But apart from thinking it was probably too long, I am in the positive camp. I thought what Phoenix, Gaga and the writers and director brought to the table was a compelling dive into the abyss of a troubled mind … or two.
Alex First
Other reviews you might enjoy:
- Joker – movie review
- Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot – movie review
- A Star is Born – movie review
Alex First is a Melbourne based journalist and communications specialist. He contributes to The Blurb on film and theatre.