The new Joker movie, Joker: Folie à Deux (2024), takes a bold departure from the original film by incorporating musical elements. Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck (the Joker) and Lady Gaga as Lee (a reimagined version of Harley Quinn), the movie explores the shared madness between these two characters, symbolized by the subtitle “Folie à Deux” (a shared delusion).

While the first Joker focused on Arthur’s descent into madness against the gritty backdrop of Gotham, this sequel shifts its focus to a more introspective, musical narrative. Much of the film takes place in Arkham Asylum, where Arthur meets Lee during music therapy sessions. Their shared delusions lead to musical sequences, with songs interspersed throughout the film. However, this musical twist has been divisive. Some reviewers feel it disrupts the story’s flow and weakens its overall impact. The integration of musical numbers often feels jarring and distracts from the narrative’s darker themes, failing to elevate the story as musicals like Moulin Rouge! or La La Land have done in the past​.

Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Lee (Harley Quinn) has also received mixed reactions. While fans anticipated a powerful performance from Gaga, her character feels underdeveloped, lacking the emotional depth she displayed in her role in A Star Is Born. Gaga’s Lee is eccentric and fascinated with Arthur, but the chemistry between the two falls short of expectations​(

Despite these shortcomings, Joaquin Phoenix remains the standout, delivering a compelling performance as Arthur Fleck. His portrayal of a man trapped between his persona and the chaos around him provides moments of dark humor and disturbing tension. However, the film struggles to build on the first movie’s success, with its courtroom drama and psychological exploration feeling repetitive and underwhelming​.

Ultimately, Joker: Folie à Deux is a visually and emotionally ambitious film, but its musical elements and narrative choices leave it feeling disjointed, lacking the cohesive, impactful storytelling that made the first Joker such a critical success.

#joaquinphoenix #joker #jokermovie #batman #dccomics #thejoker #dc #heathledger #s #art #movie #phoenix #joaquinphoenixjoker #arthurfleck #cinema #harleyquinn #joaquin #riverphoenix #movies #jokeredit #toddphillips #film #gotham #thedarkknight #dcuniverse #jokerquotes #love #jokerlovers #comics #jokerfans