Joker: Folie á Deux - A Tedious Tune of Disappointment
The highly anticipated Joker: Folie à Deux was supposed to be a daring exploration of Arthur Fleck's descent into madness, infused with a musical twist and the addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn. Yet, what we got was a painfully long, disconnected experience that left me questioning, "Why are we even here?"
As a fan of musicals, I came in excited, only to find that the musical numbers, rather than elevating the film, dragged it down. The songs were dreary, lacking the vibrancy and emotional resonance expected from a genre that thrives on making you feel. Instead of adding depth to the story, the music became a distraction, pulling away from what could have been poignant moments between Arthur and Harley.
A Visual Feast with No Soul There's no denying that the film is visually stunning. The cinematography, from the vibrant shots of Arthur dancing alone in his cell to the grand, showy imagery—like an overhead shot of colorful umbrellas—was impressive. However, these beautifully crafted visuals couldn't make up for the film's lack of narrative momentum. Arthur's journey, once an unsettling dive into the psyche of a troubled man, now feels aimless. The movie offers no new layers to his character; in fact, it doesn't seem to care about Arthur Fleck at all.
It's like we're stuck watching the same note being played over and over—beautifully framed but emotionally hollow.
Why the Musical? In theory, adding musical elements to the Joker’s story was a bold, creative risk, and Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn had the potential to be a game-changer. But instead of enhancing the film, the musical numbers felt slow, like they were performed at three-quarter speed, draining energy rather than adding to it. As someone who usually enjoys musicals, I was left feeling disconnected and confused about the choice to turn Joker into a songfest without much emotional payoff.
Arthur's Rise to Fame One of the major missteps of Folie à Deux is its shift in focus—from Arthur’s psychological unraveling in the first movie to his newfound fame. Crowds gather outside his prison, painted in clown faces, celebrating him as some sort of twisted hero. But the film never stops to explore why. Why does a society glorify a murderer? Why are these people drawn to the Joker? It raises these questions but doesn't bother to answer them, leaving the audience detached from the core of Arthur's arc.
While the casting of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn may have sounded perfect in a pitch meeting, her character unfortunately becomes part of the problem. Her chaotic energy is fantastic, but the script doesn't allow Harley to be more than a supporting act in Arthur’s dull, slow spiral into fame and madness.
A Few Moments of Emotion One of the few moments that struck a chord with me was the return of Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill), a character from the first movie. In a heartfelt scene, he confronts Arthur about how his violent actions stripped him of his strength and courage. This rare, human interaction was a brief reminder of the emotional depth the first Joker movie delivered. But sadly, such moments were too few and far between.
A Finale That Frustrates By the time we reach the final act, the movie feels as though it's run out of steam. The last 10 minutes seem to suggest there was never much of a plot to begin with, leaving me frustrated and, quite frankly, bored. It's a shame because Joker: Folie à Deux had all the ingredients to be something truly extraordinary. Instead, it’s a bloated, underwhelming sequel that lacks the intensity, heart, and intrigue of the original.
Final Thoughts While Joker: Folie à Deux boasts strong performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, and some mesmerizing visuals, it fails to deliver a compelling story. The musical elements, though bold in concept, fall flat in execution, and the film leaves the audience more confused than captivated. If you were hoping for another thought-provoking ride into the mind of Arthur Fleck, you might be left wondering why you sat through this tedious, musical experiment.
