Joker: Folie à Deux
Before my IMAX viewing today, I had the chance to attend the premiere and experience a double feature of “Joker” and “Joker: Folie à Deux“. Rewatching the first Joker only reinforced my belief that it’s a masterpiece, but sadly, I have to say that the sequel falls short in many ways.
What made the first movie so impactful seems to be lost here—not for lack of trying, though. Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix clearly felt compelled to make a sequel (and with a movie that grossed over a billion dollars, who wouldn’t?). But instead of returning just for a paycheck, they took big creative risks and really swung for the fences. Unfortunately, those risks didn’t quite pay off.
Surprisingly, the problem isn’t the ambitious ideas, but the execution. After the first film, no one would’ve expected the sequel to be a musical. I was concerned about that going in, but as the movie began, I could see how it might work. However, the deeper it leaned into the musical format, the more obvious it became that this genre is not where Todd Phillips is most comfortable.
In great musicals, songs drive the story forward. Here, though, the music doesn’t add much to the plot. Instead, it disrupts the flow, making the movie’s lack of pacing even more apparent.
That said, Joaquin Phoenix delivers another mind-blowing performance. He didn’t just rest on his laurels; he built on his portrayal of Arthur Fleck and the Joker, seamlessly transitioning between the two personas in ways only an actor of his caliber could. His emotional shifts within scenes feel so natural, it’s like watching a masterclass in acting.
Lady Gaga once again proves she’s a great actress, choosing interesting roles. But her character feels confined, almost generic, giving her few opportunities to truly shine outside of some musical numbers.
Technically, the movie is impressive. The sound design stands out once again, and the cinematography and set design create some of the most stunning visuals of the year. But even with all these strengths, the film can’t overcome its core issue: a lack of focus. The storyline doesn’t seem to know where it’s headed, and every time it has a chance to dive deeper—like the first film did—it drops the ball.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Joker: Folie à Deux, but I do appreciate that the filmmakers took a risk and tried something different. It’s definitely more interesting than a rehash of the original. However, I expect this one to be far more polarizing, with many viewers likely hating it. I also think this will show at the box office—it’s not going to come anywhere near the billion-dollar success of the first film, maybe not even half that.
Do you enjoy when sequels take bold risks, even if they don’t always work?⠀
