Joker: Folie à Deux” translates to “shared delusion,” setting the tone for this film’s intense and layered exploration of mental illness and fantasy. To appreciate this movie, it’s essential to approach it with an open mind and view it as a standalone story, though understanding the events of the first “Joker” film is necessary. This sequel contains numerous flashbacks and heavily relies on its predecessor’s storyline.
Table Of Content
The majority of the movie unfolds within the confines of a courtroom, Arkham Asylum, with dream-like fantasy sequences blended in during the musical moments. The film is less about the Joker as a chaotic villain and more focused on Arthur Fleck, digging deep into his psyche and the events that shaped his broken reality. Director Todd Phillips masterfully crafts a narrative that invokes sympathy for Arthur, portraying him as both a victim of his circumstances and a deeply flawed individual. The film raises profound questions about mental health, love, delusion, and the thin line between reality and fantasy.
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Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn: A Figment of the Imagination?
Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn stands out, but it’s crucial to note that this is not the Harley Quinn from the comics. This interpretation distances itself from the traditional Joker-Harley dynamic, emphasizing instead Arthur’s mental state and his perception of love and companionship. At times, the film blurs the lines, making Harley appear as a figment of Arthur’s imagination. Interactions between Arthur and Harley often seem more like fantasies than reality, leaving the audience questioning her true existence. This depiction underscores the movie’s focus on delusion and the mental toll of loneliness. In the end Harley somewhat abandons Arthur because he gives up on ‘The Joker’ fantasy.
Phoenix’s Transformation: A Deep Dive into Arthur’s Psyche
Joaquin Phoenix once again delivers an outstanding performance as Arthur Fleck, showcasing his evolution from an abused, isolated man to a figure consumed by his mental instability. Despite her inconsistencies and aloofness, Arthur’s obsession with Harley exemplifies his desperate need for connection, further highlighting his deep-seated loneliness.
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Musical Catharsis and Bond with Lee
Throughout Joker: Folie à Deux, Arthur experiences moments of catharsis through musical-inspired numbers that unfold in his mind. These sequences offer glimpses into his emotional state, as he sings what he feels, particularly about his bond with a character named Lee. The film features covers of classics like “Get Happy,” “For Once In My Life,” and “That’s Life.” These songs, woven into his dream escapes, create a stark contrast with the grim reality of his life, emphasizing his yearning for a different, more hopeful existence.
The musical elements in the film are mostly confined to Arthur and Harley’s dream sequences, where they envision lives beyond the bars. This separation of music from the rest of the narrative accentuates the bleakness of Arthur’s reality.
Triggering Moments
The film contains multiple triggering moments, including flashbacks, murders, and painful court scenes that discuss the abuse Arthur and his mother endured. One particularly emotional courtroom scene involves Arthur representing himself and cross-examining Puddles, who shares his own experiences of mistreatment. Puddles expresses how his life became a nightmare after Arthur’s murders, yet admits his confusion and devastation, as Arthur was the only one who never bullied him or mocked his height. In this moment, Arthur becomes visibly emotional, realizing that he is not as alone as he believed. This scene is a powerful one, evoking deep empathy in the audience. I feel that this is a pivotal moment where Arthur’s Joker starts to unravel.
A Twisted Ending and the Birth of a Legacy
Arthur remains in custody throughout the film until the climactic moment when an explosion rocks the courthouse. As he’s led away by Joker followers, Arthur begins to grasp that he might not be the Joker he envisioned, but merely a man lost in his delusions. This realization shatters his connection with Harley, who wanted him to fully embrace his Joker persona. The scene on the stairs, where Arthur confronts the reality that Harley might never have been real, leaves the audience in a state of sorrow for him, despite the horrendous crimes he’s committed. Whether Harley is real or not this is the last time we se he Rin the film.
Towards the end, when Arthur is back in custody, one of the guards informs him that he has a visitor. As the audience, we might expect it to be Harley, but we never find out. A fellow disturbed inmate, who has been admiring Arthur throughout the film, approaches him and starts telling a joke before suddenly stabbing Arthur. As Arthur seemingly lies dying, the inmate begins to laugh and carves a smile reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s Joker into Arthur’s face.
The ending leaves us with an ominous question: Was Arthur truly the Joker, or merely a precursor to the real Joker? The presence of this background character throughout the film hints at the latter, suggesting that this story might just mark the beginning of the Joker’s chaotic legacy.
Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux is a gripping and unsettling exploration of shared delusion, mental illness, and the human need for connection. It blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. The film makes you feel deeply, and you may even question your own emotions as you sympathize with the characters or laugh at subtle moments throughout. This complexity alone makes it a strong Oscar contender.
