Review: Joker - Folie à Deux
The World Is A Stage
INTRODUCTION
This is a quick review of the newly released film Joker: Folie à Deux. Keep in mind this is but one of the many movies I watch every year, and that whatever initial grade I come up for this film could change for better or worse with time. To better keep up to date with both my thoughts on other movies and if my feelings on this film changed, follow me on Letterboxd.
I’d also appreciate it greatly if you spread the word about the newsletter to any family or friends who would love to have film reviews, classic movie lists, and Oscars projections delivered straight to their inbox.
THE PLOT
Via Letterboxd: While struggling with his dual identity, Arthur Fleck not only stumbles upon true love, but also finds the music that’s always been inside him.
QUICK REVIEW
In 2019, Todd Phillips' Joker took the festival circuit by storm, emerging as one of the year’s biggest cinematic surprises. Despite early concerns about its potential to resonate with certain bad-faith male audiences, the film proved to be both a critical and commercial success. It garnered widespread acclaim, becoming a box office juggernaut, earning a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars, and securing Joaquin Phoenix a Best Actor win for his transformative portrayal of the title character.
For years, speculation about a sequel was met with resistance. However, Phillips eventually greenlit the follow-up, this time introducing Harley Quinn, portrayed by none other than Lady Gaga, and shifting the genre to a jukebox musical. Given the success of the original, many—including myself—expected this sequel to become another awards contender. Its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, however, sparked mixed reactions, and as the film reaches wider audiences, the division only seems to deepen. Naturally, I was eager to see for myself where I would land in this debate.
First, a bit of context. I genuinely appreciated the first Joker. It wasn’t one of my personal favorites of 2019, but I understood the overwhelming praise it received; a solid B+ in my book. However, its bleakness, combined with its exploration of societal alienation, made it a difficult film to rewatch. I hoped the musical elements in the sequel would inject a fresh energy into the story, especially since I'm a fan of musicals (The Color Purple was one of my top five films last year, and In the Heights was my top favorite of 2021). Unfortunately, I was already feeling stressed when I arrived at the screening, having almost missed it due to traffic.
Regrettably, the tone of Joker: Folie à Deux remains as dark and oppressive as its predecessor, if not more so. The film continues to follow a man’s descent into madness and villainy, doubling down on its nihilistic worldview. While the musical numbers offer brief reprieves, they feel disjointed, interrupting the narrative rather than flowing organically within it. The soundtrack isn’t bad, but its impact is forgettable, and the songs don't enhance the story as much as they should.
As for Phoenix and Gaga, they are both fully committed, delivering intense performances, but they are underutilized—especially Gaga. While I admired their dedication, neither performance left a lasting impression strong enough to make my personal awards ballot, and I’m unsure how far the studio’s campaign will take them. The film often feels like it’s treading old ground, with multiple callbacks to the original, leaving me asking, "Is this really all there is?"
And then there’s the ending. Without giving anything away, it’s a bold choice, but one I found infuriating. As the credits rolled, I actually cursed out loud, stunned by the decision to conclude the story that way.
From a storytelling perspective, I would rate this a C+. It lacks the narrative cohesion of the first film, despite its flaws. However, on a technical level, it’s an absolute marvel. The production design, costumes, makeup, score, sound, cinematography, and direction are all first-rate, making for a visually stunning film. The craftsmanship elevates the experience, and the musical sequences, while disjointed, are beautifully executed.
In the end, Joker: Folie à Deux is a mixed bag. Story-wise, it’s a step down from the original, leaving me frustrated and dissatisfied. But the film’s technical achievements are so impressive that they just barely push me into giving it a positive score. For now, I’ll settle on a soft B-. The film’s craftsmanship saves it from falling flat, even if the storytelling leaves much to be desired.
Perhaps the most telling indicator of the film’s polarizing reception occurred as I left the screening. A fan dressed as the Joker himself, clearly a huge supporter of the original film, was telling everyone who would listen just how much he hated the sequel. Yikes.
INITIAL GRADING
