The Joker Movies
The Joker Movies
October 2, 2024
Joker: Folie a Deux (2024)
Rating:
(3 stars out of 5)
Audience Rating: R
Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga
Director: Todd Phillips
Writers: Scott Silver, Todd Phillips, Bob Kane
Genre: Crime, Drama, Love story
Run Time: 2h 18m
Premiere Date: October 2, 2024 (Philippines)
Country: United States
Finally, the Sequel!
This was a much-awaited film for me. The first Joker was epic. And this time, Lady Gaga joins the scene as Harley Quinn. Since I saw Lady Gaga's video of Alejandro, I'd been a fan. And I also loved her in the movie Evergreen with Bradley Cooper. Joker and Harley together? How cool is that?
Folie a Deux
Indeed, the film was about madness for two. The movie should have built up their chemistry - but it turned out just passable. It wasn't the kind of electrifying connection she had with Bradley Cooper in Evergreen. It seemed like each was acting separately in front of the camera instead of connecting with each other. As usual, Joaquim's acting is beyond words. His emaciated body, sunken cheeks and eyes, the dreary blank look and of course, the haunting laughter from oblivion. But that seems to be the best part of the movie - Joaquim's acting.
Plot
There was no story...just incoherent scenes. He was busted free from the courtroom, and escaped, but he got caught immediately after. So what was the point in the escape? Joker was allowed to defend himself in court. Usually, this is where the hero shines, inspires and takes center stage. But he didn't really defend himself and succumbed to confess that there really was no Joker - thus he was convicted. So what's the point in him defending himself? And before he could do anything else, he was stabbed to death by a fellow inmate - no motives. And the movie ended. That's it! Instead of a big fire cracker, there was just a faint fart.
Musical
A surprising twist in this movie is its transition to a musical. Lady Gaga and Joker danced, sang and serenaded each other. It almost felt like the whole movie was a lengthy commercial for Lady Gaga. She almost had the same scene time as Joker. It's not like she was so compelling as Harley Quinn. It's as if she funded the movie to focus on her.
My version of the movie
This is how I would redo this movie. The musical part stays, Lady Gaga stays. When the courtroom is blown up, Harley and Joker escape and form an army of devotes disenfranchised from the establishment. Anarchy reigns - pretty much the same scene on Joker 1. But it's not all mayhem, otherwise it just becomes gratuitous violence. The next few scenes would explore the deep intimacy between Joker and Harley. I would weave it to the current US election to make it current and relevant. Trump wins and gives Joker a pardon. The marginalized, the disenfranchised and the outcasts are enthralled. But there was a 3rd assasination of Trump, and it was a success. Trump is dead. In his ashes rise the new Joker - more powerful, invincibe with the people's mandate to avenge the president. Joker mobilizes the nation to do a manhunt of all members of the neocons (neo-conservatives aimed at installing a new global order). The US turns into a post-Apocalyptic ground-zero. where the Joker reigns supreme. Next scene: Joker is in front of the UN General Assembly to deliver a powerful manifesto. I stop there, hinting of what could possibly happen in the sequel - Joker and His New World Order (Lady Gaga isn't there...enough singing).
Ending Thoughts
For a Joker movie, this was really a let down. It ruined a great lineage starting from Heath Ledger in the Dark Knight, then Joker 1 and now this. It's like the Godfather trilogy ruined by the 3rd movie.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit 
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