Now that all the hubbub has died down, I think I can pinpoint why this tanked. The mass consumer theatergoing audience just didn’t want a superhero movie jukebox musical. Since this is likely the first and last time we will probably get a superhero movie jukebox musical, I have to say that I’m glad they at least they tried to do something different. In fact, I dare say… I liked it? It’s definitely what the kids nowadays would call a “big swing”.
The flip side to that coin is that’s basically the only trick up its sleeve. (Other than the Looney Tunes cartoon that opens the film.) It’s also not quite as clever as the filmmakers think it is. However, it’s not nearly as bad as you’ve been led to believe.
The movie is essentially about Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) experiencing the ramifications of his actions in the first film. He spends his days in prison awaiting his trial when he meets a fellow inmate named Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) in a music therapy class. Together, they escape, but eventually, Joker is caught and has to stand trial.
Much has been made of the musical numbers. Honestly, they aren’t bad. I mean our main characters are supposed to be batshit insane. Having them occasionally break into song isn’t the most farfetched thing in the world. Besides, if the first film was a riff on Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, then this can be seen as the comic book version of New York, New York.
Ultimately, it’s a long sad plunge into darkness. It’s almost a reverse of the first one. Without spoiling anything, I’ll only say that the film is essentially the journey of the flashy Joker character slowly being beaten back down into his pathetic Arthur Fleck persona. It’s during the musical numbers that he finds his only glimmers of hope.
Much has been made about the final scene too. I don’t know. I dug it.
Overall, Joker: Folie a Deux is a solid sequel that dares to be different, even if it is missing the pulse of the original. I think all involved made exactly the movie they set out to make. At the end of the day, you can’t ask for much more than that.
No comments:
Post a Comment