Joker: Folie à Deux delights audiences with an emotional rollercoaster full of twists, turns and outstanding performances from Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.

In 2019, the mythos of The Joker from DC Comics was reimagined. Co-written and directed by Todd Phillips, Joker follows Arthur Fleck (played by Phoenix), a professional clown and aspiring stand-up comedian who is thrust into the spotlight after having a very, very bad day. The film focuses on complex themes and presents commentary on the social class system, and the perception and treatment of mental health. Joker grossed over one billion dollars at the box office and received widespread acclaim and accolades, including the Academy Award for Best Actor for Phoenix’s performance.

Credit: Niko Tavernise

Phillips and Phoenix return for the highly anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux. Taking place two years after the events of Joker, Arthur is institutionalised at Arkham State Hospital. While struggling with his dual identity and awaiting his trial, he encounters the love of his life, Lee Quinzel (played by Gaga).

This sequel further reimagines the DC Comics lore as its own standalone continuity. The story takes heavy inspiration from Joker lore, and there are quite a few Easter eggs and references hidden throughout that Batman and DC fans will appreciate.

Music is the vehicle that moves the story forward, serving as a medium for Joker and Harley to express themselves to the audience, which spoken dialogue would fail to achieve. The musical choices consist of well-known and original songs that complement characters and the moments they find themselves at pivotal story points. It’s unfathomable that anybody else could nail these performances like Phoenix and Gaga did.

Thanks to having the same creative team as its predecessor, this film is a one-to-one continuation of the original, exploring familiar themes and concepts. New story elements like the romance between Joker and Harley and the fantastic musical sequences take Folie à Deux to new heights. The romance between Arthur and Lee Quinzel is truly the heart of the film and lives up to its French title, meaning “madness of two”.

Credit: Niko Tavernise

With the line between fantasy and reality blurred, what exactly should cinema goers expect to take away from the film? Well, that’s up to the viewer. Joker and Harley are the artists, and it’s up to the audience to interpret their work as they see fit.

From a certain point of view, Folie à Deux can be interpreted as the Joker’s homage to the tragedy and madness found in the famous Italian opera Pagliacci, his favourite according to the comic book lore. Just like this film, Pagliacci is a tragic story of a depressed performer and is heavily associated with the sad clown paradox, perhaps best illustrated by a 19th-century joke that involves a doctor recommending their patient to watch a show of a great clown to treat their mood. The patient is, of course, the clown himself.

Joker: Folie à Deux is a solid continuation and true to Joker’s enigmatic nature, a must-watch if you loved the original. The musical sequences and the performances of Phoenix and Gaga constitute Folie à Deux as a piece of art that commemorates the madness of their characters and their comic book origins.

Joker: Folie à Deux is in cinemas now

With only 36 days to go until Supanova Comic Con & Gaming’s milestone 100th event, grab your tickets to their penultimate 99th show in Adelaide, and Brisbane’s three-day extravaganza now via Moshtix!

Lead image credit: Niko Tavernise