Finally, I got the chance to watch the recently released sequel to Joker (2019). I have been eagerly waiting for this installment considering the excellent performance of the initial installment and it has been a long 5 years. While waiting for good 5 years, I was 100% sure that the producers were cooking a masterpiece that would break the box office but unfortunately that is not the case. Hollywood will always find a way to bring down your expectations in an annoying way.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” is a movie that was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is a musical and psychological thriller film that was directed by Todd Phillips and co-written with Scott Silver. This movie is based on DC comics characters and it is a sequel to ”Joker” (2019). It starred Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey and Leigh Gill.
The movie starts with an animated act where the Joker struggles with his shadow. Unfortunately, his shadow impersonated him and abandoned him in the end. After this act, the movie continues with Arthur Fleck in custody at Arkham State Hospital waiting for his trial for the gruesome crime he committed a couple of years back.
On the other hand, his lawyer, Maryanne, plans to argue that Arthur suffers from identity disorder and that past traumatic experiences triggered his behaviour when he committed crimes. Arthur seems to be on board with this plan, but things took a big change when he attended a music therapy session.
At the music therapy session, Arthur met Lee. A woman who tells him that she grew up in the same neighborhood as he did, had an abusive father who died in a car crash, and was imprisoned after burning down her parents' apartment. Their relationship begins to blossom as Lee shows Arthur how she admires his Joker personality and the crimes he committed. Quickly, Arthur becomes emotionally attached to Lee. What happens next? Will Arthur's trial go as planned?
My Review And Rating.
This installment doesn't feel like a sequel, it felt like a mashed up spin off to me. I mean why will almost 60% of the plot concentrate on rehashing all that happened in the previous sequel through court proceedings and interview scenes. I thought this sequel would come up with a good storyline and arc, not repetition of the previous sequel’s plot. I was highly disappointed with this part.
The beginning started slowly and steady with a promise of an impressive and perfectly put together plot, but as the movie progressed, it all went down flat. At first, I didn't know it was a musical. Few minutes into the movie, when the musical started and I was confused and questioning myself if I downloaded the wrong movie. You can't mix a dark psychological story together with a musical that is full of energy and spectacle. That is a catastrophe. I see this sequel as a slap on the face of the avid lovers of the first sequel.
The plot of this movie was written poorly, it had so many potholes and it couldn't hold its own against the initial sequel. The point of the whole movie was entirely wrong (Arthur Fleck was not the real Joker, but we got introduced to the real Joker at the end).
There was no emotional impact, even the fact that the actors were impressive with their performances, the plot made it look as if they were hidden in the background and not out in the spotlightas they should be. There was no psychological depth to it, it was struggling to have its own identity while relying on the past glorious identity of the previous installment, the story arc was weak, and fragmented in various places making it hard for the story have any impact on the audience.
The actors of this movie were perfectly casted but I honestly feel that their talent, hard work, and excellent performance were wasted. Especially Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga who obviously gave it their all and dedication trying to bring to life the poorly written characters. I think they made the movie bearable to watch.
However, I couldn't finish this movie, I was only able to watch 40 mins of it and that 40 mins took me 2 business days then I gave up. I mean, I fell asleep every time I continued from where I stopped. That's how boring and disappointing this eagerly awaited sequel was like for me.
Rating this movie, I will give it 4.8 out 10 stars. It was a disappointment, my expectations were not met, and it was a psychological musical mishap. I wouldn't recommend this movie for any avid lover of the Joker. This installment was a commercial failure for Warner Bros.
Have you seen this movie? How was your experience?
All images above are from the movie screenshots
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