Joaquin Phoenix returns to his Oscar-winning role of the troubled Arthur Fleck in Joker: Folie a Deux and delivers another captivating performance.
The film follows Arthur during his time in Arkham as he awaits his trial for the murders from the first film. His attorney (Catherine Keener) tries to convince anyone who will listen that Arthur is insane due to his abusive upbringing and cannot possibly be tried as competent for his actions.
Arthur’s dreary life at Arkham is punctuated by exchanges with his guards, mainly Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson), who escorts him to get his daily medicine and his daily routine.
During a rare visit to another wing to see his attorney, Arthur passes a music class and catches the eye of Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga), and Arthur becomes captivated by this mysterious woman.
As they get to know one another when Arthur is assigned to the class, he starts to open up, and they begin a relationship as best as they can under the strict conditions. At this point, the film takes a detour as musical numbers pop up at random times, which at first seemed out of place to me but then cleverly illustrated the mental state of the two leads.
Arthur sees them doing production numbers on rooftops, in clubs, and in variety shows, and she sees music all around, such as while outside in the rain and during her daily life.
The film is a slow build as Lee leaves Arkham but tells Arthur she will see him at his trial. Despite the massive celebrity status of his alter-ego, Lee becomes Arthur’s entire world.
The movie is a dark and captivating look at two very troubled people, examining mental illness and relationships in a compelling but troubling fashion. The film is clearly set in the past, with older cars and television, public smoking, pay phones, and the lack of cell phones and social media clearly establishing the look of times gone by.
The music in the film is engaging as the leads work old standards into their fantasies. While they can at times seem out of place with the narrative—such as a number taking place during a key moment in court—they can be seen as a bold and daring device illustrating the tenuous hold on reality that Arthur has and how his mind attempts to manufacture happiness even when darkness invades.
While Lee is not facing charges, she is clearly a disturbed person as well. While it can be argued that she is more functional and less dangerous than Arthur, there are clearly numerous issues even for someone who has far more advantages and resources in life than Arthur.
The film does not offer FX-laden sequences of action and comic mayhem but instead gives audiences a look into the troubled minds of two individuals and how they try to find love in their bleak worlds.
Director Todd Phillips lets his leads carry the story, and they do a great job, as do many in the supporting cast. While many fans of the character may want to see Joker leading a crime spree across Gotham interlaced with action and violence, this offering may not be for everyone. It is a compelling and well-acted look at mental illness and troubled individuals, but the slow pacing, dark tone, and musical elements may be difficult for some fans to embrace. While it is a quality film, it is not really for the mainstream and may struggle to reach the success of the first film.
The movie does provide a dark and troubling character study and great performances, and for me, that was more than enough to keep my attention from start to finish.
4 stars out of 5
