Joker: Folie à Deux: Initial Reviews Emphasize Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s Chemistry
The first reactions to Joker: Folie à Deux are rolling in!
The much-anticipated musical sequel to Todd Phillips’ 2019 smash hit Joker made its debut at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, Sept. 4. Critics are now offering their thoughts on the film, which stars Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker and Lady Gaga as Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn.
“There’s genuine chemistry when Joker and Harley encounter each other in the asylum,” noted Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian. But in the end, the film feels rather dull because it is limited to the strangely fantastical Gotham jail environment. Phoenix and Gaga are separated for long stretches, and while Phoenix delivers a powerful performance, it feels one-dimensional at times.”
In a review for The Wrap, William Bibbiani observed that Phoenix “is a gifted actor who reveals fresh nuances to Arthur Fleck, insights that even Arthur himself didn’t fully grasp before.”
Lady Gaga, according to Bibbiani, offers a unique take on Harley Quinn, diverging significantly from previous interpretations.
All About Joker: Folie à Deux, Featuring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga
Tara Brady of The Irish Times gave the film a three-star rating out of five, commending Phoenix for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker, calling him “an undeniable force on screen.” Gaga, on the other hand, pours her heart into a role that Brady felt was somewhat underdeveloped.
“There are intriguing themes around love, mental illness, obsession, performance, and fandom,” Brady observed, “but the film falls short of being truly remarkable.”
The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney commented that Folie à Deux will likely provoke the same polarizing reactions as its predecessor. “The movie limits the Joker’s potential by containing his chaos within the asylum,” Rooney remarked. Although the Joker’s history of trauma and mental illness is explored in greater detail in the sequel, not much new information is revealed. Even the dance sequences, carried over from Joker, feel repetitive.”
On the more critical side, IndieWire’s David Ehrlich expressed disappointment with the film, labeling it as an “excruciatingly — perhaps intentionally — dull sequel that seems determined not to entertain.” He was particularly displeased with the use of Lady Gaga.
“Phillips’ decision to put such a megastar in a part meant to highlight her screen presence and singing ability, only to sideline her in court or cut her musical moments short, feels like a bigger offense than anything Arthur Fleck does in this film,” Ehrlich wrote.
About Joker: Folie à Deux
The film was officially announced in June 2022, following the massive success of the first Joker, which earned Joaquin Phoenix an Academy Award for Best Actor. Joker had received a total of 11 Oscar nominations and also took home the award for Best Original Score. Phoenix reprises his role alongside Zazie Beetz as Sophie Dumond, with PEOPLE confirming in June 2022 that Lady Gaga was in talks to play Harley Quinn.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn exists in a separate DC universe from Margot Robbie’s version seen in Suicide Squad (2016), Birds of Prey (2020), and The Suicide Squad (2020).
The cast also includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey.
Co-written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver, Joker: Folie à Deux is set to hit theaters on Oct. 4.
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