4.5/5 stars.
As hard as I tried to avoid spoilers and public opinion until after I wrote my review, the public hate for this movie has been unavoidable on social media. Everyone is disgusted that it’s a musical, but the music gave the movie much needed levity in contrast with how dark the rest of the scenes were.
“Folie a Deux” was dark, depressing, violent and mentally taxing to watch, just like Joker (2019). It did not shy away from discussing and depicting abuse and its effects. If it wasn’t for the musical scenes born from Arthur Fleck’s (Joaquin Phoenix) imagination, I don’t know if I would have been able to sit through the movie. As it is, “Folie a Deux” is worth a trip to the theater for a clever spin on the concept of a movie musical.
The movie follows Arthur’s relationship with Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga) and trial for the crimes committed in the first movie. One of the prison guards is able to get Arthur into a singing group with other prisoners, where he begins to fall in love with Lee.
From the second Lee is introduced, we can see that Arthur’s surroundings are always much brighter when she is with him. Lee also introduces the musical aspect of the movie. The transition in color and brightness between the B Wing, where Lee is kept, and the E Wing, where Arthur is kept, underscores Arthur’s need for her and center’s the darkness of the film around his isolation.
The movie also introduced multiple iconic DC characters including Harvey Dent (alias Two-Face), portrayed by British actor Harry Lawtey, who gave an incredible performance as the cocky, assured DA condemning Arthur in his trial.
Although this was technically a jukebox musical – a type of musical that uses existing songs rather than original ones – it didn’t feel like one. There were only true musical numbers in Arthur’s delusions/dreams, and other than that most of the singing is done by Lee, Arthur or both with minimal backing track and next to no choreography. When these numbers occur, no one else participates, and without that ensemble piece, it feels like they are sharing their own delusion rather than a performance.
The songs were fitting for the characters and the development of the plot. They borrowed songs from famous artists and Broadway musicals alike. “For Once In My Life” by Stevie Wonder marked a turning point in the plot, when Arthur chose to sing for the first time outside of a delusion or dream sequence without being led by Lee and took ownership of their bond.
Lady Gaga was an excellent casting choice for Lee, bringing the perfect energy to the character and a beautiful singing voice. This version of Harley Quinn is the most serious and calculated I have seen, despite still seeming childish compared to the Joker throughout the movie.
Joaquin Phoenix’s reprise of his role as Arthur Fleck was just as incredible as the first movie. He perfectly depicted Arthur’s lack of confidence and depression as himself in stark contrast to his Joker persona. Phoenix has truly mastered this version of Joker – not a confident, cartoony villain, but a broken, desperate man who was never very good at anything but killing.
The costumes fit the characters’ arcs beautifully, especially Lee’s slow transformation into Harley throughout the outfits she wears in the later part of the movie. Arthur Fleck’s current relationship with his Joker persona is also evident through his costuming, as he only appears as his full Joker-self in his delusions.
I love the dark realism of this branch of the DCU and hope to see it continue in the future.
Photo courtesy of IGN.