Joker: Folie à Deux

Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.

Joker: Folie à Deux, Todd Phillips

On the 3rd of October, I had the privilege of attending the Joker: Folie À Deux screening at Cineworld, Leicester Square. I arrived fifteen minutes before the gates were set to open and found quite a line outside the venue. Fellow attendees mentioned how busy multimedia screenings can be. As it was my first time attending one of these events, I was both fascinated and pleasantly surprised by the efficiency of the staff in managing the crowd, ensuring we didn’t wait too long outside. After the ticket checks, we were directed to the screen. Despite arriving early, the Warner Bros team’s seamless refreshments and services made the wait much more comfortable, and the film started right on time.

I was eager to see how Joker: Folie à Deux would follow the 2019 modern classic. The shift in genre, moving into a musical, intrigued me. As someone not particularly drawn to musicals, I initially found it hard to adjust to this new medium of storytelling. However, Lady Gaga’s portrayal of Harley Quinn made the transition easier. She embodied the eccentricity and despair of the character with such power, making her a perfect fit for the role. Joaquin Phoenix also seemed more at ease than Arthur Fleck, which was fascinating. It suggested either a deeper internalization of Fleck’s actions or perhaps Phoenix bringing his dark humour into the role.

“The shift in genre, moving into a musical, intrigued me”

Visually, the film was stunning, with an exceptional score that added to its mystique. The costumes were particularly effective in progressing the character development of both Joker and Harley, at times reflecting their comic book counterparts. However, despite these strengths, the film felt like an extended introduction to Harley Quinn within Todd Phillips' universe, rather than a full progression of Arthur Fleck’s story. The film’s ending, to me, felt anti-climactic and didn’t quite close to Fleck’s character arc in a satisfying way. However, I was very delighted by the experience and would love to be a part of more of these in the future. 

★ ★ ★

Release Date: October 4th, 2024
Directed by Todd Phillips
Written by Scott Silver, Todd Phillips
Produced by Todd Phillips, Emma Tillinger Koskoff, Joseph Garner
Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Zazie Beetz, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill
Cinematography by Lawrence Sher
Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures
Runtime: 138 minutes.