JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX
Without a doubt, the most underrated film of 2024 was Todd Phillips' “Joker: Folie a Deux”, which could also go down as the most misunderstood film of the year too. The film was on my list of most anticipated movies for 2024 and in my write up for the sequel I mention that I was under no illusions that the film could end up going the route of every other sequel, which is by making it bigger and louder and just more than the first film, but by doing so it then loses what made the original so great in the first place. This is one of the main reasons that I think this film is so universally hated, as I think this is exactly what most people wanted or expected from a sequel to “Joker” from 2019. However, director Todd Phillips takes the story down a completely different path, and yet it feels like the correct and most natural progression from the tale told in the first film. The reason for this is because the film is not about “The Joker”, but rather Arthur Fleck, an abused and bullied man forever marginalised by society who, after reaching his breaking point, he finally snapped, and fought back under the guise of Joker.
While the film was on my most anticipated list of 2024, I actually almost didn't end up seeing it in theatres, for two reasons. The first was because the reviews were loud and clear, “Joker: Folie a Deux” was a disaster and the worst film of the year, and I found my enthusiasm I had for it dissipating by the second. Even my brother saw it, who is a massive Joaquin Phoenix fan, and outside of the opening animated scene, he thought the film was dreadful. Speaking of Phoenix, he was the other reason I almost didn't see the film in a theatre because I was very down on him, as he had recently walked away from Todd Haynes's latest movie mere days before it was due to start shooting, leaving him in the lurch and causing that film to ultimately be cancelled. As much as I think Phoenix is a very talented actor, I was appalled by his behaviour in regards to Haynes's film. It was actually due to the fact that I put “Joker: Folie a Deux” on my anticipated list that I forced myself to go see it, and boy am I glad that I did, because I loved every second of it. I thought the film worked wonderfully, and yet even while watching it, I could see why it wasn't a success. Just like Lady Gaga's character in the film, Lee Quinzel, audiences only wanted to see a film about “Joker”, and not Arthur flaming Fleck. But as we know by the end of this film, Fleck has only ever been himself, and never Joker, even when he finally fought back against society and the people who bullied him, it was never like he had a split personality; Arthur always knew what he was doing in every moment. The Joker did not take over Arthur's mind causing to become a murderer, it was all Fleck's doing himself.......after being pushed too far. That is why I love the title so much because “folie a deux” means “shared psychosis” and seeing as the film has both “Joker” and “Harley Quinn” characters, I think people assume that they share the psychosis of the title, but I am sure it really means “Harley” and the film's audience.
Anyway, I absolutely loved “Joker: Folie a Deux” even though it is one of the saddest “love” stories ever made. It is such a dark, and sad film, particularly because Arthur thinks he has finally found someone who loves him, but Lee (or Harley Quinn if you want) only has eyes for Joker, who does not exist. Even when the two of them have sex in the jail, Lee brings make up into the cell to paint his face like a clown before they do the deed. What makes it sadder is seeing the way Arthur is at the beginning of the film, walking around like a living corpse. He doesn't care about life anymore or get any enjoyment out of it. But the way he grows and finds himself once more, when he thinks he finds love is amazing to see, only for it all to come crashing down on him by movie's end. I have to mention that Joaquin Phoenix is absolutely fantastic in this film, and I could not help loving his performance despite the whole Todd Haynes debacle. Lady Gaga is also excellent (I actually think she is a really good actress when she gets material suited to her), but if I was to have any criticism about the film, I think that she is a little underused.
Now unless you have been living under a rock for the past six months, you would know that “Joker: Folie a Deux” is also a musical, another reason why I think the film has not succeeded. It is what they call a “jukebox musical” which is when the songs used are pre-existing songs and not original to the movie itself. Because of how mad of an idea it was to make the sequel to “Joker” a musical, this was one of the main reasons why I was anticipating the film so much. I think it works, and I liked the music elements more on my second watch of the film, but I would've liked for them to really dive into the song and dance numbers with more gusto, similar to the way Jacques Audiard's “Emilia Perez” does. I suppose the fact that “Joker: Folie a Deux” is such a sombre affair, they may have thought by doing so, the music would fail, but “Emilia Perez” isn't exactly all sunshine and rainbows and it works amazingly well there too.
As you can probably tell, “Joker: Folie a Deux” will definitely by on my top twenty-five list, so I will stop talking about it now so I have something more to say then, but let me just finish by saying that I am guaranteed that this film will age like fine wine. Twenty years from now people will recognise its brilliance, and critics who had fun tearing it down now, will suddenly claim that they always thought the film was awesome. Trust me on that! And for that reason alone, that is why it is the most underrated film of 2024.
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