Todd Phillips' JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX: A Review of its Confusing Musicality

The musical noir has garnered mixed to negative reviews among critics, a testament to the enduring phenomenon that results in poor creative choices.

For a film heralded by Hollywood executives as an unparalleled achievement in cinematic art, particularly as a sequel within the DC universe, my expectations—admittedly—soared to unrealistic heights. With an astronomical budget exceeding $400 million, the movie’s dismal box office performance starkly contrasts the magnitude of its financial investment. Despite claims of masterful cinematic framing, a carefully curated thematic color palette, and what can only be described as decrepit storytelling, the result fell strikingly short of the grandeur it promised. Predictably, the producers' marketing strategy faltered, neglecting to implement a proper test screening. Their misguided confidence in the momentum of the original film and the added star power of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn—or "Lee" as reimagined here—was expected to carry the sequel. However, this misplaced reliance failed to reignite audience enthusiasm, and the consequences were all too apparent.

Photo-Illustration by Nyrad Publishing; Photos: GETTY IMAGES

The first film starkly contrasts its sequel, embodying a deeper, more introspective narrative tone. Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the Joker offered a profound reimagining of the character, laced with heavy, melancholic dialogue and captivatingly subtle delusions of grandeur. Through his perspective, we were invited to unravel the complexities of his past, including his fraught relationship with his dysfunctional mother, which ultimately sheds light on the psychological unraveling that drives his violent impulses. Whether it was the cold-blooded murder of a television host during a live broadcast or the chilling scene in which he smothers his bedridden mother, these actions felt justified through the dark lens of his fractured psyche. The pacing and structure of the storytelling were meticulously crafted, allowing the film’s visual language—through lighting, composition, and tightly framed shots of Phoenix's nuanced expressions—to carry much of the emotional weight. Unlike the disjointed sequel, this film relied less on dialogue and more on its cinematic elements, creating an immersive experience that needed no crutch to propel its narrative forward.