Commentary — ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Would Be Better Served As A Standalone Film
by Frank Martin
There’s no denying that Joker: Folie à Deux caused confusion upon its release. The first film, Joker, was filled with controversy as a violent depiction of one man’s descent into madness. So the announcement that a sequel would be a musical stunned both fans and critics of the original. The sequel picks up where the first left off and continues the story. But, granted the musical nature of the film, it also stands apart as its own thing entirely. The direction it takes offers a separate and unique experience to the audience from Joker, so it begs the question: would it be better served as a sequel or a completely standalone entity?
The movie primarily takes place in prison and in court as Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) prepares to stand trial for the killing spree he performed in the first film. While in prison, he meets Lee Quinzel (Lady Gaga), a woman so obsessed with him that she committed herself to the psychiatric hospital to be with him. They both share a delusion that causes them to break out into moments of song. The story unfolds very much like a romance, a stark contrast from the first film, which is dark and filled with a lot more murder.
It’s not just the content of the two films that are different. There’s also a different style to the cinematography, taking more care in exploring colors and choreography through nuance rather than dark urban landscapes that are beautiful in a grim way. Although both stories and characters are intrinsically tied to one another, there are so many different aspects of each film that set one apart from the other. There are a lot of benefits to viewing each as its own independent experience. And judging the sequel as if it were a standalone film without any knowledge of the first may in fact boost it’s reception in the eyes of a viewer.
Joker: Folie à Deux is now streaming on Max.
