47/25
Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital. Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, and writer-director Todd Phillips share their biggest fears about taking on the sequel to the musical. Gaga also discusses how she entered and stayed in her dark persona. The film’s subtitle, «Folie a Deux,» translates to «The Madness of Two» in French. This initially led to speculation that Harley Quinn would appear in the film, which was soon confirmed. The name Folie a Deux comes from 19th-century French psychiatrists Charles Lasègue and Jules Falret. The term was coined to refer to two or more people who share the same madness or delusion. It is also known as Lasègue-Falret syndrome. The jury foreman refers to «The People of New York» instead of Gotham City. This is because New York State is the plaintiff in the criminal trial, and this version of Gotham City is clearly located in New York State (most versions place Gotham City in New Jersey). Arthur Fleck: [Written as a snide autograph with a sad smiley face] I HOPE YOU GET CANCER. The film opens with the Looney Tunes title sequence, featuring the Warner Bros. logo surrounded by rings and the Joker’s face. Appears in Crazy Cartoon AniMat: The Wicked Discovery of a Lifetime (2022). Merrily We Roll AlongWritten by Eddie Cantor, Murray Mencher, and Charles Tobias. I avoided reading reviews and watching trailers before watching the film because I had incredibly high expectations. With stars like Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, I was hoping for an intense and deep portrayal of the Joker, a character known for his dark, complex, and psychopathic nature. While Phoenix and Gaga give solid performances, the film falls short when it comes to delivering the story we all wanted. Instead of delving into the Joker’s twisted psyche, we get a strange mix of musical numbers and dance sequences that feel out of place, often popping up every few minutes for no real purpose. The Joker’s torment, his darkness, and his complexity — all of it is missing. Worse, we all know this isn’t the *real* Joker from the comics or the earlier films. But even with this freedom, the film wastes the potential to explore the character’s more psychological, chaotic side. Instead, we’re left with a shallow version of what could have been an engaging descent into madness. Supporting characters like Gaga’s Harley Quinn are equally underrated. Instead of playing into their infamously toxic dynamic, her character feels one-dimensional, with little depth to their relationship. The lack of meaningful interaction between the Joker and characters like Murray Franklin, or even the Arkham inmates, robs the story of any tension or intrigue. That’s a real shame, because with the right direction, this could have easily been one of the best films of the year. Instead, it’s a disappointment. Save yourself the time and money—this film falls short. Check out our list of exciting new films from this year’s film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and more.