Friday, October 4, 2024

Joker: Folie a Deux (Part 2) (2024) Movie Review

 

Brilliant Movie! Haters just don’t understand. There were so many clues. Going to touch on some spoilers, (kind of) will give warning not to read past a certain point till after you watch the movie. It’s not what you would expect. But it's what the character deserves and they have been dropping clues. So, fanboys should have known.

So, what happens to people who go through a public fiasco. Sometimes through just a momentary mental break. Or just the right place at the right time, or more often the wrong place at the wrong time. More so now than ever, people get filmed and put on blast when clearly, they are going through something traumatic. What happens after someone gets caught on video something unintentionally bad, funny, iconic, or ironic. Everyone expects more of the same. Another sound bite, or another amazing feat, or another murder. Truth is usually gets tiring quick. The book ‘On the Road’ by Jack Kerouac immortalized Neal Cassady in the personification of Dean Moriarty. Based on a couple of road trips over just a few years at the end it’s clear Kerouac is tired of Cassady and kind of paints him as a loser. Of course, the book opened up doors and everyone wanted to get to know this fast talker that had ideas, questions, and endless thirst for adventure. Reading about his later adventures his relationships are short lived too. But those doors opened up to famous authors. Which is cool, but who was he; A lewd drunk yelling at cops  just being a dick, serial womanizer, a rambling druggie? Everyone hoped to meet the non-conformist James Dean rebel portrayed in the beginning of ‘On the Road’. 

The Symbionese Liberation Army who famously kidnapped Patty Hearst. Several of the members on the run from police knocked on a random door in Berkley California. The people living there agreed to take them in expecting mind opening conversation. But were shocked on how normal they were. These idyllical rebels that were all over television had nothing really to say. It’s always said ‘never meet your heroes’ they will never live up to expectations. Joker 2 (while not a hero) we get to know him a little too well.

Joker 2 Trailer YouTube

According to Wikipedia, Folie à deux is “Shared Psychosis”. It begs to wonder how much of the movie is only Arthur Fleck’s aka ‘The Joker’ (Joaquin Phoenix) or Lee Quinzel’s, not the Harley, (Lady Gaga)(who I feel was just playing a slightly different version of herself) heads? Author is very frail and withdrawn waiting for trail. Mercilessly berated by the guards, one brilliantly played by Brendan Gleeson. Who just have the same taunts every day (type of guy who laughs at his own jokes). He seems haunted by his life, the things he’s endured. Lady Gaga plays a follow inmate at Arkham who catches the Jokers eye. Singing ensues, a lot of singing, with a French vibe, looking at you Lady Gaga….. The singing goes on, after the point is made, to the level of obnoxious. With a run time of two hours and eighteen minutes trimming the songs a little bit would have made the movie flow better. Over all, the depiction is Arthur is a nobody (with clear mental struggles) who someone handed a gun to and immediately kills some people. Could have easily shot himself in the eyeball looking down the barrel to see if it was loaded. People hoping to see a movie with an epic show down with Batman, you haven’t been paying attention. This movie is about the aftermath of Arthurs thirty seconds of fame.

SPOILERS, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU WATCH THE MOVIE!

 SPOILERS, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU WATCH THE MOVIE!

SPOILERS, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU WATCH THE MOVIE!

SPOILERS, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU WATCH THE MOVIE!

SPOILERS, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU WATCH THE MOVIE!

SPOILERS, DO NOT READ UNTIL YOU WATCH THE MOVIE!


Clues your not watching the movie you think;

This Joker’s name is Arthur Fleck.

The Joker’s name we know from the comic book is Jack Oswald White or Jack Napier in the movies.

In one of the Animations Joker says there was someone else using the name before him.

Joker is described as a disfigured, criminal mastermind. Hardly fits Arthur.

In the first movie we see Thomas Wayne and a young Bruce Wayne. Arthur is already in his forties. It would be hard for a sixty-year-old to be fighting Batman.

In this movie he admits to killing six people. It is strongly implied he killed the physiatrist (walking down the hall at the end with blood-soaked shoes) which would have been seven. Some things shown in the movie he just imagined.

It seems like most of his relationship with Lee Quinzel is in his head, like an imaginary friend. So, the folie à deux is a shared psychosis with his imaginary friend. Some of the scenes don’t make sense that she’s there. Most likely the limited relationship they had was greatly expanded in Arthur’s head due to loneliness and mental health. Lee is just a lonely rich girl who wants revenge or attention from her daddy by publicly having a relationship with a famous criminal.

This Joker was some poor schmuks’ thirty seconds of fame and was only a footnote in Gotham’s seedy history. In the time period Batman is lurking in the shadows no one remembers this Joker.

Almost everyone thought they were watching a different movie.

Mic Drop- Todd Phillips played us all! Well Done!


 

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