15/36

Plus, Gaga discusses how she got into and stayed in her dark character

Plot

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 director-writer Todd Phillips share what scared them most about tackling the musical sequel . The film's subtitle "Folie a Deux" means "Madness of Two" in French. This initially led to speculation about Harley Quinn's appearance in the film, which was shortly thereafter confirmed. The name Folie a Deux comes from the 19th century French psychiatrists Charles Lasègue and Jules Falret.

It is also known as Lasègue-Falret syndrome

The term was coined to refer to two or more people that share the same madness or delusion. The jury foreperson speaks of the "People of New York" instead of Gotham City. This is because the State of New York is the plaintiff in a criminal trial, and this version of Gotham City is evidently located in New York state (most versions place Gotham in New Jersey).. Arthur Fleck: [Written as a spiteful autograph with a sad smiley face] I HOPE YOU GET CANCER. The film opens with a Looney Tunes title sequence, featuring the Warner Bros logo surrounded by rings and the Joker's face..

Studio OrchestraCourtesy of Warner Bros

Featured in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Wicked Discovery of a Lifetime (2022). Merrily We Roll AlongWritten by Eddie Cantor, Murray Mencher and Charles TobiasPerformed by The Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.. Joker 2 attempts to once again dive into the mind of Arthur Fleck, but unfortunately, it treads too much of the same ground as the first film. The original Joker was such a meticulous and thorough character study that by the end, it felt like there was little left to uncover.

Lady Gaga also brings depth to her role as Harley Quinn, adding a new dynamic to Arthur's story

That exact feeling haunts this sequel, as it struggles to find new dimensions to Arthur's complex psyche, leaving the film feeling more like an epilogue rather than a fresh narrative.Joaquin Phoenix, as expected, delivers an excellent performance as Arthur Fleck , further cementing his unsettling portrayal of the Joker. However, the movie continuously pulls away from their strong performances with unnecessary musical numbers and courtroom drama that feels out of place.Ironically, the movie feels its best when it alludes to the iconic scenes and atmosphere of the first film, rather than when it tries to experiment with new elements. The callbacks to Arthur's lonely and disturbed journey in the original film evoke the same eerie tension and emotional weight that made Joker so powerful. However, the attempts to add new layers with the courtroom drama and out-of-nowhere musical sequences ultimately detract from the story's flow, feeling more like distractions than meaningful additions.The film shines brightest when it focuses on the twisted and toxic relationship between Joker and Harley. The chemistry between Phoenix and Gaga adds a fascinating layer to the film, but unfortunately, these moments are too few and far between.Ultimately, Joker 2 feels more like a continuation that didn't have much more to say.

For fans of the original, it might feel redundant, offering little new exploration of Arthur's character or the world he inhabits

While it has its highlights, particularly in its performances, the film feels like an unnecessary add-on to the first rather than a compelling new chapter. Check out our list of exciting new movies from this year's film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and more.