Joker: Folie à Deux

Before watching the movie, I avoided reading reviews or watching trailers because I had incredibly high expectations. With stars like Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, I was hoping for an intense and profound portrayal of the Joker-a character known for his dark, complex, and psychopathic nature.

While Phoenix and Gaga give solid performances, the film falls flat in delivering the story we all wanted. Instead of diving deep into the Joker's twisted psyche, we're given an odd mix of musical numbers and dance sequences that feel out of place, often popping up every few minutes without any real purpose. The Joker's torment, his darkness, and his complexity-all of that is missing.

What makes it worse is that we all know this isn't the *real* Joker from the comics or earlier films. But even with that freedom, the movie wastes the potential to explore the more psychological, chaotic side of the character. Instead, we're left with a shallow version of what could've been a gripping dive into madness.

The supporting characters, like Harley Quinn (played by Gaga), are equally underserved. Instead of playing into their notorious, toxic dynamic, her character feels one-dimensional, with little depth to their connection. The lack of meaningful interaction between the Joker and figures like Murray Franklin or even Arkham inmates drains the story of any tension or intrigue.

It's a real shame because, with the right direction, this could've easily been one of the best films of the year. Instead, it's a disappointment. Save yourself the time and money-this one doesn't live up to the hype.

Joker: Folie à Deux, a sequel that disappoints, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga offer a good performance giving life to two tormented and complex characters. However, it is the story that is full of holes.

While the first film had won us over with its psychological depth and its powerful social criticism, this second chapter seems to struggle to find its own identity. The plot, at times fragmented and predictable, cannot hold its own against its predecessor. The characters, although interesting, remain in the background compared to an action that gets lost in useless digressions.

In conclusion, Joker: Folie à Deux is a film that leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, it is often even boring. Despite the technical merits and the excellent performances, the story is weak.

A sequel that disappoints expectations, with a poor plot and a much lower emotional impact than the first film.

The sequel to "Joker" promised a lot, but the final result fell short of expectations, also a bad movie. The ambitious choice to transform the film into a musical, although bold, was not interesting.

The story does not add anything truly new or original. The relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn, although central to the plot, fails to convince, lacking that emotional depth that could have made it memorable.

Joaquin Phoenix confirms his talent, but his interpretation is also a bit repetitive compared to the first film. Lady Gaga, in the role of Harley Quinn, offers a solid performance, but the character seems crushed by the dominant figure of the Joker.

Ultimately, "Joker: Folie à Deux" is a film that leaves a sense of incompleteness, I did not like it. A bad film overall.

If Joker 2 was meant to expand on the tortured psyche of Arthur Fleck, it succeeded only in expanding my boredom. What made the first film so intriguing-the slow descent into madness-was replaced with a frantic, disjointed attempt to outdo its predecessor without any real sense of direction. Fleck's evolution (or lack thereof) feels more like a series of erratic, isolated scenes than a cohesive narrative.

The film struggles to find its tone, oscillating between forced social commentary and a carnival of absurdity, leaving neither thought-provoking nor entertaining moments to cling to. It's as if the filmmakers believed that more chaos automatically equals more depth, but instead, it comes off as empty spectacle with none of the philosophical grit that made the original resonate. The character development was shallow, almost as if they hoped we wouldn't notice the lack of story under the avalanche of neon-lit chaos and ominous laughs.

Joaquin Phoenix, ever the committed actor, did his best, but even his performance couldn't save a script that feels more like a checklist of provocations than an actual journey. Joker 2 is a poor imitation of its own predecessor, like trying to laugh at the same joke twice-only this time, it falls flat, and you're left wondering why you ever found it funny in the first place.

Verdict? Skip this punchline.

This feels more like a spin-off than a true sequel, spending most of its runtime rehashing the original through court scenes and interviews, rather than pushing the story forward. The writing is serviceable at best, often relying on thin threads to loosely tie one musical dream sequence to the next. Joaquin Phoenix's performance is fine, but it lacks the raw intensity that defined his portrayal in the original. Lady Gaga, on the other hand, seemed to intentionally tone down her usual flamboyance, likely to avoid overshadowing him, which, while understandable, feels like a missed opportunity for a more dynamic performance.

The musical numbers, full of energy and spectacle, are easily the highlight of the film, with the singing and dancing offering moments of reprieve from the otherwise sluggish narrative. Unfortunately, these sequences can't sustain the film's momentum. The lack of a substantial plot causes the movie to feel overlong, dragging on for more than two hours, making it feel unnecessarily stretched. Without the gripping psychological tension of its predecessor, the film struggles to find its footing, leaving it more of an indulgent showcase for musical theatrics than a coherent, engaging continuation of the story.