Folie À Deux, the review of the KSL film show

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SALT LAKE CITY – I hate to admit it, but I came to this film with a feeling of fear and contempt. I didn’t like Joaquin Phoenix’s previous portrayal of the Joker. His constant, maniacal cackling drove me crazy. It was just an unpleasant experience and I wasn’t looking forward to a sequel.

Especially when I heard that it was also some kind of musical. What? Pooh.

That’s why I was really surprised when the film opens with this Warner Bros. Looney Tunes-esque cartoon where Joker and his underrated shadow fight for dominance and attention. In a way, it suggests the idea that Joker is a victim of circumstance.

So I sat back and got comfortable for more.

Joker discovers his love language

An emaciated Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is held at Arkham Asylum, awaiting trial for all the people he killed in the last film. And that includes the murder of late-night talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) on television in front of a live studio audience. Remember, this was a guy Arthur admired!

One day, while accompanying him to a meeting with his lawyer (Catherine Keener), he notices another patient, Lee Quinn (Lady Gaga). She is taking part in a music therapy class set up to calm residents. They end up talking and singing (which turns out to be their love language). Arthur shines like never before. He believes she understands him, and she is fascinated by his Joker persona.

At this point, nothing else matters to Arthur. Now he has a reason to live. And she gets to live out her fantasy with a notorious psychopath.

All of this leads to the trial, where the two lovers look into each other’s eyes in the courtroom and their shared fantasy songs suggest an imaginary future for this bizarre couple.

Don’t look too closely for signs of DC in this film

Now I have to admit that I’m fascinated not only by the musical choices, but also by the way they had to lower the quality of their voices to fit these untrained characters. Notably, Arthur chose songs about love and romance, while Lee’s songs were more about power and possession.

Plus, and this won’t make anyone happy, her constant smoking almost became a character in itself. They made it look cool even though I thought we were past that nonsense. Let’s just hope the nightmare doesn’t spread again.

Now let’s talk about the DC connection in Joker: Folie À Deux. Don’t look for it because honestly it doesn’t exist. There’s no mention of Batman, unless you count the WAYNE logo on a skyscraper in a fleeting shot.

Harvey Dent is the lead prosecutor in the Arthur Fleck trial, but that’s all and I’m okay with it. This is a story about a deeply troubled man who finds a connection with a deeply troubled woman.

It’s not about all the other things.

The bottom line is that “Joker: Folie À Deux” (which, by the way, means “Madness for Two”) is a psychological investigation. It’s about a broken character who expresses himself in a grotesque and disturbing way through the portrayal of a clownish, sociopathic personality. I’m impressed with the creative way director Todd Phillips brought this to life.

Obviously this film is not for everyone and may only be for a determined few. But I think I have an idea of ​​what they were all trying to do here. So I honestly couldn’t look away as I appreciated her unique, immersive efforts.

The KSL Film Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on KSL NewsRadio. Follow the show on Facebook, and join the KSL Movie Show Club to receive exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. To cancel, text STOP. The frequency of messages varies.

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX (B+) Rated R for strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality and brief full nudity. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Harry Lawtey. Co-written and directed by Todd Phillips (“Joker,” “A Star is Born”) – filmed in New York City, Los Angeles and Essex County, New Jersey. Running time: 138 minutes.