24/24
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 . Plus, Gaga discusses how she got into and stayed in her dark character.. 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. 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 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. Featured in AniMat’s Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Wicked Discovery of a Lifetime (2022). Merrily We Roll Along Written by Eddie Cantor, Murray Mencher, and Charles Tobias. 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.. Check out our list of exciting new movies from this year’s film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and more.