32/24
The film’s subtitle, ”Folie a Deux,” means ”Madness of Two” in French
Line of Events
Failed comedian Arthur Fleck, struggling with his dual identity, meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while imprisoned at Arkham State Hospital. Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, and writer-director Todd Phillips share what scared them the most when approaching the musical sequel. Plus, Gaga talks about how she got into and stayed in her dark character. This initially led to speculation about Harley Quinn’s appearance in the film, which was later confirmed.
It is also known as Lasègue-Falret syndrome
The name Folie a Deux comes from 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. The jury foreman talks about the ”people of New York” instead of Gotham City. This is because New York State is the plaintiff in a criminal trial, and this version of Gotham City is evidently located in New York State (most versions place Gotham City in New Jersey).
The film opens with a Looney Tunes title sequence, featuring the Warner Bros
Arthur Fleck: [Written as a spiteful autograph with a sad smiley face] I HOPE YOU GET CANCER. logo surrounded by rings and the Joker’s face featured in Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Wicked Discovery of a Lifetime (2022). Merrily We Roll Along, written by Eddie Cantor, Murray Mencher, and Charles Tobias. It feels more like a spin-off than a true sequel, spending most of its time rehashing the original through court scenes and interviews rather than propelling the story forward.
Unfortunately, these sequences fail to sustain the film’s momentum
The writing is serviceable at best, often relying on thin threads to loosely tie one dreamy musical sequence to the next. Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is solid, but it lacks the raw intensity that defined his performance in the original film. 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 providing moments of respite from the slow-moving narrative.
The lack of a substantial plot makes the film feel overly long, dragging on for over two hours, making it feel unnecessarily drawn out
Without the gripping psychological tension of its predecessor, the film struggles to find its footing, leaving it feeling more like an indulgent display of musical theater than a coherent and engaging continuation of the story. Check out our list of exciting new films from this year’s film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and more.