As a seasoned film enthusiast who has witnessed the evolution of cinematic storytelling over the years, I must say that the upcoming release of “Joker: Folie à Deux” has me genuinely intrigued. The prospect of Joaquin Phoenix reprising his Academy Award-winning role as Arthur Fleck, while joined by the enigmatic Harley Quinn portrayed by none other than Lady Gaga, is a spectacle I can hardly wait to witness on the silver screen.
In the upcoming movie “Joker: Folie à Deux,” Joaquin Phoenix will again lose a significant amount of weight to portray the title character, but this time the process was particularly challenging for the sequel. Unlike the previous “Joker” film, Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck is joined by Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, who idolizes Fleck. As suggested in the trailer, “Folie à Deux” will feature its main characters singing and dancing, which added complexity to Phoenix’s physical transformation into the renowned DC Comics villain due to these additional artistic requirements
In a chat with Variety, Joaquin Phoenix openly discusses shedding pounds to reprise his role as The Joker. He hints that this might be the last time he’ll do so due to the demanding physical aspects of the film, which feature numerous dance routines alongside singing scenes. Managing his weight for these parts proved to be quite complex (he assures it was done safely), despite his comments. Phoenix has not disclosed the exact amount of weight loss this time around, as he feels he discussed weight loss too extensively during the first Joker film. However, in a light-hearted moment, he is said to have playfully whispered into his microphone that “it was 47 pounds.”
“I won’t delve into the details of the diet, as I believe people aren’t particularly interested in that. However, this time around, things were a bit trickier due to the intense dance rehearsals that weren’t part of my routine last time. It was more challenging, but rest assured it was safe. You’re correct in saying that at 49, I should probably avoid such endeavors again. This might be my final stretch.”
What Makes Joker 2 Stand Out as Part-Musical
The music element to Joker: Folie à Deux clearly helps define how the sequel develops its lead character and Lady Gaga’s Harley Quinn. However, do not call the movie a musical in any circumstances, as the filmmakers behind Folie à Deux truly believe it lives outside that genre despite the borrowed elements. In a previous interview, Joaquin Phoenix revealed how the Joker sequel tackled singing as a part of the character’s expression, especially without sounding like a professional singer.
“It was crucial to preserve the authenticity of those songs, which might have rough phrasing and an occasional off-key note. Arthur, who didn’t train as a vocalist, grew up listening to his mother play these tunes on the radio. He doesn’t aim to sound like a polished professional singer; instead, he wants to convey the casual charm of someone spontaneously singing in the shower.”
In the upcoming movie, Joker: Folie à Deux, it’s clear that Lady Gaga takes part in the music and dance scenes, but she will also mimic a less polished vocal style, similar to Phoenix. To achieve this, she had to essentially let go of the highly skilled singing techniques she perfected during her career as a renowned singer. In an interview with Empire, Gaga explained how she prepared for singing as Harley Quinn in Joker 2: she deliberately “unlearned” her usual singing methods
“As a professionally trained singer, I adjust my breathing when performing as ‘Lee’ due to the specific demands of singing. On stage, I use a controlled breathing technique to ensure I hit the right notes at the correct rhythm and duration. However, ‘Lee’ wouldn’t be aware of these technical aspects. It’s like stripping away the technicality and artistry associated with my performance, immersing myself entirely in who ‘Lee’ is.”
Joker: Folie à Deux
opens in theaters on October 4, 2024.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-09-04 18:21