As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of comic book-based video games under my belt, I must say, Todd Phillips’ Joker movies have been quite an intriguing diversion from the usual DC Universe narrative. While they may not be building toward anything significant in the grand scheme of Batman lore, their ability to subtly weave in familiar characters like Harvey Dent and hint at potential origins is nothing short of impressive.
This story will dig into spoilers for the new movie Joker: Folie a Deux. This is only for people who have seen the movie, or who don’t mind hearing plot details. Proceed with caution.
Todd Phillips directed two films within the DC universe featuring the Joker character, which show a loose connection to Batman. The only significant Batman appearance occurs in the first ‘Joker’, where Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) meets a young Bruce Wayne, whom he believes could be his half-brother. However, by the end of ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’, it’s evident that Fleck is not the villain destined to clash with Batman throughout the years. Intriguingly, Arthur may have been killed by the individual who eventually transforms into the Joker, although it remains uncertain if this person will ultimately become The Joker at all.
That’s not to say that there aren’t tangible inclusions of Batman lore in the Todd Phillips movies. We get Arkham Asylum in Joker: Folie a Deux, and Lady Gaga plays a version of Harley Quinn that doesn’t share the character’s origin, but still had an effect on the singer-actress. And throughout Joker: Folie a Deux, the Clown Prince is countered in court by Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey), the district attorney who, Batman fans know, goes on to become the villain Two-Face.
In the movie “Joker: Folie a Deux”, Phillips and screenwriter Scott Silver adapt the origin story of Dent to fit their narrative, diverging from the comics where he receives acid damage in court that transforms him into Two-Face. Instead, in this film, Dent is caught in an explosion within the courtroom, resulting in one half of his face being destroyed. A quick glimpse of him after the blast shows this alteration.
As a gaming enthusiast, when I heard that cinematographer Lawrence Sher dropped by the ReelBlend podcast to chat about Joker: Folie a Deux, I couldn’t help but wonder if this movie would finally reveal Two-Face’s origins in this on-screen universe. And guess what? Sher confirmed it for us!
I’m quite certain about this. Half of his face appears to be covered in blood. To be clear, it’s a subtle detail, not something exaggerated or extreme. But yes, that seems to be the intended portrayal, if you ask me. That’s my interpretation, without a doubt.
Folie a Deux films don’t delve deeply into expanding the world of Batman as portrayed in these movies. Unlike the HBO series The Penguin, which serves as a link between two of Matt Reeves’ films, the Joker movies don’t have a larger plan or goal. So, we won’t get to see the final result of Harvey’s transformation. Instead, it’s just an intriguing element added to the storyline.
Additionally, when Christopher Nolan incorporated Two-Face into The Dark Knight, he altered the character’s origin as well. Recall that pivotal scene?
In Todd Phillips’ upcoming film “Joker: Folie a Deux”, was the origin of Two-Face subtly introduced? It’s a fleeting detail, but it’s there, and if the movies were more concerned with continuity, it could be an exciting addition to the storyline. However, they don’t seem to be, so let it go. By the way, tune in for a fresh episode of “The Penguin” on HBO this Sunday. Enjoy that instead!
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2024-10-04 22:07