As a seasoned cinephile who has traversed through the labyrinth of cinema for decades, I must say that the upcoming Joker: Folie à Deux, with its intriguing blend of drama, music, and the enigmatic duo of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, has piqued my curiosity to no end. The audacity of Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix to ask Lady Gaga to ‘suck at singing’ for her role as Harleen Quinzel is nothing short of audacious. However, it’s the unconventional approach that promises an intriguing portrayal of a character as iconic as Harley Quinn.
In the highly-anticipated film “Joker: Folie à Deux”, director Todd Phillips and actor Joaquin Phoenix challenged the skills of pop sensation Lady Gaga. Instead of showcasing her exceptional singing talent, they asked her to portray a character who may not sing in the way audiences are accustomed to hearing her. This unconventional approach is reflected in Gaga’s role as Harleen Quinzel, a woman who forms a romantic bond with Arthur Fleck (Phoenix), also known as the Joker, while they are imprisoned together. There has been some debate about “Folie à Deux” being classified as a “musical”, but it has been confirmed that Lady Gaga will indeed sing in the movie; however, her performances might not resemble the Gaga we’re familiar with.
During an interview with Vogue, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga discussed the musical aspects of “Joker: Folie à Deux.” Joaquin Phoenix shared that for the sequences, Lady Gaga had to sacrifice a significant portion of her singing abilities in order to develop her character. It’s not common for anyone to sing like Lady Gaga, let alone Harleen Quinzel. Phoenix elaborated that this was necessary to help bring her character to life.
As a fan, I invited her to let go of her technical finesse and simply sing. I recall requesting her to perform sans her captivating vibrato, for it was too enchanting. I believe she felt exposed without it. However, once she stepped away from the technique, she discovered the authentic voice of her character.
Just as the film “Joker” reimagined the iconic villain’s backstory and motivations in an innovative way (even though he didn’t have one initially), “Joker: Folie à Deux” introduces a fresh take on Harley Quinn, a character I adore who has been previously portrayed by the talented Margot Robbie. She brought her unique charm to films like “Suicide Squad,” its reboot, and the distinctly different “The Suicide Squad,” as well as the radically different “Birds of Prey.” Unlike many popular DC characters, Lady Gaga chose not to rely on past portrayals but instead drew inspiration from her personal experiences and career. She stated: “I didn’t follow the footsteps of previous iterations; I looked within my own life and career for the foundation of this new Harley Quinn.
Harley Quinn is a figure familiar to many within the realm of popular culture. However, my process of crafting her was unique, particularly because it drew upon the turbulence and turmoil I’ve experienced personally – this chaos, surprisingly, brings tranquility for me. Often, women are stereotyped as overly emotional beings, becoming frenetic or unpredictable when we’re overwhelmed. Yet, I ponder if, when life pushes us to our limits and reality becomes shattered, it might instead lead to…silence.
Joker: Folie à Deux Isn’t a Musical – Unless It Is?
The promotional campaign for Joker: Folie à Deux has been oddly evasive about categorizing the film as a musical. Initially, Todd Phillips announced that the sequel would be a musical. However, since then, there’s been some ambiguity about this classification. At the Venice Film Festival press conference, Lady Gaga firmly stated that Folie à Deux isn’t a musical, claiming it’s “very different.” Yet, during the same event, she clarified her statement by explaining the fundamental elements of a musical, suggesting that Folie à Deux might still possess those characteristics.
Music serves as an outlet for the characters to convey their emotions, as regular dialog didn’t provide sufficient depth.
The film titled “Joker: Folie à Deux” had its first screening at the Venice Film Festival, and it garnered a 12-minute standing ovation from the audience, with Joaquin Phoenix humorously exiting early during this time. However, the reception to the movie has been quite polarized. Critics’ opinions seem to span from giving it just one star due to finding it dull, to praising it as a 5-star masterpiece. As of now, “Joker: Folie à Deux” holds a rating of 61% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Joker: Folie à Deux
releases in theaters on October 4, 2024.
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2024-09-06 21:31