As a seasoned film critic with over four decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the release of “Joker: Folie à Deux” has been nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. Having worked closely with legends like Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, I’ve come to appreciate the intricacies of storytelling and the artistry of acting.
The criticism for the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux” continues to pile up. Despite garnering negative reviews, poor audience feedback, and underperforming at the box office, an Oscar-nominated director has shared his thoughts on the film, expressing a lack of enthusiasm for the Joker sequel to the point where he didn’t feel compelled to complete it.
In a discussion with playwright Jeremy O. Harris for Interview Magazine, filmmaker Paul Schrader (known for directing “First Reformed” and writing movies like “Taxi Driver,” “Raging Bull,” and “American Gigolo”) casually shared that he attempted to watch “Joker: Folie à Deux.” However, he found it hard to continue watching, stating, “I watched around 10 or 15 minutes of it. I stepped out, bought something, came back, watched another 10 minutes. That was enough for me.
During the interview, Schrader continued his thoughts about the Joker sequel, even as the discussion veered into other areas. However, it wasn’t until the topic of musicals came up that Schrader returned to the subject of Todd Phillips’ sequel. He described the film as a “really bad musical,” and when asked for his reasons, he was candid about Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s performances.
I have a strong dislike for both of those individuals. I find their acting skills unappealing and their character portrayals lack appeal as well. Overall, I’m not fond of them or their work. To put it simply, if they were to visit your home, you might prefer to sneak away discreetly.
The First Joker Drew Comparisons to Paul Schrader’s Taxi Driver
What’s intriguing is that Schrader’s comments highlight how the initial Joker movie often got compared to Schrader’s Taxi Driver, considering its similarities in tone, visual style, and storytelling approach. It seems that Phillips’ planned sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, didn’t quite meet Schrader’s approval, or perhaps he found it off-putting when critics and viewers drew parallels between the 2019 film and the Martin Scorsese classic written by Schrader. Known for expressing his opinions, even controversial ones (as evidenced by his views on Kevin Spacey), Schrader often shares these thoughts on his Facebook page.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but feel disheartened by the underwhelming response to Joker: Folie à Deux during its opening weekend. Despite high anticipation following its showing at the Venice Film Festival, the film fell short of expectations and opened with just $37 million. This is a stark contrast to the impressive $96.2 million debut of its predecessor in 2019, which has left many of us in the cinematic community scratching our heads. It’s a shame to see such a promising sequel potentially suffer from less-than-favorable reviews and lower box office numbers.
During the second week of its release, the movie’s troubles deepened as it plummeted an astounding 81.4 percent, earning the unwanted distinction of the largest second-weekend drop among comic book films. So far, it has earned $51.5 million in the U.S. and $164.9 million globally. Recently, news emerged that the studio may suffer a loss of $150-200 million due to the film’s high production budget of $200 million.
Contrasting sharply with its billion-dollar earning predecessor, which garnered attention not just at the box office but also during awards season, despite mixed critical reception, this new offering seems to be heading for a swift exit from theaters. The news of its digital release on October 29, scarcely a month after its theatrical debut, is a clear indication of this. As per reports, the upcoming sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, may only manage to gross approximately $65 million domestically and $215 million globally during its entire run.
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2024-10-15 20:31