As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, I find myself deeply moved by the poignant and profound portrayal of Arthur Fleck’s character in “Joker: Folie à Deux”. Director Todd Phillips masterfully captures the essence of Arthur’s optimism and hopefulness, even amidst the bleakest of circumstances. The scene where Arthur listens to the young inmate’s joke is a testament to this resilience, a moment that resonates deeply with me as a fellow dreamer who believes in the power of laughter and human connection.
As a devoted fan, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of “Joker: Folie à Deux,” the highly-anticipated sequel to the groundbreaking film that swept us off our feet in 2019. Starring the exceptional Joaquin Phoenix, the original movie garnered an impressive 89% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter and amassed a staggering $1 billion globally. Given its predecessor’s unparalleled success, it was only natural to expect “Joker: Folie à Deux” to continue in the same vein.
In the subsequent installment, Arthur Fleck, having been jailed at Arkham Asylum for actions from two years past, finds himself awaiting trial. There, he encounters and develops feelings for Harley “Lee” Quinn, portrayed by Lady Gaga. With his identity already uncertain, Harley encourages him to embrace the Joker persona, while his legal representative intends to plead that Arthur suffers from multiple personalities, with the crimes attributed to the Joker personality rather than Arthur himself. While this setup sounds promising, many critics argue that Folie à Deux failed to live up to its predecessor, leaving some viewers disappointed, particularly with an ending that may have sealed the movie’s fate.
Joker: Folie à Deux’s Controversial Ending
The ending of ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ leaves fans stunned and off balance. The initial shock arrives when Arthur renounces his Joker persona. He asserts that the Joker is not an alternate self, but rather a fictional character that never truly existed. It is Arthur himself who has committed the crimes he is accused of, making him undeniably guilty. In this confession, he breaks off his relationship with Lee Quinn, as she had fallen in love with the Joker persona within Arthur, not the man himself.
Speaking to Entertainment Weekly about Arthur’s confession, director Todd Phillips said:
“He realized that everything is so corrupt, it’s never going to change, and the only way to fix it is to burn it all down. When those guards kill that kid in the [hospital] he realizes that dressing up in makeup, putting on this thing, it’s not changing anything. In some ways, he’s accepted the fact that he’s always been Arthur Fleck; he’s never been this thing that’s been put upon him, this idea that Gotham people put on him, that he represents. He’s an unwitting icon. This thing was placed on him, and he doesn’t want to live as a fake anymore — he wants to be who he is.”
As a cinephile immersed in the thrilling world of cinema, I’d rephrase it like this: In the midst of the verdict declaring Arthur guilty, another twist, more startling than the first, unfolds. A real bomb explosion rocks the courthouse steps, serving as a distraction for Arthur’s escape to reunite with Lee. Yet, his freedom was fleeting; he was soon recaptured and returned to the hospital. While incarcerated, another young inmate shares a joke with him, which Arthur allows. The punchline came with a chilling twist: the inmate plunged a knife into Arthur repeatedly before vanishing, leaving Arthur to bleed out. In his final moments, this inmate carved a Glasgow smile onto his own face, hinting that perhaps Arthur Fleck was not the true Joker.
The conclusion of the movie has left a large portion of viewers feeling disappointed, with several describing it as underwhelming. So far, the movie hasn’t fared well on Rotten Tomatoes, garnering just 32% since its premiere. Despite the backlash from audiences about the sequel’s ending, both the main actor and director of the film have stood by Joker: Folie à Deux.
Todd Phillips Has Defended Joker: Folie à Deux
According to director Todd Phillips, Arthur Fleck wasn’t originally meant to be the true Joker character. In an interview with IGN, Phillips explained that a detail many viewers missed about the first film is that when Arthur meets Bruce Wayne, he is three decades older than Wayne, making it impossible for him to engage in future conflicts. Phillips further clarified:
As a cinephile, I must clarify something about the initial movie – it’s not just known as “The Joker,” but rather “Joker.” The original film script always referred to it as an “origin story,” never “THE origin story.” This hinted that this might not be the traditional Joker we know. Instead, it could have been the spark or inspiration behind the iconic character. In other words, when the movie ends, you’re left thinking, “Hold on, what’s going on in the background? Is that the man?
According to the director, Arthur had come to terms with himself before his death, which was peaceful. In other words, the director believes that Arthur finally accepted himself and found inner peace as he passed away.
Phillips shared his perspective on why Arthur might have found humor in the young inmate’s joke and the underlying optimism in Arthur’s personality. He pointed out that this action suggests a unique openness and positive outlook on life in Arthur.
Despite having a suspicion that Lee might be downstairs, Arthur’s inherent optimism remained intact. This prompted him to respond positively when the kid asked if he wanted to hear a joke. After all, Arthur was familiar with the joy of making someone smile, so he willingly granted the child his moment.
Even though things seem to take a turn for the worse yet again for Arthur, I find myself moved by a poignant, hopeful moment – one that suggests Arthur holds on to optimism despite his circumstances. To me, Joaquin’s performance in this scene is truly captivating.
Joaquin Phoenix Finds Warmth in the Film’s Ending
Todd Phillips isn’t alone in appreciating the ending of “Folie à Deux.” Like Phillips, Phoenix too has defended Arthur’s death scene. The Oscar-winning actor has stated that there was a sense of warmth to be found in it.
In that moment, there’s a cozy feeling, which is pleasant. What caught my attention was this young fellow sharing a joke with me, clearly anxious about it. I could sense his anxiety, and I gave him the chance to continue. To be honest, the setup was quite amusing.
Phoenix subtly implies that Arthur’s conclusion is perfectly suited because it completes his character development journey. He gets an opportunity to give something meaningful to the young inmate, which he himself didn’t receive, often referred to by Phillips as “appreciation for the comedy and appreciation for taking risks.” This interaction adds a sense of warmth to the scene.
Regardless of Phillip and Phoenix’s opinions about the finale of “Joker: Folie à Deux”, it seems that the general public’s response has been more influential. The sequel garnered a relatively low domestic opening of $37 million, in stark contrast to its precursor’s impressive $96 million debut. There are signs that the film may turn into a box office flop, as some ticket holders have chosen to cancel their reservations or just not show up for screenings. “Joker: Folie à Deux” is currently screening in cinemas and is scheduled for release on home entertainment platforms starting October 29, 2024.
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2024-10-18 01:31