But rather than trying to find more meaning in the Joker’s madness, Folie à Deux brings the metaphorical house lights up to take a much more negatively critical look at its central anti-villain and the culture of hero worship. It’s a solid enough pitch that could have made for an interesting comic series. But as a movie, Folie à Deux is an off-key mess that barely manages to express its handful of good ideas.
Joker: Folie à Deux continues the story of failed comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), the most infamous inmate in Gotham City’s Arkham Asylum. After two years of being locked up and systematically abused by Arkham’s squad of guards led by Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson), Arthur has become an unsmiling, even more gaunt shell of his former self. Though people finally want to hear Arthur tell jokes, it’s hard for him to crack wise knowing that district attorney Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) will be pushing for the death penalty at his upcoming trial. But as much as Arthur might want to dwell on his fate in quiet solitude, the Joker’s celebrity makes it impossible for him to ever have a moment of peace.
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