After its showing at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, “Joker: Folie à Deux” received a mixture of opinions from critics who were either impressed by its musical approach or left bored with its attempt

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Gotham’s infamous villain is back on the movie screens as “Joker: Folie à Deux,” just premiered on Sept. 4 at the Venice Film Festival. But because of audience expectations and the pressure of living up to the 2019 Oscar-winning film, there seems to be a mixture of reactions.

Directed by Todd Phillips, “Joker: Folie à Deux” remains a hot topic for critics. The addition of Lady Gaga as Harleen “Lee” Quinzel, Joker’s romantic interest and fellow psychopath, added another layer of mystery and mischief to the film. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter expressed that Joaquin Phoenix and Gaga’s musical numbers gave “vitality in that the more often dour film desperately needs. 

In an interview with Variety, Phillips shared that he wanted something ‘dangerous’ and ‘risky’ for the sequel. While transforming a solemn backstory like the Joker in a musical form, he wanted to deviate from the ‘traditional story of love’ And instead portray a crazy vibe. “Made by crazy people,” he said. 

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Director Todd Phillips, actress and singer Lady Gaga, and US actor Joaquin Phoenix attend the red carpet screening of “Joker : Folie a deux” during the 81st Venice Film Festival | Photo by Marco Bertorello/AFP

While the musical number is prominent in the film, Phillips added that singing is just a vessel for Joker’s thoughts. “It’s just Arthur not having the words to say what he wants to say, so he sings them instead,” he said.

With this surprisingly genre-bending approach on an eccentric character like Joker, the verdict is still out as to whether viewers shall embrace it. 

Despite the sequel’s daring attempt to shove at least 15 cover songs and cast a renowned singer, critics still found the film to be “dull.” David Ehrlich from IndieWire wrote in his review ‘that the sequel was “deliberately boring’ and failed to maximize the great singing talent of Lady Gaga.” Meanwhile, The Independent’s Geoffrey Macnab also noted that the film is “just as bleak and formally daring as its predecessor.” 

Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker and Lady Gaga’s Lee Quinzel’s character posters Photos from Warner Bros. Philippines

However, John Nugent of Empire Magazine wrote that the sequel has brought “an oddly hopeful tone” in comparison to the first film. He said that Philipps, Phoenix, and Gaga crafted a “genuinely original narrative.”

After critics’ initial reactions to “Joker: Folie à Deux,” audiences are still anticipating its cinema release on Oct. 4, 2024. While the film’s official trailer garnered 25 million views on YouTube, it does not always guarantee critical acclaim and box office success. Remembering how Joker, the first film, was initially bombarded with terrible reviews from critics before the film was nominated at the Oscars. 

“Joker: Folie à Deux” has yet to prove its success on the screen, will it be a rightful cinematic successor to its predecessor, or leave a distasteful and disappointed feeling to its audiences?

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