KSL Movie Show Review: ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ is a psychological examination

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SALT LAKE CITY — I don’t like admitting this, but I came into this film with a sense of dread and disdain. I didn’t care for Joaquin Phoenix’s earlier portrayal of Joker. His constant, maniacal cackling drove me nuts. It was just an unpleasant experience and I wasn’t looking forward to a sequel.

Especially when I heard it was also sort of a musical. What? Ugh.

So I was really surprised when the film begins with this Warner Bros. Looney Tunes-esque cartoon featuring Joker and his under-appreciated shadow in a battle for dominance and attention. In a way, it foretells the notion that Joker is a victim of circumstance.

So I sat back and settled in for more.

Joker discovers his love language

An emaciated Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is being held at Arkham Asylum awaiting trial for all the people he killed in the last film. And that includes the TV assassination of late-night talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) in front of a live studio audience. Remember, this was a guy Arthur admired!

One day, as he’s being escorted to a meeting with his lawyer (Catherine Keener), he catches the eye of another patient Lee Quinn (Lady Gaga). She is part of a music therapy class established to help calm the residents. Eventually, they converse and sing (which turns out to be their love language). Arthur lights up like never before. He believes she gets him and she’s fascinated with his Joker persona.

At this point, nothing else matters to Arthur. Now he has a reason to live. And she gets to live out her fantasy with a notorious psychopath.

All of this leads to the trial, where the two lovers lock eyes in the courtroom and their fantasy songs together portend an imagined future for this bizarre couple.

Don’t look too closely for signs of DC in this film

Now I must admit to be fascinated with not only the musical choices, but the way they had to lower the quality of their voices to fit these untrained characters. Of note, Arthur chose songs of love and romance, while Lee’s songs were more about power and possession.

Also, and this isn’t going to make anyone happy, but their constant smoking became almost a character in itself. They made it look cool, when I thought we were beyond that nonsense. Let’s just hope that nightmare doesn’t catch on again.

Now, let’s talk about the DC connection in “Joker: Folie À Deux.” Don’t look for it, because frankly it doesn’t exist. There’s no mention of Batman, unless you count the WAYNE logo on a skyscraper in a fleeting shot.

Harvey Dent is the lead prosecutor in Arthur Fleck’s trial, but that’s it, and I’m okay with it. This is a story about a deeply troubled man who finds a connection with a deeply troubled woman.

It’s not about all that other stuff.

So, bottomline – “Joker: Folie À Deux” (which by the way means “madness of two”) is a psychological examination. It looks at a broken character who expresses himself in a grotesque and disturbing manner through the representation of a clown-like, sociopathic persona. I am haunted by the creative way director Todd Phillips brought this to life.

Obviously, this movie is not for everyone and maybe only for a determined few. But I think I have an inkling of what they all were trying to do here. As a result, honestly, I couldn’t look away as I appreciated their unique, haunting efforts.

The KSL Movie Show with Andy Farnsworth and Steve Salles airs Fridays on KSL NewsRadio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Follow the show on Facebook, and join The KSL Movie Show Club for exclusive perks by texting MOVIE to 57500. Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to cancel. Message frequency varies.

JOKER: FOLIE À DEUX (B+) Rated R for some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality and brief full nudity. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Harry Lawtey. Co-written and directed by Todd Phillips (“Joker” “A Star is Born”) – filmed in New York City, Los Angeles and Essex County, New Jersey. Running time: 138 minutes.