26/33
Gaga also discusses how she entered and remained in her dark persona
Line of Events
Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital. Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson, and writer-director Todd Phillips share what scared them the most when approaching the musical sequel. The film’s subtitle “Folie a Deux” means “The Madness of Two” in French. This initially led to speculation about Harley Quinn’s appearance in the film, which was later confirmed.
It is also known as Lasègue-Falret syndrome
The name Folie a Deux comes from 19th-century French psychiatrists Charles Lassegue and Jules Falret. The term was coined to refer to two or more people who share the same insanity or delusion. The jury foreman spoke of the “People of New York” instead of Gotham City. This is because New York State is the plaintiff in a criminal trial, and this version of Gotham City is apparently located in New York State (most versions place Gotham in New Jersey).
logo surrounded by rings and the Joker’s face
Arthur Fleck: [Written as a cruel autograph with a sad smiley face] I HOPE YOU GET CANCER. The film opens with a Looney Tunes title sequence featuring the Warner Bros. Featured in AniMat’s Crazy Cartoon Cast: The Wicked Discovery of a Lifetime (2022). Merrily We Roll Along Written by Eddie Cantor, Murray Mencher, and Charles Tobias.
Joaquin Phoenix’s performance is good, but it lacks the raw intensity that defined his performance in the original
It feels more like a spin-off than a true sequel, spending most of its time revisiting the original through court scenes and interviews rather than moving the story forward. The writing is utilitarian at best, often relying on thin threads to loosely connect one dreamlike musical sequence to the next. Lady Gaga, on the other hand, seems to deliberately tone down her usual flamboyance, presumably to avoid overshadowing it, which, while understandable, feels like a missed opportunity for a more dynamic performance. The musical numbers, full of energy and spectacle, are easily the highlight of the film, with the singing and dancing offering moments of respite from the otherwise slow-moving narrative.
Unfortunately, these sequences fail to sustain the film’s momentum
The lack of a substantial plot makes the film feel overlong, dragging on for over two hours, making it feel unnecessarily stretched. Without the gripping psychological tension of its predecessor, the film struggles to find its footing, leaving it feeling more like an indulgent showcase for musical theatrics than a coherent and engaging continuation of the story. Check out our list of exciting new films this year. film festivals including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and more.