Movies - JOKER [2019] + Folie a Deux [2024] #1: "Joaquin Phoenix is brilliant - Grim, gritty, harsh and disturbing" (Screen Junkies) - Page 2

**Crystal Clear** · 08-09-2020, 04:44 PM

So, I finally watched Joker two days ago.

It was slightly better than I anticipated and definitely worth the watch.

Joaquin was worthy of the acclaim for immersing himself into a physically and emotionally challenging role. He and Adam Driver definitely gave the best performances of recent times (Driver for his lead role in 'Marriage Story'). I still wish the Oscar could have been awarded to them both.

I was kinda worried about where the movie was going when they hinted at Arthur being a fugitive character similar to Charles Bronson's role in the DEATH WISH trilogy (killing people who deserved to die - the Joker? REALLY?) But luckily, it did a U-turn and showed that not everything was as it seemed.

The best scene was when

Arthur shot DeNiro's character (forgot his name, he was the TV presenter).

The scary thing is that I found myself semi-agreeing with his argument for why he was targeting DeNiro. He absolutely DID humiliate Arthur by showing those clips of his stand-up comedy performance on live TV just to mock him.

There were some shocking scenes, e.g. Arthur bashing the employer to death (he appeared to do that in some sort of defense of the mistreatment of the co-worker who was being bullied over his height).

I'm not sure that the tie-in to young Bruce Wayne really worked but I was relieved that they didn't go all the way in making Joker the half-brother of Bruce Wayne. In theory, it makes sense in terms of his madness but changing canon like that takes serious balls (and is not sensible when you have many angry fans ready to jump every rule of the comics that is messed with).

Did I love the film? No. I predicted the basic plot from the start without even reading spoilers. I knew they would make Arthur semi-sympathetic by adding in a backstory of depression and caring for a sick relative, just as the trailer hinted. It's a risky thing to give the Joker any sense of humanity given what we know of him in the Nolan trilogy, and I thought the scenes where he was romantic with the female neighbor were kinda forced.

It's one of those films that I don't think would have been half as good, were it not for the lead role of the experience that Joaquin has had over the years. He pulled a Christian Bale and did a creepy body transformation to show his commitment, which I think scored him a lot of points. Oh and that laugh was impressive.

Do I think it deserved all the Oscar buzz? No, to be honest. It didn't feel much better than your average gangster/crime movie.

But it was a decent watch and a good psychological take on what the Joker's backstory very well could have been.

**Crystal Clear** · 08-20-2020, 03:26 PM

Putting this GIF under tags for the swearing in the quote,

I thought the suspense in this scene up to the shooting was very well done (you could sense Arthur's escalating anger); one of the few times I didn't see *that* moment coming in a movie:

Spoiler:

**Crystal Clear** · 02-28-2022, 01:34 PM

Here for a potential Dafoe/Phoenix collision

Think of the heightened craziness!

**My Kind Of Crazy** · 08-03-2022, 02:56 PM

Todd Phillips’ ‘Joker: Folie À Deux’ Gets Fall 2024 Release Date

**Crystal Clear** · 08-03-2022, 06:03 PM

^ Thanks for the sequel update Jen

To be honest, I liked Joaquin in the role a lot but I can't say I thought the first movie lived up to the hype. I felt the same way about The Dark Knight - Heath carried the movie but it was ultimately quite dull.

**My Kind Of Crazy** · 08-04-2022, 12:45 PM

‘Joker 2’: Lady Gaga Cast as Harley Quinn in Musical Sequel

**My Kind Of Crazy** · 08-08-2022, 02:58 PM

‘Joker 2’: Zazie Beetz in Talks to Return for Sequel

Butterfly85 · 08-08-2022, 09:22 PM

Nice! I was more interested in if she would return over Lady Gaga joining the film RME.

**Crystal Clear** · 08-11-2022, 08:42 AM

James Gunn reacts to Lady Gaga being cast as Harley Quinn in JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX

I loved Gaga in HOUSE OF GUCCI. She had a vibrant presence and magnificent chemistry with Adam Driver (who was totally opposite to her in character traits) and I never saw Margot Robbie's version of Harley so I won't be drawing comparisons.

Ironically Jared Leto was the Joker in Suicide Squad and starred alongside Gaga in Gucci

**Crystal Clear** · 10-08-2022, 04:56 AM

Margot Robbie thinks Gaga will be a great Harley Quinn in JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX >>

Butterfly85 · 10-08-2022, 09:38 PM

I'm sure she won't compare to MR's Harley Quinn at all. I still don't get the point of the sequel being a musical, I feel like that completely tarnishes the seriousness of the first film.

**My Kind Of Crazy** · 12-10-2022, 04:27 PM

First ‘Joker 2’ Image Released as Sequel Begins Filming

**Crystal Clear** · 09-05-2023, 05:55 AM

A musical then. Was this Gaga's idea?

Butterfly85 · 09-05-2023, 11:52 PM

Blech.

**Crystal Clear** · 10-07-2023, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butterfly85 (View Post)

Blech.

ikr?

Ridley Scott praises Joaquin in JOKER (even though he's not the movie's biggest fan) ~

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Fan Forum > General Discussion > Movies > JOKER [2019] + Folie a Deux [2024] #1: "Joaquin Phoenix is brilliant - Grim, gritty, harsh and disturbing" (Screen Junkies)