Joker poster: delirium for two featuring the Joker and Lee Quinzel

REVIEW: Joker: Two in a Row

Tiago Rodrigues Avatar
The sequel brings a lot of personality to the visuals and focuses on bringing new discussions, but is it enough? Check out our full review

The premise of Joker: Delirium for Two proved to be, at the very least, courageous from the beginning. The first film was a huge success with both the public and critics and made the company's pockets Warner Bros. cry with joy. The result of this is that, sooner or later, we would have a continuation of this story of the most famous villain in pop culture.

technically perfect

Joaquin Phoenix as Joker in Joker: Delusion for Two
The Joker in Delirium for Two (Image: Warner Bros)

Joker: Delirium for Two is one of the most beautiful films I've seen in recent times. Despite taking place almost the entire time in a Arkham without the Gothic features of Batman, the film knows how to play very well with photography and the protagonist's moments of delirium, raising creativity to new heights.

The justification of it being a musical film fits well here, precisely because it is always used by Arthur ou Lee (the Harley Quinn of this universe, played by Lady Gaga). It is in these moments that the title of the film even makes some sense. All the fantasies, desires or delusions of the protagonist are expressed through the musical numbers. They are not scenes from a movie of the Disney, not even of a La La Land. Most of the time, they are confusing, meaningless, but incredibly beautiful.

And here I have to give my thumbs up to the production. As much as I don't like the musical genre in films, in this specific case, the idea works, because we are basically entering Arthur's troubled mind. In one scene, we have romance; in another, pain and suffering, and not necessarily in chronological order, after all, our minds don't work that way, much less the minds of someone as sick as him.

On the other hand, the opening scene, edited in drawing format, has a great meaning, of Arthur being held hostage by the shadow created for himself at the end of the previous film. He needs to be THE JOKER, the Clown Prince of Crime, is what we as viewers expect, as well as his followers. And at this point, I kind of like the break in expectations, although I don't think it's as powerful as it could be. 

script and direction

Arthur Fleck in Joker: Delusion for Two
Arthur Fleck in Joker: Delirium for Two (Image: Warner Bros)

The plot basically takes us some time after the end of the first film and shows Arthur's day to day life in Arkham. This is where we are introduced to the character of Catherine Keener, someone who has an interest in proving that Arthur suffers from Split Personality Disorder and with that, get him out of Arkham and free him from the death penalty. 

As a study of society, these elements work in an interesting way too. The protagonist is treated as a poor guy throughout the first film and we buy into this idea, the plot convinces us of this, until we get to the final events where he kills the Murray as Joker. It is at this point that we, as viewers, see him as some sort of hero. But let's be honest, as scoundrels as those 5 people he killed were, death was not the answer.

The director Todd Phillips reignites this drama in the second film and instead of turning Arthur into the Joker we know, he makes a point of showing that he is nothing more than a failure and steps on the character all the time. Not only that, but it brings the Harlequin of this universe to help in the process. As much of a supporting role as Lee is in the plot, she serves to drive Arthur completely crazy and take him to rock bottom.

Lady Gaga as Lee Quinzel in Joker: Delirium for Two
Lee Quinzel, the Harley Quinn of this universe (Image: Warner Bros)

Lee's character is bad, but he serves his purpose. I say this because, initially, it seems like we're going to have a subversion of the abuse that the Joker always exerts on Harley Quinn, with a role reversal, something that never actually happens in the film. However, it serves to take the character to his negative peak, making him make the worst possible decisions and ending his journey once and for all.

And in this, the plot takes a back seat. The film begins with Arthur in prison and then he goes to trial, and in this process it seems that we are in an eternal second act, feeling every moment of the two-hour film. If we are not in a musical delirium, we are at Arthur's trial, which also goes nowhere. Evidence is presented, witnesses appear to show how far Arthur e Joker are the same and when it seems like we're going to get some answer, the film throws it all up in the air.

Harvey Dent in Joker: Delusion for Two
Harvey Dent in Joker: Delirium for Two (Image: Warner Bros)

But it is also in this trial that the film manages to bring another discussion to the surface. Harvey Dent, Arthur's "enemy" in this case, tries to prove at every turn that he is a psychopathic killer and deserves the death penalty for that. Alongside Arthur, the thought is that he has a disorder and needs medical treatment, not death. Do you see where the ideas get interesting?

When we bring this into the reality of the United States, there is a great appeal, almost a fascination, in sending people to the death penalty. It is a cult of violence, driven by the personal pleasure of revenge and, in many cases, by the abuse of the system itself. Dealing with people with psychological disorders is much more laborious, but it is an approach that solves the problem more effectively.

However, in the film, this is also nothing more than an empty discussion. It passes and when it starts to get interesting, it is abandoned and replaced by another idea. It is a shame because it would be an approach that would bring a lot of value to the plot and also to the universe of both films.

Actuations

Lee Quinzel and Joker in Joker: Delirium for Two
Scene from one of the film's musicals (Image: Warner Bros)

Regardless of whether I like the film or not, it is undeniable how the performances of Joaquin Phoenix e Lady Gaga are excellent. Once again, the actor delivers a completely beaten and destroyed character as Arthur, but imposing when it takes the form of Joker. It is an interesting nuance and deserves to be highlighted.

A Harlequin de Gaga I also really liked it. Its highlights are the musical scenes, in fact, but the actress and singer manages to deliver good moments of drama and even a somewhat innocent adventure at specific moments of the film in a convincing way.

The rest of the cast is even more supporting than the actress herself. Lee and just make the wheel spin, without any major highlights.

Conclusion

Joker: Delirium for Two It's a different film and that's undeniable. It takes a bold approach and deserves to be respected for that. The film is far from being as bad as most critics are saying, but it doesn't deliver what the public wants to see, generating aversion and even wrong comments and blaming the poor musical genre. 

what did you think of Joker 2? Comment below and take the opportunity to check out our other articles and reviews too.

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Text proofread by: Daniel Coutinho in 05 / 10 / 2024

Joker: Delirium for Two

Joker: Delirium for Two
7 10 0 1
Joker: Delirium for Two deserves praise for being bold in its proposal and for having one of the coolest and most beautiful production designs in recent times. Despite the good ideas, it is sad that not all of its boldness is used until the end, weakening part of the proposal, but it is still a good study of the character and a curious experience. See it in theaters
Joker: Delirium for Two deserves praise for being bold in its proposal and for having one of the coolest and most beautiful production designs in recent times. Despite the good ideas, it is sad that not all of its boldness is used until the end, weakening part of the proposal, but it is still a good study of the character and a curious experience. See it in theaters
7/10
total Score

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1 comment
  1. Look, I want to see a shittier movie than this one... it's revolting, it looks like a musical, I even liked Lady Gaga after this movie I felt like hitting her because she was so boring

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