One of the most highly anticipated films of 2024 is Joker: Folie à Deux. The sequel to the billion-dollar film sees the return of Todd Phillips as the director and Joaquin Phoenix as the title character. The biggest addition to the series is Harley Quinn, which Lady Gaga is stepping in as the infamous villain this time around. Thus far, an official synopsis for the sequel has yet to be released. There hasn’t been much revealed about Joker: Folie à Deux except for a couple of on-set photos that looked pretty good. Until now.
Though there’s limited info about the upcoming DC film, the teaser finally gave us a better perspective on what the upcoming DC film will be like. The only missing part is that we didn’t particularly get much of the musical aspect that’s been heavily touted. That part is a big departure from the origin story of the “Clown Prince of Darkness”. This major shift in genres and the addition of an Oscar nominee should get many fans excited for something truly bold and original, and though there was a cause for concern, the teaser showcased that the sequel may be better than the first film.
The Bold Retelling Of Harley Quinn and Joker’s Relationship
Todd Phillips was bold when he told audiences that the Joker wasn’t based on any of the comics. It just goes to show you that fans will still accept an adaptation as long as it respects the source material. That could be the case here. The Harley Quinn/Joker story is nothing new. In fact, Joker is quite the villain as he’s documented as an abusive lover who only used Harley for his wants. This story seems to deviate from that angle.
Joker is a tragic hero. His actions are certainly villainous, but the reason the first film resonated with audiences so strongly is due to the themes that the film explored. It did an excellent job of diverging into mental illness and the challenges that come with dealing with such a roadblock. Of course, within that topic, it touched on the government system, and the politics that can cause society to break.
The sequel seems to be exploring that same angle but has added new wrinkles to it. That’s where Harley Quinn comes in. She’s a patient in Arkham Asylum. Could she be using Joker for her sick and twisted fantasies? Is the film exploring how two damaged souls view the world? This teaser did a tremendous job of focusing on Harley and Joker’s relationship without giving away all of the details. There are so many layers that deviate from the comics, yet, the decision made feels right for both characters.
The Gorgeous Cinematography
It can’t be ignored how amazing the cinematography is. It’s crazy that the guy who did The Hangover and Due Date has such an eye for stunning visuals. The credit mainly goes to Lawrence Sher, who nicely plays with the color palette to give you visual clues to what’s going on. Joker: Folie à Deux keeps the blue and gritty style that maintains the look of Gotham City. It also highlights the sad and deteriorating state of Joker’s world.
That color palette is softened anytime Joker and Harley are together. The dance and musical sequences have eye-popping visuals that never take away from the grittiness of Gotham City. Instead, it adds a temporary light to such a dark and cold world. Even if Joker: Folie à Deux turns out to be a dud, it would be shocking if it doesn’t get nominated for Best Cinematography.
Every aspect of filmmaking is crucial, including cinematography; it’s a subtle way of advancing the story and communicating the overall tone of the film. It represents the love, pain, and chaos that Phillips wants us to feel while experiencing this sequel, and brings some of the fantastical elements that emphasize the comic book nature that clouds the film.
The Musical Aspect Actually Looks…Good
My tune can change when we finally see the musical scenes within the film, but based on the teaser, the musical aspect plays a significant role. That’s a great thing. We won’t be getting random singing and dancing about how much Harley and Joker are in love. Instead, the musical portion seems to play an important factor in the development of both of their characters.
The big concern was how much would the musical change the film. However, the sequel seems to be in line with what the first film was. There are still important themes explored and the overall narrative seems straightforward without random moments of music. Again, it’s quite possible that the editing is hiding the true nature of the film. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a studio has misled audiences with its advertisement. The teaser trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux only furthered my anticipation for the popular DC villain. Hopefully, the film is as good as the teaser looks.
Follow Us
