Joker: Folie a Deux, the sequel to the 2019 psychological thriller Joker, hit the theatres early in October. Unlike the first film, it failed to capture the audience, leaving the dedicated fans disappointed. Many people have particularly criticised the plot of the Todd Phillips-directed movie, especially the ending.
SPOILERS ALERT!
Joaquin Phoenix plays the protagonist, Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill loner who works as a clown and dreams of becoming a stand-up comedian in the Joker film series. In the 2019 movie, his life takes a dark turn when he kills three Wayne employees on a subway, which, in an unexpected turn of events, makes him a symbol of rebellion for others who feel ignored and oppressed by society. Arthur’s infamous line, “If it was me dying on the sidewalk, you’d walk right over me. I pass you every day, and you don’t notice me,” highlights how invisible and insignificant he felt.
Towards the end of Joker, Arthur embraces the chaos and destruction caused by a mob of masked clowns who see him as a hero for those the system has left behind. The story of Joker’s sequel begins with the introduction of a new character, a patient at Arkham State Hospital, Harleen “Lee” Quinzel, played by Lady Gaga, who joins Arthur in this madness. She falls in love with the Joker, seeing him as a leader of an imagined crime spree.
But things take a turn during Arthur’s televised trial. Prosecuted by Gotham’s assistant district attorney, Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey), Joker defends himself in court after he fires his defence lawyer (Catherine Keener). During the trial, Arthur’s former co-worker Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill) clarifies that there’s just Arthur Fleck and Joker doesn’t exist. Upon hearing about these revelations, Lee rejects Arthur. After he is sent back to Arkham, he is stabbed to death by an inmate (Connor Storrie) who idolised the Joker and carved a smile into his own face after killing Arthur.
Director Todd Phillips said that Arthur’s journey is about realisation. During his interview with Entertainment Weekly, he mentioned, “He (Arthur) realised that everything is so corrupt, it’s never going to change, and the only way to fix it is to burn it all down.” He further added, “When those guards kill that kid in the (hospital), he realises that dressing up in makeup, putting on this thing, it’s not changing anything. In some ways, he’s accepted the fact that he’s always been Arthur Fleck; he’s never been this thing that’s been put upon him, this idea that Gotham people put on him, that he represents.”
The director continued, “He’s an unwitting icon. This thing was placed on him, and he doesn’t want to live as a fake anymore — he wants to be who he is. The sad thing is, he’s Arthur, and nobody cares about Arthur.”
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