The melodic thriller ‘Joker 2’ full of twists and turns | News, Sports, Employment

Photo courtesy of IMDB
Lady Gaga (left) and Joaquin Phoenix star in ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’.

Joaquin Phoenix danced down the stairs and showed some soft shoe when he wasn’t murdering people in the beginning. “Joker” in 2019. Five years later, he and his new co-star Lady Gaga only have to sing in the sequel.

Yes, to the surprise of many “Joker 2” aka “Joker: Folie a Deux” it is a musical unlike any other. Technically, it’s an American jukebox musical psychological thriller.

It sounds like a mess, but it’s not surprising given the state of mind of criminal mastermind Joker. In “Joker 2”, Phoenix reprises her role, with Lady Gaga as his love interest, Harleen “lee” fortnight

The film is full of surprises. In an animated sequence, the Joker is impersonated by his shadow, who takes his place to perform his singing number for a TV show and then abandons him on stage, before three policemen arrive and beat him up .

Joker alias Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) is being held at Arkham State Hospital awaiting trial for his crimes. His lawyer, Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), plans to argue that Fleck’s alter ego, the Joker, is responsible for the crimes.

Fleck eventually meets Quinzel, who is also a patient at the asylum. She confesses her admiration for the Joker, while showing his mental instabilities.

Lee starts a fire in the asylum, but she and Fleck find themselves trying to escape. After being included in isolation. Quinzel visits him to tell him that she is being released to avoid his influence, but promises to attend his trial. During an interview with TV personality Paddy Meyers (Steve Coogan), Fleck sings to Quinzel, deepening her love for him.

At the trial, Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) calls witnesses who refute Fleck’s claims of insanity. Stewart also reveals outrageous claims to Fleck that Quinzel voluntarily committed himself to Arkham and never burned down an apartment building. Fleck confronts Quinzel, who confesses that her lies were an effort to get closer to him.

The next day, Arthur fires Stewart and represents himself. After bringing Fleck’s former co-worker Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill) and neighbor Sophie Dumond (Zazie Beetz) to the stand, Dent supports his case. Visibly affected by the testimony, Fleck offers no defense.

Back at Arkham, Fleck is brutally assaulted by Warden Jackie Sullivan (Brandon Gleeson) and two guards. Ricky Meline (Jacob Lofland), an intern and friend of Fleck’s, confronts the guards and is strangled to death.

A devastated Arthur renounces his Joker persona, taking full responsibility for his actions. An outraged Quinzel leaves the courtroom and the jury finds Fleck guilty of first degree murder. A car bomb explodes outside the courthouse, killing and injuring numerous attendees and scarring half of Dent’s face.

After escaping, Fleck meets Quinzel outside her old apartment, but she rejects him. As he leaves, the police arrest Fleck and return him to Arkham.

In an unexpected final twist, a young inmate approaches Fleck and starts telling a joke before repeatedly stabbing him. As Fleck dies in agony, the assailant plasters a smile on his face as he laughs hysterically.

Can we say, Joker movie number three?

Grade: A-

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Greg Williams is a reporter and weekend editor for The Sentinel. A native of Mifflin County, he has been writing for The Sentinel since 1991.