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Joker: Folie à Deux is part musical and part psychological thriller, which makes it more intriguing.
Directed by Todd Phillips, the movie is the sequel to the original Joker, which showed Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck becoming a Joker due to his psychological troubles. The second installment continues Phoenix’s Clown Prince of Crime alongside an addition of Harleen Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, portrayed by Lady Gaga.
Joker 2 is set in its own universe and doesn’t connect with any DC Universe movies or series. In the first part, Phoenix murders comedian Murray Franklin while dressed as a Joker. He was taken to Arkham prison, but his followers ambushed the police vehicle. With Arthur locked up, Joker 2 opens with him in prison.
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Throughout the movie, viewers can see multiple song and dance routines, which appear to be somewhat in Arthur’s head. Moreover, Arthur was seen being bullied by the prison guards while preparing for the trial. While Arthur seems indifferent to his fate in Arkham, whatever comes his way, that changes when he notices a woman in a different wing of the asylum, Harley Quinn. They quickly bond over their shared madness, with Harley revealing she killed her father and was institutionalized by her mother. The two fall into a twisted love, though it’s clear Harley is drawn to Arthur’s Joker persona, not his real self. This becomes evident when she sneaks into his cell one night, refusing to kiss him until he puts on his iconic Joker makeup.
