Joker: Folie à Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux
Joaquin Phoenix has never been keen on the publicity circuits. The 49-year-old celebrity gives very few interviews, discloses his workings with considerable discomfort, and even once told a reporter on the ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ film set that he simply cannot continue this conversation, when he asked her if the viewer may want to act violently because of seeing the movie.
Well, if you know all that, where the logical order will allow you, you may already predict conflict at the Venice news conference for ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, a sequel to the 2019 hit which once again has Phoenix in the titular role that won him an Oscar. Still, this media engagement was thought to be quite nasty, in any case, as Phoenix has not carried out any press since August, since he left drama from director Todd Haynes courtesy of convenience days before production was going to dim the production and leave the star open to litigation.
What has been quite networking in Hollywood is Phoenix’s undisclosed reasons which have remained almost uncovered for several weeks, the primary reason being the project a gay love story with sexually graphic portrayals co staring dancer Danny Ramirez, which was pitched by Phoenix, drafted with haynes and more (…) and co penned by Ramirez of May December.
I wonder if Phoenix would care to say anything regarding the issue at hand while in Venice or will he refuse to attend the news conference altogether like, “Don’t Worry Darling” star Florence Pugh who two years ago was at the center of a feud with that particular movie’s then director Olivia Wilde? As the start of the reporters conference was being delayed on Wednesday afternoon, colleagues of the filmmaker made wagers of how many times Phoenix will bail – two.
That must have puzzled them, however, because Phoenix bounced into the room from behind his director, Todd Phillips, and co-star Lady Gaga all along. “First of all, hi everybody” is how it began for the press. “I am pleased to see you” is how it ended.
Phoenix was cheerful and rather game with regards to taking questions until about a few minutes into the news conference when he was asked whether he would explain why he left Haynes’ film. The actor started his sentence and somehow had to stop himself in order to consider his answer more thoroughly first.
“I think that if I do I will only be projecting my view which is only one point of view, because many of these people, not myself, Haynes and some of his partners are not here to give theirs,” he alluded to Haynes and his partners.
He went on to say, “It doesn’t feel like that would be appropriate. This is not something that will help me, so I guess I simply will not do it.”
He then stated with a smile, ‘Thank you!’
Since Casey Affleck stepped out of the Haynes movie, it has been said that the actor is the one who gets cold feet most of the time, and he almost walked out from the first ‘Joker’ Phillips insinuated as much, when he explains how he persuaded Phoenix to appear in the sequel, ‘If we were really to carry on with it, then it had to frighten him like that way for the first time.’ Phillips reiterated.
The director took advantage of his own anxieties while taking “Joker: Folie à Deux” to Venice because the first movie received a Golden Lion prize at the festival: ‘Once incumbency has been established, it is more difficult to play the part of the insurrectionist.’ Phillips said.
“Joker: Folie à Deux” picks up with Arthur Fleck (Phoenix) imprisoned in Arkham Asylum after killing six people, including one murder committed on live television while he was made up in Joker greasepaint. Although he was responsible for iconic murderous acts, he inspires a far-fetched movement called criminal clowns in the City of Gotham. Undyne is kept in the asylum until Lee (Lady Gaga) who shall be remembered by comic book lovers as Harley Quinn, is met by who else, but Arthur.
Lee says she has been committed because she set fire to her parents’ apartment and claims that she is likely to do it again. Bringing her own ideas about how cuddling and mild kissing is enough of an arousal to make him start thinking about the music that they could be starring together. However, with Arthur’s court hearing coming up soon, their dangerous relationship may prove life-threatening. Especially so, since Lee appears to be quite ready to push Arthur closer to his shadow self.
Among the numerous choruses in the film, one of which is of course ‘That’s Life’ and ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ geared towards melodious numbers, presents the most noticeable variation from the 2nd Joker movie and was done as a live performance on the set ordered by Gaga who had toned down her lauded belts for the character.
“Quite a bit of it was actually more about unlearning the technique and more about forgetting the breathing and letting the song come out of the character completely,” she explained.
In Phoenix’s case, however, even those sequences demanded far more dedication and preparatory work than he had put into the first film. However, it was crucial during the shooting process to push deep inside the head “the anxiety and fear” always present: “You just get so caught up in second-guessing yourself and doubts,” he said.
Perhaps that second-guessing is just something you have to accept when you hire someone like Phoenix, who is pretty intense on set too. Recalling one news conference, when Gaga drily said, “Working with Joaquin was a total breeze,” both men next to her chuckled.
As they gave it their all, Phillips was asked later on how he managed to pull through what he thinks to have been the most difficult aspect of making that movie in particular.
“Don’t say me,” Phoenix joked.
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- Genre: Thriller
- Country: United States
- Director: Todd Phillips
- Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Lady Gaga
