I find myself at odds with most reviews I've read of Joker: Folie a Deux, as I thoroughly enjoyed it. As the latest edition of The Rest Is Entertainment points out, musicals are very difficult to market. Wonka and Mean Girls are recent examples of musicals where it was pretty well concealed in the trailers, until you went to see them and realised everyone was, er, singing.
There is singing aplenty in Joker, and I found it a thoughtful study into Arthur Fleck / Joker's struggles with his mental health, played brilliantly once again by Joaquin Phoenix. Whilst I would have liked a little bit more Lady Gaga screen time, since she was stuck at the back of the gloomy Gotham courthouse for a fair few scenes, she was still superb as Harley Quinn.
Both main characters are complicated and flawed individuals, and this film is not your typical in-your-face, CGI-heavy superhero movie. It's about as far away from that as you can imagine, but that's no bad thing in my book. This is a subtle, well acted sequel, with good cinematography and two strong central performances. It's by no means perfect, and I do understand it may not be your cup of tea, but I'd say see it for yourself rather than writing it off based on a tsunami of negativity online. It reportedly had a budget of 200 million dollars, and only made a fifth of that in America in its opening weekend, so it certainly won't be repeated the success of Todd Phillips' last Joker film back in 2019. I for one appreciated its originality and bold handbrake turn in tone. Perhaps the joke is on me?
The Babadook is back at Cineworld this weekend for its tenth anniversary, and has also been recently added to Netflix if you prefer to watch it from the comfort of your sofa. It's an Australian horror that was massively well received by critics back in 2014, and many viewers said they were freaked out by it. Essie Davis plays embattled single mother Amelia, who is trying her best to raise her son Samuel alone after a tragic accident. The trouble starts when he is convinced there is a sinister monster lurking within their home, and it's out to get them. Is it all in his mind, or is there really a malign force out to get them? If you like psychological horror, this is definitely worth a go. It could also inspire your Halloween party outfit.
Finally this week, I've re-enjoyed Hot Fuzz, and it remains an arresting five star delight. Timothy Dalton is perfect ('lock me up, I'm a slasher'), and in common with all the finest comedies, I found myself giggling at the anticipation of lines I knew were about to be spoken. Treat yourself if you have Amazon Prime. A welcome antedote to the real world, which is so full of bleak news at the moment. Crusty jugglers...the greater good...chef's kiss for part two of the Cornetto Triology.
Alex Cann's weekly film blog - 9th January
