Joker in form, Lady Gaga on song

‘Bewitched, bothered and bewildered…’ — these words of the song play on your mind as you sit through this sequel to the much acclaimed and hugely successful ‘Joker’. Yet, there is a beguiling quality to ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’. The term, we learn, means shared psychosis, shared delusional disorder. If ‘Joker’was an anatomy of one mind, here two unhinged minds are at work. Arthur Fleck/Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) is in Arkham Asylum, a facility for the criminally insane, awaiting trial for his crimes. His gruesome acts include killing of five persons, one on live television, a fact that is drummed in time and again.

His lawyer, Catherine Keener as Maryanne Stewart, is trying her best to plead for the insanity clause and argue the split personality syndrome he probably suffers from.

Before the courtroom drama takes centre stage, yet another personality surfaces. Lady Gaga as Harleen ‘Lee’ Quinzel appears in the music therapy room of the facility, seemingly as mentally fractured as the super villian of DC universe, the Joker. And thus begins a duet, literally, for the narrative breaks into a song every now and then. Indeed, to present two madcaps, in love too, in a musical is a brave, even audacious, attempt. Lyrics like the popular song ‘That’s Life’ are not a cursory choice. What happens when two crazies fall in love? Or can they truly experience or know this emotion? For, don’t they both inhabit a world where rules don’t really apply? But life and love happen to those on the edge as well.

Joaquin Phoenix, whom we have admired since the ‘Gladiator’ days, is in exemplary form once again. The uneasy laugh, those menacing eyes, expressions changing like quicksilver and the bones on his body, which you can actually count as he walks the alleys of the asylum where the guards can be as criminal-minded. Why, every sinew of his face speaks and communicates. But then, you can’t expect any less from the Oscar-winning actor of ‘Joker’. He has mastered this loony act. And then, there is Lady Gaga you can actually go gaga over. We are once again privy to her immense singing prowess and acting talent (after her Oscar-winning ‘A Star is Born’.) She can play the fool and fool the Joker too; her controlled maniac act is the real surprise here. Mark the scenes where she puts makeup on Arthur’s face, transforming him into the Joker she is enamoured by. Clearly, she believes in his legend more than him.

As she starts a fire in the asylum, they burst into a tango, dancing all over the place, and the very act is spell-binding. They sing and dance in other fantasy bits too. Excellent cinematography by Lawrence Sher, fine editing by Jeff Groth, superb production design and superlative performances, much stays with you.

However, what prevents the story of these two crazed minds from becoming a truly immersive experience is how each time you are invested, songs break the spell. The musical score by Hildur Guonadottir adds to the frenzy and songs like ‘For Once In My Life’and ‘That’s Entertainment’ fit the mood and lift it too. But by the time we reach the penultimate point, we, too, want to chorus, ‘Stop singing’. As it is, by then, the storyline has moved to a point of distraction. Sure, director Todd Phillips, who has co-written the story along with Scott Silver, builds and transposes some of the mayhem of Gotham on to New York. The madness of his characters minus the gore is evident. But, it also leaves you with a ‘sneaking suspicion’ that he is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.

In the movie, the dialogue, ‘we will make a mountain’ keeps recurring. And the intent is clear, if you can’t live up to the fantastical legend, well, you might as well take a bow and exit the scene.

Should the makers of ‘Joker’ have called it quits with the very first film? If you look at the sequel through the lens of the first one, you will certainly find the experience dissatisfying. For, unlike the prequel, it doesn’t cut you through, is not as unsettling a study of melancholy. Yet, as a film of its own standing, it will take you to those dark recesses of human behaviour, not just of the Joker but others too, including Jackie Sullivan, an abusive guard played by Brendan Gleeson.

The human mind, we all know, works in mysterious, yes even depressingly dark, ways. Crazy is as crazy does. ‘When the villain is mean… that’s entertainment’ — if these thoughts align with your idea of entertainment, this symphony will work for you. Only remember, the villain can be human and hence fallible too.