Todd Phillips Unveils the Audacious World of 'Joker: Folie à Deux'
Todd Phillips, the visionary director behind the groundbreaking film "Joker," is back with a sequel that's pushing boundaries and expectations in ways that few could have imagined. In a recent interview, Phillips took us behind the scenes of "Joker: Folie à Deux," shedding light on the film’s surprising musical twist and its ambitious narrative choices.
The journey to "Joker: Folie à Deux" began with Joaquin Phoenix’s unexpected dream. As the first film concluded, Phoenix confided to Phillips that he wasn’t quite ready to part ways with his iconic character, Arthur Fleck. In a vivid dream, Phoenix envisioned Fleck performing on stage, mixing stand-up comedy with song. "Todd was in the wings talking to me through a headset,” Phoenix recalls. “I woke up feeling elated and called him, hoping he’d want to do a show with me.”
Even before "Joker" became a massive hit, Phillips and Phoenix were brainstorming ideas for a sequel. Initially, they toyed with the idea of a Broadway show, but practicalities and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic derailed those plans. Instead, Phoenix’s dream evolved into a musical vision for the sequel. "Joker: Folie à Deux," set to debut at the Venice Film Festival, sees Arthur Fleck in a new light—this time, he’s paired with Lady Gaga's Harleen Quinzel in a musical setting.
Phillips is brimming with a mix of excitement and nerves as he anticipates how audiences will respond to this unconventional follow-up. "Why do something if it doesn’t scare the shit out of you?" Phillips asks. "I’m addicted to risk. It keeps you up at night, it makes your hair fall out. But it’s the sweat that keeps you going."
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The first "Joker" film, a gritty and dark character study, earned over $1 billion and won Phoenix an Oscar. Its success set the stage for a sequel that had to be as audacious as its predecessor. "The question became, ‘how can we top ourselves?’" Phillips reflects. "And you can only do that if you do something dangerous."
This new installment embraces the musical genre, a stark departure from the dark, gritty tone of the original. Phillips describes the film as a complex tapestry of music, dance, drama, and comedy, with Gaga’s Harley Quinn offering a grounded, yet enigmatic presence. "Todd took a very big swing with this whole concept and with the script," Gaga says. "It’s a testament to him as a director, that he would rather be creative than just tell a traditional story of love."
However, Phillips remains wary of labeling "Joker: Folie à Deux" purely as a musical. He explains that the music in the film serves more as an extension of the characters' dialogue, a means for them to express what they cannot say. "Most of the music in the movie is really just dialogue," he notes. "It’s just Arthur not having the words to say what he wants to say, so he sings them instead."
The sequel takes place two years after the original film’s explosive ending. Arthur, now incarcerated, meets Harley Quinn, leading to a whirlwind of fantasy and song. Unlike traditional musicals where characters break into song in public, the music in "Folie à Deux" often exists within the characters' imaginations, adding an extra layer of surrealism to the narrative.
Phillips and his cast, including Phoenix and Gaga, embraced a raw, unscripted approach to their musical performances. Instead of polished, rehearsed numbers, the actors sang live, capturing the unstable and often chaotic emotions of their characters. "It was important to me that we never perform the songs as one typically does in a musical," Phoenix says. "We wanted it to be nerve-racking but honest."
Phillips’ fascination with characters who break through their facades and reveal their primal selves is a recurring theme in his work. From the raunchy humor of "The Hangover" to the bleak intensity of "Joker," Phillips explores the depths of human nature with a mix of rebellion and insight. "Joker: Folie à Deux" promises to be his most audacious gamble yet, blending musical spectacle with a deeply unsettling narrative.
As the film gears up for its premiere, Phillips reflects on the challenge of balancing artistic vision with audience expectations. "It’s all been corrupted," he observes, drawing parallels between the film's portrayal of media sensationalism and real-world events. "Look at how everything is treated as entertainment now. It’s sad and troubling."
In summary, "Joker: Folie à Deux" is more than just a sequel; it’s a daring exploration of genre and character, wrapped in a musical package that defies conventions. Phillips’ willingness to take risks and push boundaries promises to deliver an experience that is as unsettling as it is unforgettable.
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