Damon Mcknight
The 2019 film Joker was released in Australia on October 3, 2019, a day before its US release. The psychological thriller was directed by Todd Phillips and starred Joaquin Phoenix as the Joker, alongside Robert De Niro in a supporting role. The film received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its bold reimagining of the iconic comic book villain and others deeming it perniciously garbage. The film grossed over $1 billion worldwide and earned Phoenix an Academy Award. A sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, was released in 2024, with Phoenix reprising his role.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the movie | Joker: Folie à Deux |
| Year of release | 2024 |
| Genre | Drama, Musical, Thriller |
| Rating | 5.2 |
| Director | Todd Phillips |
| Star cast | Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, and Catherine Keener |
| Plot | Sequel to the 2019 Joker movie, it revolves around Arthur Fleck's stay at Arkham State Hospital and his romance with Harley Quinn |
| Availability in Australia | Available to stream on YouTube, Apple TV Store, Prime Video Store, and Max |
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What You'll Learn
The release date of Joker: Folie à Deux in Australia
Joker: Folie à Deux is a psychological thriller/musical sequel to the 2019 film Joker. The film centres around Arthur Fleck, who is institutionalised at Arkham awaiting trial for his crimes as the Joker. While incarcerated, he meets Harley Quinn, the love of his life. The film explores Fleck's mental state and the Joker-Harley relationship, with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in the leading roles.
The film has received mixed reviews. Some critics highlight the performances of Phoenix and Gaga, while others criticise the film's musical transformation and plot. The musical numbers and strange delusional vignettes have been described as unnecessary and detracting from the film's run time. The relationship between the Joker and Harley Quinn has been criticised for lacking emotional depth. However, some reviewers have appreciated the film's bold, unique approach and exploration of Arthur Fleck's mental state.
The original Joker film, directed by Todd Phillips, premiered at the Venice International Film Festival on 31 August 2019 and was released in Australia on 3 October 2019. The film received a standing ovation and won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival. It also faced criticism for its dark tone and violence, with some journalists being disinvited from the premiere. Despite this, the film was a box office success and received several award nominations.
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The plot of the film
The 2019 film Joker is an American psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips, with a screenplay he co-wrote with Scott Silver. The film is based on DC Comics characters and provides an alternative origin story for the Joker. It stars Joaquin Phoenix and explores the mental illness and descent into nihilism of its protagonist, Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and aspiring stand-up comedian.
The film is set in the early 1980s in a crime-ridden and decaying Gotham City. Arthur Fleck is a struggling stand-up comedian who wears smudgy clown makeup daily to make a living. He aspires to bring joy to others but is instead mocked and bullied by those around him. Fleck has a neurological disorder that causes him to have random, uncontrollable laughing fits, for which he requires medication. He lives with his mother, Penny, and cares for her, but he is isolated, bullied, and disregarded by society. As his mental health deteriorates, Fleck's grip on reality loosens, and he begins a slow descent into madness, eventually transforming into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.
After being attacked by a group of youths, Arthur's co-worker Randall gives him a revolver for protection. Arthur pursues a relationship with his neighbour, single mother Sophie Dumond, and invites her to see his routine at a comedy club. However, his performance is unsuccessful, and he is mocked by his idol, popular late-night talk show host Murray Franklin, who calls him a "joker". Arthur's mother has been writing to Thomas Wayne, her former employer, as she believes Arthur is Thomas' illegitimate child. When Arthur intercepts one of her letters, he goes to Wayne Manor to confront Thomas, but his hopes for help are dashed.
Arthur's transformation into the Joker is marked by a series of murders. On his way home after being fired from his job, Arthur is harassed and attacked by a group of businessmen from Wayne Enterprises. He fights back, shooting them dead. Unperturbed by his actions, Arthur continues his daily life, performing at a comedy show. However, his uncontrollable laughter and difficulty delivering jokes mar his performance. The murders are condemned by billionaire mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne, who labels those envious of the more successful people as "clowns". This sparks demonstrations against Gotham's rich, with protesters donning clown masks in Arthur's image.
Overall, the film explores the societal apathy towards mental illness and the isolation and bullying experienced by those who are struggling. It received mixed reviews, with some critics praising Joaquin Phoenix's performance and the exploration of the Joker's character, while others found the plot derivative and the social commentary unconvincing.
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The cast of the film
The cast of Joker: Folie à Deux includes Joaquin Phoenix, who reprises his role as Arthur Fleck/Joker from the first film. Lady Gaga joins the cast as Harley "Lee" Quinzel, also known as Harley Quinn. Zazie Beetz also reprises her role from the first film. Other cast members include Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, Leigh Gill, and Ken Leung.
Joaquin Phoenix's performance as the Joker in the first film earned him an Academy Award. Lady Gaga, a renowned singer and actress, took on the role of Harley Quinn as a new challenge, recognising the similarities between the film's focus on identity and duality and her own experience. Zazie Beetz's role in the first Joker film was well-received, and she returns for the sequel. Brendan Gleeson and Catherine Keener are established actors who join the ensemble cast, while Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey, and Leigh Gill take on supporting roles. Ken Leung, known for his role in "Lost", also joins the cast as Dr. [Character Name].
The film also features a range of uncredited performers, including Elizabeth Bedley, Jeremy Boone, Casey Burke, Eduardo Fuenzalida, Adrianna Goffredo, Anthony Gullotta, Haley Handson, Greg Hoffman, Tom Johnson, Garrett Marshall, Theodore Martello, Franklin McCay, Eddy Mejia, and Troy Metcalf.
Joker: Folie à Deux is the highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 film "Joker", which grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The first film's success sparked interest in a sequel, and Warner Bros. eventually convinced director Todd Phillips and Joaquin Phoenix to return, offering them more creative freedom and a larger budget.
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Where to watch the film in Australia
The Joker sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, premiered in Australia on 3 October 2024. The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, so it is expected to be available on BINGE, Foxtel, and Foxtel Now after its theatrical run.
You can watch the film at Palace Cinemas, or stream it online on YouTube, the Apple TV Store, Prime Video Store, and Max. The first Joker film (2019) is also available to stream on Prime Video, Netflix, and Stan.
If you are looking for free trials, BINGE offers a 7-day free trial, while Foxtel Now offers a 10-day free trial. Amazon Prime Video also offers a free trial with instant access to thousands of TV shows and movies.
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Reviews of the film
The reviews for the 2019 Joker film were mixed. While some critics praised Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Arthur Fleck, others criticised the film's narrative and direction. The New York Times described the film as an "empty, foggy exercise in second-hand style and second-rate philosophizing". On the other hand, Rotten Tomatoes called it a "gritty, intense character study that dives deep into the psyche of Arthur Fleck".
The 2024 sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, also received mixed reactions. Some viewers criticised the film for its pacing and plot, while others praised the performances of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga. One reviewer described the film as a "bold and often brilliant sequel", while another called it a "disappointing" and "unnecessary" addition to the original. The musical numbers and exploration of Arthur Fleck's mental state were particularly divisive.
Overall, while the performances in both Joker films were generally well-received, the narratives and directions of the films sparked more varied responses. Some viewers found the films thought-provoking and captivating, while others criticised them for being disjointed and lacking in depth.
> "Unlike the first film, this movie has practically no story, but rather a series of strange delusional vignettes that were thrown together along with musical numbers that got old very fast and made the run time way longer than needed for how unentertaining it actually was."
> "The ambitious choice to transform the film into a musical, although bold, was not interesting. The story does not add anything truly new or original."
> "Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga bring music but zero merriment to a bold and often brilliant sequel."
> "Joaquin Phoenix returns with his blood-curdlingly grounded take on the classic Batman villain – alongside a magnetic..."
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Frequently asked questions
The first Joker movie was released in Australia on October 3, 2019, a day before its US release. The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, was released in Australia on October 3, 2024.
The first Joker movie is currently available to stream on Prime Video, Netflix, and Stan in Australia. You can also rent or buy the movie on Apple TV Store, Prime Video Store, Google TV, or YouTube. The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, is available to stream on YouTube, Apple TV Store, Prime Video Store, and Max.
The cast of the first Joker movie includes Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, and Zazie Beetz. The sequel, Joker: Folie à Deux, features Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, and Catherine Keener.
