Joker Folie à Deux Review: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, despite great performances, fail to rise above the sluggish storytelling

In a new turn of events, Folie à Deux unfolds after Arthur Fleck, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, ends the life of Murray Franklin, played by Robert De Niro, on his live talk show. Consequently, Arthur is admitted to Arkham Asylum, awaiting trial for his crimes as Joker, with a total of 5 murders charged against him. His defense attorney endeavors to establish that it was actually Arthur’s alter ego, the Joker, who committed the killings and that he has since regained sanity. On the other hand, The State’s prosecution aims to demonstrate that Arthur was entirely in control of his actions during the murders of civilians, suggesting he had been orchestrating the whole situation from the start. Remarkably, this case marks the first instance where a court trial is broadcast live to the public.