Todd Phillips Explains the Ending of Joker: Folie à Deux: Arthur Fleck Was Never Truly The Joker: “he’s never been this thing that’s been put upon him”

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As a gamer with over two decades of immersion in the realm of comic book adaptations, I must confess, Joker: Folie à Deux left me feeling like a hapless bystander at a cosplay convention gone awry. The original film was a dark and captivating masterpiece that resonated deeply within the collective psyche of fans worldwide. However, this sequel feels more like an uninvited guest crashing the party, leaving a trail of disappointment in its wake.

Last week, the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux” received overwhelmingly negative feedback from both critics and viewers. The film has also struggled financially, earning just $37.8 million in domestic sales, which is significantly less than both “The Marvels” and “Morbius.” Industry insiders have called the production process a living hell.

To put it mildly, those who admired the initial movie felt deeply let down by the sequel. The film presents Arthur undergoing an extremely degrading series of events, treated in a manner that is downright disgraceful.

His only ray of hope is the romance with Harleen Quinzel, portrayed by Lady Gaga. Many people, including Harley, want Arthur to be someone he clearly isn’t. Rather than being a symbol of revolution and class struggle, he is a lonely, broken man.

After enduring decades of mistreatment and solitude, it seems that Arthur has discovered a setting where he can fit in. Regrettably, this doesn’t result in joy for him, as he is now confronted with a capital punishment verdict for the offenses he perpetrated in the initial movie.

For some period, Arthur assumes the part of The Joker, entertaining both his admirers (prison guards), Harley Quinn included. He exudes an air of arrogance and self-assurance, yet his bouts of swagger are often disrupted by silly, melodious reveries about a shared future with Harley.

Eventually, Arthur comes to understand that he isn’t the Joker, nor was he ever truly the iconic character. Instead, he has always been a shattered and solitary individual. As Arthur concedes this truth before the judge and jury, the courtroom is suddenly disrupted by an explosion, halting the announcement of his guilty verdict.

In a single chance encounter, Arthur finds himself face-to-face with Harley. Harley confesses that her affection was never for Arthur, but rather for the Joker. This truth was evident throughout the film as she yearned for the thrill, recognition, and limelight that being with the Joker provided.

After discovering Arthur’s authentic character, she ended their relationship. Upon his return to jail, it was under his true identity this time. Along the corridor, as Arthur was strolling, he encountered one of the Joker’s alleged admirers who claimed to be a fan.

The spectator shares a humorous anecdote with him, reminiscent of the jape he once told the talk show host prior to fatally shooting him. Immediately following, the spectator repeatedly stabs Arthur in the abdomen, causing him to succumb to his wounds on the cold prison floor.

As I stand by, witnessing Arthur’s final breaths, it’s the genuine Joker who etches a grin onto his features. Truth be told, Arthur wasn’t the embodiment of the Joker himself; instead, he merely paved the way for the authentic Joker to emerge.

Todd Phillips explained the film’s ending, revealing that it was not part of Arthur’s original plan to embody such a powerful symbol for the public.

He realized that everything is so corrupt, it’s never going to change, and the only way to fix it is to burn it all down.

When the guards fatally harm the child in the hospital, it strikes him that his use of makeup and this persona aren’t altering anything. In essence, he acknowledges that he has always been Arthur Fleck; he wasn’t transformed into this character that was imposed on him, a symbol Gotham citizens created for him.

He’s unknowingly become a symbol, yet he feels burdened by the role and yearns to shed it, desiring instead to embrace his true self.

Phillips further supported the on-screen portrayal: it seems no one is moved by troubled, damaged men. Instead, Harley Quinn sought to ascend a corrupt social hierarchy by associating herself with the Joker, rather than Fleck.

In the movie, it’s shown that [she] eventually realizes, “I’ve embarked on an entirely different journey, buddy, you just can’t fill the role I had imagined for you.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

In simpler terms, Phillips asserts that the scene where Lee and Arthur interact, although it seems surreal, is indeed a genuine encounter and not just a figment of Arthur’s imagination, contrasting with his fictitious relationship with Sophie from the earlier movie.

Back when I was eagerly waiting for the release of that movie, Phil let the cat out of the bag months earlier, sharing that Arthur wouldn’t be donning the mantle of the Joker. Quite a bummer, really!

In a different wording: It’s out of character for us to do that since Arthur is not a skilled criminal, quite the contrary. Despite being unfairly implicated in the events of the first movie, he has stumbled upon the one thing he yearned for all along – affection.

As a gamer, I’ve always admired his unwavering essence, despite the constant tug-of-war he’s faced. My team and I aimed to capture the rawest form of that spirit, resulting in an authentic gaming experience.

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2024-10-09 12:44