'Joker: Folie à Deux' ending explainer: Let's unpack that 'Dark Knight' connection | Mashable.
'The Dark Knight' connection in 'Joker: Folie à Deux' is laughably bad
 |
| Joaquin Phoenix in "Joker: Folie à Deux." Credit: Niko Tavernise |
Joker: Folie à Deux is an unfortunate hodgepodge of references to better, more interesting films, including musicals like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Band Wagon. Now, we can add Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight to that mix, as Joker: Folie à Deux's final act seemingly hints at the origins of Heath Ledger's take on the Joker, for which he posthumously won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
But just what exactly is that hint at The Dark Knight, and why is it so misguided? Let's break it down in this ending explainer for Joker: Folie à Deux.
How does Heath Ledger's Joker figure into Joker: Folie à Deux?
The reference to Ledger's Joker comes in the very last scene of the film, after we've already endured over two hours of Arthur Fleck's (Joaquin Phoenix) murder trial and a barrage of musical numbers with less pizzazz than a sneeze. (Props to Lady Gaga and Phoenix for at least committing to the song and dance, something director Todd Phillips appears incapable of doing himself.) After the jury finds Arthur guilty on all counts, and after Lee Quinzel (Gaga) breaks things off with him for rejecting the fantasy of his "Joker" persona, Arthur winds back up in Arkham Asylum, alone.
Or perhaps not! Arkham guard Jackie Sullivan (Brendan Gleeson) tells Arthur he's got a visitor. Could Lee be ready to take him back? Arthur follows Jackie to what could be a joyful reunion, only to be stopped by an unknown prisoner simply credited as Young Inmate (Connor Storrie). The inmate asks Arthur if he can tell him a joke, and Arthur seems happy to hear it. Maybe this inmate could be a new friend (or fan) of his, like recently deceased inmate Ricky Meline (Jacob Lofland).
The joke goes like this: A psychopath meets a drunk clown in a bar. The psychopath reveals that he used to watch the clown all the time as a kid, and that he'd like to get him a drink. What should he get him? The clown says if the psychopath is buying, he can get him whatever he wants. In that case, the psychopath chooses to get the clown "what he fucking deserves," an echo of Joker's last words to talk show host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) before shooting him in the head in Joker.
The inmate follows Arthur's murderous footsteps, punctuating his punchline by shanking Arthur. As Arthur bleeds out on the floor, his killer begins laughing uncontrollably. Then, just out of focus in the background, we see him carve a smile into his face, an unmistakable nod to The Dark Knight's Joker's scars. Oh, brother.
Why is Joker: Folie à Deux's reference to The Dark Knight such a joke?
Ending Joker: Folie à Deux on this presumable origin story for Ledger's Joker is a laughable choice for so many reasons. For one, tethering yourself to the greatest live-action Joker performance of all time — especially after emphasizing that the Joker films are set apart from any other DC movie — reaches masturbatory levels of self-congratulation. "Look, we've connected both Jokers that have won Oscars! In fact, one now canonically inspired the other!"
That matter of inspiration, and the idea that Ledger's Joker is somehow taking up the mantle of Phoenix's are the scene's other massive problems. Let's look at how The Dark Knight's Joker handles his own origin story. He turns it into a kind of game, offering up contradictory stories about how he got his scars. These differing possibilities are just one of the many ways in which he presents himself as an agent of chaos. In fact, his whole appeal and danger lie in the fact that he's slippery, an unknowable figure. That Joker: Folie à Deux seeks to give him a more tangible backstory is to undermine him entirely. Ledger's iconic refrain of "Wanna know how I got these scars?" simply isn't Folie à Deux's to answer.
Sure, the moment of self-mutilation is obscured enough — and the Young Inmate such a nothing of a character — that Joker: Folie à Deux could have plausible deniability as to whether this is actually meant to be the start of Ledger's Joker. (The timeline of Ledger's Joker being in Arkham in the 1980s, when the Joker films are set, is also a bit of a stretch.) But Storrie's hunched shoulders in the scene do call to mind Ledger's physical performance, and by this point in pop culture, the scarred smile is synonymous with The Dark Knight's take on the Clown Prince of Crime. If Joker: Folie à Deux's Young Inmate isn't actually Ledger's Joker, he's still meant to make you think of him. And for a film that relies so much on cheap, superficial associations over actual meaning, that crime is just as bad.
Everyone is saying it was garbage 😢
ReplyDelete🎀🎊Congratulations🎊🎀"Grab your chance to win a $100 McDonald’s gift card!
DeleteEnjoy your favorite meals, drinks, and treats on us.
Don’t miss out—enter today!
"Check out this opportunity."👇👇👇👇👇
https://stocodes.com/mcdonalds1/
watched it on premiere..I even paid someone to take care of my kids so I can go with my wife because I liked the first one and got spoiled before watching it...so I wanted to watch it ASAP..
DeleteIt took me a while to.understand how bad it was..how I wasted one night out without my kids, it was really a bad joke. And I liked the first one.. this feel unconnected
O no I knew it was when i saw the couples holding hands.
ReplyDeleteHe who LAUGS, last. 😉
ReplyDeleteDid they remember Flecks laughing disorder?
ReplyDeleteThe whole movie is laughably bad.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Diddy the buttie snatcher?
ReplyDeleteWhat about this upcoming election 🤷🏿♂️
Deletewhat about those two astronauts stuck in space?
Delete🎀🎊Congratulations🎊🎀"Grab your chance to win a $100 McDonald’s gift card!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your favorite meals, drinks, and treats on us.
Don’t miss out—enter today!
"Check out this opportunity."👇👇👇👇👇
https://stocodes.com/mcdonalds1/
Life is always beautiful when you are in good health, Thank you herbalist Dala for healing my hsv1&2.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556476976882...
correctly and accurate...👍
ReplyDeleteI hope this message brighten your day.I saw your comments on a mutual friend's post ,and you seem like a genuinely kind hearted person 🌹🌹I admire that 🌻🌻 Making new connection is one of the joys of life,And I'd be thrilled if we could be friends.What do you say? Let's have some awesome conversation, exchange stories and enjoy each other's company!!!
DeleteThere's no way it's Heath Ledger's Joker considering the whole Harvey Dent arc. Nope.
ReplyDeleteJokes on us the two movies didn’t mean a thing
ReplyDeleteI hope this message brighten your day.I saw your comments on a mutual friend's post ,and you seem like a genuinely kind hearted person 🌹🌹I admire that 🌻🌻 Making new connection is one of the joys of life,And I'd be thrilled if we could be friends.What do you say? Let's have some awesome conversation, exchange stories and enjoy each other's company!!!
ReplyDeleteReally
ReplyDeleteHello there
ReplyDeleteI hope this message brighten your day.I saw your comments on a mutual friend's post ,and you seem like a genuinely kind hearted person 🌹🌹I admire that 🌻🌻 Making new connection is one of the joys of life,And I'd be thrilled if we could be friends.What do you say? Let's have some awesome conversation, exchange stories and enjoy each other's company!!!
ReplyDeleteMovie is Laughably bad lol
ReplyDeleteHeard that Todd Phillips didn’t want to make this movie and this was his F you to the studio.
ReplyDeleteWe’re Looking for a trustworthy business partner or representative from any country for a significant international financial transaction. The total amount to be transferred is $150million USD via the SWIFT system. Interested parties should message me on WhatsApp at for more details:+447529429190
ReplyDeletePayment will be made in three tranches: The distribution of funds will be 15% for the receiver, 5% for the mandate, and 80% for the sender. Only serious inquiries will be considered."
I hope this message brighten your day.I saw your comments on a mutual friend's post ,and you seem like a genuinely kind hearted person 🌹🌹I admire that 🌻🌻 Making new connection is one of the joys of life,And I'd be thrilled if we could be friends.What do you say? Let's have some awesome conversation, exchange stories and enjoy each other's company!!!
DeleteThis was our first week of using herbal treatment that was recommended by Mrs Judith , she said Dr.dala herbal home natural products work very effective after she gets heal from HSV 1 his products was also ordered by (family of 3) so got the Family Pack. HPV was completely gone. A really nice and effective natural products that were all I was also get cured within 33 days of taking the medicine his herbal products is perfectly, need the best treatment to get your immune system healthy and safe from that health challenge you are.. put an end to it contact Dr dala on WhatsApp +2348114393035
ReplyDeleteEmail via dalahome59@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61556476976882...
It could be just as easily interpreted as a double entendre. Humbly paying homage to Heath Ledger's performance while infering that the Jokers legacy doesnt end with Arthur Fleck. The movie could also be seen as a film filled with complex character profiling, symbolism, and open to more than a few interpretations rather than a straightforward storyline.
ReplyDeletea waste of time for what’s ultimately just a reach.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a great article. Thank you for this. I knew there would be major spoilers because of the nature of the title. Duh. Like who reads the title and then the whole article only to comment, "where are the spoiler warnings?!" So dumb. I also knew i wouldn't be seeing this movie anytime soon. Felt the first one was just okay and that Joaquin in no way deserved an Oscar for it. It had one good scene and has low replay value. The Dark Knight is a perfect movie on the other hand. I honestly believe the ending scene you describe is a blatant reference to the Dark Knight. This is a movie. Not a comic book. It was made with the understanding that a lot of people DIDN'T read all of the comics. Todd Phillips shamelessly wanted to connect to a superiorly told universe. Plain and simple. The fact that none of the comic reading guys don't want to accept that, proves it was done in bad taste.
ReplyDeleteThe carving of the face is from the comics, borrowed from the comics for The Dark Knight. Joker 2 has nothing to do with Heath Ledger. The reference from both is from comic canon.
ReplyDeleteThe ending is literally the coolest thing about the movie. It's pretty neat to look at this Joker in retrospect and realize he's just the inspiration for another joker. It's obviously not the Heath Ledger version, this is a black label movie, and it's just another version of the Joker that has a similarity to the Dark Knight (and comic versions) of the joker.
ReplyDeleteLook I'm going to use Chad CPT to write a better depiction on the film than you in 2 seconds. The only thing that makes me feel better about how much of a hack you are is knowing that someday soon AI will replace you and all of your hack friends.
ReplyDeleteThe film’s layers of emotional depth, underscored by remarkable performances from Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, weave a narrative that delves into the complexities of human connection. Through its poignant musical arrangements and nuanced storytelling, the film explores themes of love, vulnerability, and redemption, drawing the audience into a deeply immersive experience. Every scene is crafted to evoke a spectrum of emotions, ensuring that viewers are not mere spectators but participants in a powerful exploration of the human condition.
It's not a reference. This is called reaching. He's just a stan of the Joker persona
ReplyDeleteSpoiler warning ya knobs
ReplyDeleteThe movie was already spoiled by the writer and director. It was a horrendously painful slog.
DeleteA reach and a spoiler. Lovely.
DeleteWhy? It's obvious. Even without the spoiler warning. Cover your eyes next time
DeleteI thought it was fine. Some people are too precious about comic book movies.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your opinion. I liked the movie, even though a lot of other people didn’t.
ReplyDeleteAren't you supposed to be a professional your lack of professionalism with this article is expressed by my guest username
ReplyDeleteThis person has never read a comic book in her life. Guarantee it.
ReplyDeleteI've never believed in anybody or had faith in anybody less than I believe in you hacks r Us is that where you learned to write
ReplyDeleteWho paid you to ruin the end of the film what is wrong with you
ReplyDeleteMy comments are almost as bad as this article
ReplyDeleteOkay I know I left a lot of comments but seriously you gave away the end of the film and it sounds like it was a great ending what gives you the right to just post the end of a film with no disclaimer nothing no hey this is a spoiler alert I didn't even know there was a freaking musical with Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix out. Think what you want but you clearly don't understand art or film. Your article is so vague and assumes that we know exactly what's going on I didn't even realize I was reading about until it was too late.
ReplyDeleteAnd if my last comment just so happened to let me get around the freaking algorithm that protects you from calling you a hack well I guess I just hacked it
ReplyDeleteHypothetically if I had a 4-year-old they could probably write a better article with their broken crayons.
ReplyDeleteMy comments keep getting rejected because I'm so critical of your bad article you gave away the ending of the film what were you thinking.
ReplyDeleteIf I happen to write this and they're reading it and they happen to be the person that wrote this article I hope they know they're a hack
ReplyDelete