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Film reviews

Joker: Folie a Deux Review

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Five years later, Joaquin Phoenix is back as Arthur Fleck/Jokerand Todd Phillips is back as the director. I found this much-anticipated continuation lacking. Not in a completely negative way, but more because it is totally opposite from what many might expect. It is like the evil and terror from the first Jokeralmost never happened. Joker: Folie a Deux feels like a circus…in a prison cell and legal suits.

In this film, Arthur is amid legal proceedings for his violent crimes from the previous film. This time, however, he has made his prison environment feel like home. Nothing has really changed in his characterizations of an absurd mental illness. Despite all his troubles, he has become quite famous due to his criminal behaviors. His attorney is Maryanne Stewart (played by Catherine Keener). She tries to convince Arthur that he should not present himself as the Joker which is difficult for him because he believes he is so special. This does not help his case nor does taunting a police guard, Jackie Sullivan (played by Brendan Gleeson).  He despises Arthur’s presence with passion. With all the hatred, fame, and bizarre attention that Arthur loves, there is one special person who has a bad influence that comes into the picture. That lady is Lee Quinzel, and her stage name is Harley Quinn (played by Lady Gaga).

The criminalities abound for Arthur, and he cannot dismiss his Joker persona. He finds happiness when he falls in love with Lee Quinzel (when she uses her stage name Harley Quinn). Together, they create a world of boiling evil and catastrophe. Their vengeance is daring, but the presentation is flat. Too many moments they share on screen transition to them singing so don’t expect a lot of action or suspenseful violence in Joker: Folie a Deux.  

With performances from Phoenix and Gaga, I was expecting some real eye-openers during the movie.  Although the writing is not too bad, there seems to be misdirection which causes thestory to not vibe all that well in Joker: Folie a Deux. With Arthur’s new love and his various trial dates, the film does not have a clear path to balance out its stressors.  Instead, Phoenix’s character creates a circus of wonders, but is unsuccessful in finding meaning or presenting the big picture. The halting point is that Arthur/Joker is in prison. Therefore, the story relies too much on the fascination of the ridiculous love between Arthur and Lee/Joker and Harley Quinn. Their bizarre tangos fueled by their unique brands of crazy make for a weird ride.

In the end, this sequel relies too much on Arthur finding ways to feel powerful. While he has some success, the film is a sub-par continuation in a theatrical setting. Joker: Folie a Deux does manage to hit the bar of mediocrity. It isn’t terrible but is simply lacking in far too many areas and is not nearly as compelling as the first one. Two out of four stars. 

Film reviews

Megalopolis Review

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Many years in the making, Megalopolis is about a director who spends his own funds to create his project. From director Francis Ford Coppola comes a saga where artists and egos collide in a futuristic universe filled with deceit and power. For fans of Coppola’s previous projects, this film has layers of amazement. While it’s all over the place, it still works.

The film focuses on Cesar Catilina (played by Adam Driver). He is an artist that challenges time, reality, and art through his self-absorbed way of thinking. He has the power to stop and move time and reality. A utopian future in New York city spirals as Cesar’s ego always keeps him on the lookout for the most growth potential possible. The mayor is Franklyn Cicero (played by Giancarlo Esposito), and he is not fond of Cesar’s approaches. Right in the middle, there is Julia Cicero (played by Nathalie Emmanuel). Julia is the daughter of Franklyn and is working for Cesar. Characters in this film come together to create their own narrative. Cesar’s reputation and universe begins to go awry due to his questionable involvement with others, including a young stud named Clodio Pulcher (played by Shia LaBeouf). Clodio looks down on Cesar and wants to acquire the kind of power Cesar has.

The film is over-done, but Coppola is strong as usual with his storylines in Megalopolis. Unfortunately, the characters frequently go down cheesy paths. The seriousness of this film comes through the narration. Fundi Romaine (played by Laurence Fishbourne) is both a character and the narrator. The film explores the idea of maturity and the center of authority in Coppola’s world of the rich and wealthy. Even the family dynamic is curious, especially with Cesar’s uncle Hamilton Crassus II (played by Jon Voight). He is not always on the same page as Cesar but stands loyally by the throne. Megalopolis is like the philanthropic approach to what Coppola tries to accomplish with his artistry in filmmaking. The utopian future in this setting gives viewers a lot to think about.

There is a quote in the film, “Artists can never lose the control of time.”  The ability to control time toys with the audience’s mind during the entirety of Megalopolis as do themes related to hatred, power, enemies, and deceit. The film also has many suspenseful factors which elicit a sense of overwhelm.

Despite some setbacks, Megalopolis is a continuum of all kinds of dreams hoping to develop into something bigger. The dramatics thrive faithfully in way that is expected from Coppola after long ago establishing respect with the now famous saying, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” from The Godfather. There are plenty of “can’t refuse” offers in Megalopolis. The creative forms of corruption make Megalopolis visually audacious. The IMAX version will loop in more depth and layers to help audiences understand the narrative in the 10X immersive experience. Three out of four stars for Megalopolis.

Film reviews

My Old Ass Review

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A group of teenagers curious about what life will be like when they grow-up is featured in My Old Ass. Written and directed by Megan Park, this unique film begins with an approach in which the teens are doing drugs all night long. Their partying, however, results in revelations due to the side effects of the drugs which bring dramatic elements and unexpected meaning. My Old Ass is one of the quirkiest, yet joyful and artistic adventures of 2024. 

The film focuses on Elliott (played by Maisy Stella), who is young and living her best life. This all changes when she does mushrooms with her friends Ruthie (played by Maddie Ziegler) and Ro (played by Kerrice Brooks). Once the mushrooms make her start tripping, her mental door opens to a new individual of purpose which is the older version of herself. Older Elliott (played by Aubrey Plaza) offers inspiration and wisdom. She also makes Elliott realize she should examine her life more thoroughly. Elliott finds all kinds of new revelations from her older self. She finds connections to a boy named Chad (played by Percy Hynes White), and she tends to read more into what her family has planned. These various discoveries lead to heightened emotions.

My Old Ass takes a deeper approach as it explores the inner thoughts of its main characters, Elliott and Older Elliott. The realization that life has many plateaus is highlighted by scenes in the film which frequently look back in time. The vibes of youth and then reassessment once Elliott matures are featured in My Old Ass It is a dark comedy where family, love, friendship, sacrifices, curiosities abound. Is Elliott going to make different choices after listening to older Elliott? Is Elliott going to resent herself or her family more? Or is Elliott going to let her life take its course? The youthful adventures of Elliott’s mushroom-fueled trip open her mind to new beginnings. The film takes the subject of teenage hormones and dazzles the screen with astonishing characterizations.

The dynamic between Stella and Plaza is amazingly well done in My Old Ass. This film is different kind in which the adventure of growing up finds new paths. The dramatics also find some uncharted territory. The path leading to positive outcomesarrives swiftly and smoothly in My Old Ass. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.