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Quentin Tarantino’s recent comments aboutJoker: Folie à Deuxsparked intrigue. Known for his own boundary-pushing films, Tarantino lauded Todd Phillips’ bold directorial choices and the unique musical approach of the sequel. WhileJoker: Folie à Deuxpolarized audiences, the film’s artistry in acting, cinematography, and storytelling still resonated with the veteran director. Here’s why Tarantino, despite mixed reviews and a modest box office performance, feltJoker: Folie à Deuxwas an unexpected cinematic triumph.
This comes despite the extremely poor ratings and reception the movie seems to have garnered from critics and audiences alike.Joker 2is rated 5.2 on IMDB, and has a 32% Rotten Tomatoes score, far from the kind of numbers a movie which was praised by Tarantino can presumed to boast of.
1. The Acting: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga’s Performances
InJoker: Folie à Deux, Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga delve deeply into their roles, with Phoenix reprising his Academy Award-winning portrayal of Arthur Fleck, the Joker. Tarantino was captivated by the intense character work on display. Phoenix brings his unique, unhinged energy to Arthur, embodying a Joker that straddles both reality and a surreal dreamscape. Lady Gaga, meanwhile, takes on the role of Harley Quinn (here named Lee) with a compelling duality—she is simultaneously a vulnerable, broken character and a fierce, dream-driven companion to Arthur. Both actors perform complex musical numbers that intertwine their emotional and psychological states, blurring the line between their perceived “real” lives and shared dreams.
The actors reportedly committed extensively to their roles, adapting different vocal tones to distinguish between their dream sequences and reality. This deliberate approach allows them to maintain the film’s delicate balance between dark fantasy and gritty realism. Tarantino appreciated these subtle choices, calling the acting a “masterclass” in emotional and physical dedication.
2. Bold Cinematography
Tarantino, known for his love of visual storytelling, found Phillips’ approach to cinematography inJoker: Folie à Deuxparticularly enthralling. The film makes artistic use of shadows, reflections, and dynamic camera angles, crafting a cinematic world that feels both familiar and distorted. The aesthetic choices amplify Arthur Fleck’s psychological journey, with surreal lighting and contrasting colors intensifying his chaotic mental state and oscillating relationship with reality.
Tarantino noted the film’s effective use of shadows and reflections, commenting on how these techniques add to the psychological complexity and ambiguity of the narrative. The cinematography’s gritty elegance and expressive lighting patterns make each frame visually captivating, contributing to what Tarantino described as a “highly engaging viewing experience.”
3. Musical Numbers
One of the most controversial choices inJoker: Folie à Deuxwas Phillips’ decision to turn the film into a dark, twisted musical. While many fans were taken aback, Tarantino found this creative risk thrilling. The musical sequences are used not merely as entertainment but as a narrative device to explore Arthur’s fractured psyche and descent into madness. Tarantino specifically praised the songs’ “banal” quality, which he felt mirrored Arthur’s nihilistic worldview, adding layers to the character’s mental and emotional states.
The musical interludes may feel jarring, but they underscore the film’s surreal elements, capturing a sense of chaos and disorientation in Arthur’s mind. Tarantino relished the way these unconventional, often dissonant musical scenes disrupted the viewer’s expectations, drawing audiences into Arthur’s fractured experience and allowing them to feel his internal conflict firsthand.
Tarantino’s Love for a Director Taking Risks
Tarantino was deeply impressed by Todd Phillips’ audacious choices inJoker: Folie à Deux, noting that the director’s “anti-hero” approach extended beyond the characters to the storytelling itself. By creating a musical sequel that subverts audience expectations, Phillips challenges Hollywood conventions and delivers a film that defies traditional narratives about villains like the Joker. Tarantino referred to Phillips as “the Joker” himself for making such a bold, risk-laden film, one that thumbs its nose at predictable story arcs and fan expectations.
InJoker: Folie à Deux, Phillips explores Arthur Fleck’s character from a unique angle, and by so doing, reinvents the Joker mythos. While fans may have expected a straightforward continuation of the Joker’s rise to power, Phillips presents a different, complex narrative. For Tarantino, this subversion is the film’s ultimate strength, makingJoker: Folie à Deuxa compelling watch.
Rishabh Bhatnagar
Editor/Reviewer
Articles Published :315
Rishabh Bhatnagar is an Entertainment and pop culture journalist/editor with Fandom Wire. He has more than 6 years of experience working for multiple major platforms and is himself an avid consumer of worthwhile content. A natural storyteller, Rishabh has a unique way with words and is always looking to improve, as a storyteller, writer, and a journalist.
