I wasn't expecting a musical. I think this was more the Lady Gaga show. Joaquin can't sing either. Just a terribly awful movie. The fear they were going to burst into song any minute which they did. I don't dislike musicals but it was inappropriate for this film as the Joker is a great character and Joaquin played him well in the first film. Just felt this was all about Lady Gaga.
This got bad reviews. I preferred it to the first JOKER movie - Joaquin Phoenix is brilliant again.
I actually actively dislike musicals. I am no fan of the perpetually over-rated Lady Gaga either (AKA Stefani Germanotta from a privileged upper-middle-class background).
However, this is all surreal with set pieces reflecting the fantasies, delusions and mental state of the characters. I liked that AND the class songs (most songs in new musicals are R&B and not for me!) This is old school and sticks to the hits, which is great!
Nice to hear songs like THE JOKER and GONNA BUILD A MOUNTAIN, music, and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Also FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE not written by Stevie Wonder, but by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records' Stein & Van Stock publishing company, first recorded in 1965.
It sags a tad at times, the grim prison scenes and the talky courtroom ones, and I predicted the end.
I have forgotten the first film almost completely - it is referenced a lot here so I should maybe have watched it again before this.
But I liked it, the darkness, the music, the oddity of it,. So 4 stars
Having heard bad reviews for the film was expecting one of the worst films ever, however it was rather enjoyable but still not a great film. The musical numbers just didn.t fit into the film and felt awkward and cringy, also Joaquin is an awful singer