BrendanGleeson – Credits Rolling

Todd Phillip’s 2019 version of Joker was so successful, it came as no surprise when a sequel was announced. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is waiting for trial in Arkham for the crimes he committed. He meets Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga) and the two form a bond unlike any other.

I was so much looking forward to this film. The original was one of the best I have ever seen from DC that I just wanted more. I’m so sad to say that this was just awful. None of it worked and I kept scratching my head in complete disbelief as to what was unfolding in front of me. It’s like Phillips took everything that made the original so great and tore it apart bit by bit until there was nothing left.

While I was initially unsure of the musical aspects, I tried to keep an open mind. Most of these sequences taker place in Arthur’s mind so I can understand why they were implemented. I don’t think it did much to strengthen the plot. It wouldn’t have made much of a difference if they were there or not. At least we know that Phoenix and Gaga can carry a tune.

Speaking of our leads, Phoenix is once again brilliant as our troubled Arthur. You never really know if you’re supposed to be rooting for him. He keeps you fascinated though whether or not he’s himself or Joker. I wanted to like Gaga’s version of Harley, or Lee, as she goes by here, but unfortunately I wasn’t sold. Nothing against her whatsoever as an actress, but I didn’t feel like her character really went anywhere. Luckily the supporting cast of Brendan Gleeson as cop Jackie Sullivan, Catherine Keener as Arthur’s lawyer Maryanne Stewart and Harry Lawtey as lawyer Harvey Dent helped elevate things.

There were a lot of bold choices made throughout. The opening sequence for starters was something I certainly wasn’t expecting. I felt like the courtroom scenes became drawn out and slow and then when the third act came about, it all just kind of jumbled together. There was no flow. I kept waiting for it to all fall into place, but it never did.

I know that everything has a sequel or a reboot these days, but Joker: Folie À Deux is one that never should have happened. It ruined everything it had going for it in the first one and made it into something unrecognizable. Even the acting couldn’t save it. This is probably the worst film I have seen so far this year and that just makes me so sad to say.

Rating: ♥️.5

What do you do when your friend doesn’t want to be your friend anymore?

That is a question that Padraic (Colin Farrell) asks when Colm (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly ends their friendship. He doesn’t believe it to be true and he vows to do whatever he can to make amends, much to the dismay of his sister Sioban (Kerry Condon), the troubled Dominic (Barry Keoghan) and the other islanders. But no matter how hard Padraic tries, Colm’s mind has been made up.

I know that we’re barely two months into the year, but I have to tip my hat off to The Banshees of Inisherin. This is a movie that will make my favorites list by the end of the year, it was that good. And it’s surprising that I say this because I didn’t even think that I wanted to see it at first.

What seems like a simple and straightforward story takes on something a lot more complex. We all know what it is like to break up with a friend; at times it can hurt more than breaking up with a romantic partner and this depiction was certainly unique. Throughout the film, I understood where each character was coming from, their actions and the consequences that stemmed from them. Colm wanting to move on for more enriching friendships made total sense to me, whereas I also felt bad for Padraic and his complete despair over the situation. The way in which the supporting characters dealt with the fallout was also on point.

Everything about this movie seemed so real to me. I don’t know how else to describe it. Not only were the characters brought to life in phenomenal performances by everyone involved, the beautiful Irish landscapes helped me escape for a couple of hours. I could have sat there even longer, learning even more about these people’s lives, eager to see what would happen next.

The Banshees of Inisherin is a special film that is not to be missed. I’ve been on a roll with all these Oscar noms lately, but I have to say I think this one may be the best yet.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️