Tarantino praised the movie for exceeding his expectations:“I really, really liked it, really. A lot. Like, tremendously. I went into it thinking it might be a cold, intellectual exercise—something I’d appreciate but not enjoy. I thought it would be a bit of a beautiful mess. But I didn’t find it an intellectual exercise at all. I got caught up in it.”
Photo: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in Joker: Folie à Deux. Photograph: Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros Entertainment Inc
In particular, Tarantino commended Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the troubled protagonist, calling it "one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in my life." He also compared the film to the kind of version of Natural Born Killers he “would have dreamed of seeing” back in the 1990s. Tarantino’s original script for Oliver Stone’s satire was famously altered, a change that has long fueled his frustration.Tarantino also celebrated director Todd Phillips for taking risks, stating:“The Joker directed the movie. The whole concept—even how he spent the studio’s money—felt like the Joker himself was making the choices. It’s a giant middle finger to Hollywood, the movie audience, and the industry.”He found the musical sequences especially enjoyable, describing them as “really funny” and delighting in the chaos that defines the film’s narrative style.A Polarizing Film
Despite a $200 million budget, Joker: Folie à Deux struggled both financially and critically, premiering at the Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes currently scores the film at 32%. While the original Joker earned over $1 billion globally, the sequel only grossed around $60 million domestically and $201 million worldwide to date.While Tarantino is among the film’s vocal supporters, others in the industry have been less impressed. Screenwriter Paul Schrader, whose Taxi Driver inspired the original Joker, was dismissive of the sequel:“I watched about 10 or 15 minutes, left to buy something, came back, saw another 10 minutes. That was enough.”However, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola praised Phillips on social media, calling him unpredictable:“Ever since The Hangover, he’s always stayed a step ahead of audiences. Congratulations to Joker: Folie à Deux.”The film’s financial struggle mirrors Coppola’s own issues with his latest project, Megalopolis, which also failed to find box office success.Despite the backlash, Tarantino's endorsement highlights the divisive nature of Joker: Folie à Deux—a film some dismiss as a misstep but others view as a bold, unconventional cinematic experiment.
Photo: Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in Joker: Folie à Deux. Photograph: Niko Tavernise/Warner Bros Entertainment IncIn particular, Tarantino commended Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the troubled protagonist, calling it "one of the best performances I’ve ever seen in my life." He also compared the film to the kind of version of Natural Born Killers he “would have dreamed of seeing” back in the 1990s. Tarantino’s original script for Oliver Stone’s satire was famously altered, a change that has long fueled his frustration.Tarantino also celebrated director Todd Phillips for taking risks, stating:“The Joker directed the movie. The whole concept—even how he spent the studio’s money—felt like the Joker himself was making the choices. It’s a giant middle finger to Hollywood, the movie audience, and the industry.”He found the musical sequences especially enjoyable, describing them as “really funny” and delighting in the chaos that defines the film’s narrative style.A Polarizing Film
Despite a $200 million budget, Joker: Folie à Deux struggled both financially and critically, premiering at the Venice Film Festival to mixed reviews. Rotten Tomatoes currently scores the film at 32%. While the original Joker earned over $1 billion globally, the sequel only grossed around $60 million domestically and $201 million worldwide to date.While Tarantino is among the film’s vocal supporters, others in the industry have been less impressed. Screenwriter Paul Schrader, whose Taxi Driver inspired the original Joker, was dismissive of the sequel:“I watched about 10 or 15 minutes, left to buy something, came back, saw another 10 minutes. That was enough.”However, filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola praised Phillips on social media, calling him unpredictable:“Ever since The Hangover, he’s always stayed a step ahead of audiences. Congratulations to Joker: Folie à Deux.”The film’s financial struggle mirrors Coppola’s own issues with his latest project, Megalopolis, which also failed to find box office success.Despite the backlash, Tarantino's endorsement highlights the divisive nature of Joker: Folie à Deux—a film some dismiss as a misstep but others view as a bold, unconventional cinematic experiment.
