Joker 2's Story Tease Risks Repeating Joker's Biggest Mistake
The reveal that Arkham Asylum will play a large part in the story of Joker: Folie à Deux may be an interesting prospect, but it also risks continuing one of Joker's most problematic ideas. Todd Phillips' Joker was one of 2019's biggest movies and is widely considered to be one of the greatest comic book movies ever made. Joker's gripping, grounded take on the iconic titular villain earned Joaquin Phoenix an Oscar for Best Actor, owing to his brilliant performance, which was both sympathetic and deeply disturbing by turns.
Despite its success, Joker still faced significant criticism. Among the main issues highlighted was the brutality of its violence, the darkness of its tone, and its portrayal of mental illness. David Fincher claimed Joker betrayed the mentally ill, and his criticism wasn't entirely inaccurate, even though the matter is still debated. The fact remains that Joker's depiction of mental illness was largely divisive, and the film's somewhat ambiguous ending only served to compound the problem.
Related: Joker 2 Story Updates Support The First Movie's Shocking Ending Theory
The first reveal of Joker 2's story details indicates that the setting of Arkham Asylum will play a large role in the sequel, but with that tease comes the risk that Folie à Deux will repeat Joker's mistake. The first film's approach to mental illness is considered divisive at best, but setting the sequel inside the walls of Gotham's infamous mental health facility could very well spell an even more problematic approach to the topic. Joker 2's Arkham story reveal is an interesting prospect, particularly as the film will reportedly be a musical. Still, when considered against the criticisms leveled at the first film, it may indicate that
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