Joker: Folie à Deux (in theaters)

I think Todd Phillips feels like we missed the point of “Joker.” 

Phillips also directed the wildly popular 2019 movie, a profoundly bleak take that turned the classic villain into a mentally ill folk hero. Though Phillips acknowledges the public response in his new film, bringing it in-universe to give Arthur Fleck a ton of fans, he also makes it clear that any mystique Joker has is purely in the eyes of the people. “Joker: Folie à Deux” strips all that away to reveal Fleck as an utterly tragic, pathetic figure, so desperate for attention and “love” that he gets swept away by forces beyond his control. 

It's a strong artistic statement, and it’s one of the most unique comic book adaptations to hit the screen in a long time. Sadly, Phillips is so insistent in his message that he sacrifices an entertaining version of the film, short-circuiting many of the musical numbers and getting too caught up in recapping huge chunks of the original movie. We’re left with only glimpses of the more dynamic version of the movie promised in the trailers, particularly a transcendent number set to Stevie Wonder’s “For Once in My Life.” 

At least the leads are interesting. Joaquin Phoenix doubles down on his Oscar-winning performance in the original, a desperate figure torn between conflicting desires. Lady Gaga’s Harleen Quinzel is the real revelation, flipping the traditional version of the character to make her own tender, malicious creation. She even sabotages her own voice for certain musical numbers, though it’s a crime that the movie didn’t give her more of a chance to sing. The movie should have given her more of a chance to do so many things. 

Joker’s the one with his name in the title, but it’s Harley Quinn that has a real future as a villain. 

Grade: Two stars

His Three Daughters (Netflix) 

There’s nothing more complicated than a grieving family. 

In the hands of a really fantastic trio of actresses, however, that complication is a wonderful thing for audiences. Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olsen are both the meat and the heart of “His Three Daughters,” an exploration of how three sisters deal with the impending death of their father. It’s a contained movie, carefully structured and almost play-like at times, but the amazing cast turns it into a rich, nuanced tapestry of love, resentment, and the way some things can only be understood by family. Add on a fantastical, heart-wrenching ending, and you have a complicated story as beautiful as life itself. 

Though it requires patience to let the story unfold properly, the slowly deepening understanding of the characters is enough to hold your attention. Lyonne delivers the most nuanced performance of her career, offering a quiet tenderness that easily draws audience sympathies. Coon brings depth to her character’s prickliness, while Olsen brings moments of richly needed humor. Jovan Adepo is electric in his brief time onscreen, and Jay O. Sanders is fundamental to the fantastic finale. 

Grief is never an easy thing, but in movies like “His Three Daughters” it can be beautiful.

Grade: Three and a half stars

Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Utah Film Critics Association. Find her on Twitter at @wardellwriter or drop her a line at [email protected].