Famed director Quentin Tarantino is a vocal supporter of the Todd Phillips sequel “Joker: Folie à Deux.” In a recent podcast, Tarantino spoke enthusiastically about the film even as it has struggled at the box office compared to the first “Joker.” Tarantino praised Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as “one of the best” he’s seen. He also drew comparisons between the sequel and Oliver Stone’s “Natural Born Killers.”
Tarantino suggested Phillips directed “Folie à Deux” in the spirit of the Joker character. “The entire concept, even him spending the studio’s money – he’s spending it like the Joker would spend it,” Tarantino said. This subversive approach may explain the film’s commercial underperformance, which has earned just over $200 million globally so far compared to the first film’s $1 billion plus.
Francis Ford Coppola also praised Phillips for “staying one step ahead of the audience.” However, Paul Schrader, who wrote “Taxi Driver” which inspired the first “Joker,” only watched parts of the sequel before deciding he had seen enough. The sequel has received a 32% rating on review site Rotten Tomatoes.
While industry reactions have been mixed, Tarantino’s interpretation highlights how Phillips may have deliberately challenged expectations as an artistic statement. The director’s unconventional vision, according to Tarantino, could be why “Folie à Deux” has found less box office success than its predecessor despite strong critical acclaim from some quarters.
