The Big Picture ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Hates You. Will You Return the Favor?
Van Lathan, known for his insightful take on pop culture, dives into the divisive ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’, dissecting its musical style and societal commentary. He examines the current landscape of moviegoing and how social media shapes audience engagement. Joining later, Greg Jardin shares insights from his debut film ‘It’s What’s Inside’, discussing its sci-fi thrills and unique narrative choices. The conversation explores the evolving perceptions of cinema and the complexities of audience reactions in today’s polarized film culture.
01:46:46
Joker: Folie à Deux Discussion
- Sean Fennessey and Van Lathan discuss Joker: Folie à Deux, a sequel to the 2019 Joker film.
- They analyze its musical format, filmmaking choices, and its commentary on audience reception.
Filmmaker's Intention
- Todd Phillips seems to critique the audience's reaction to the first film.
- He uses the sequel to make a statement about societal treatment of the mentally ill and disenfranchised.
Musical Choices in Joker
- The film uses mid-century American music, creating a stark contrast with the grim narrative.
- This juxtaposition highlights the film's themes of societal disconnect and the allure of entertainment.
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Intro
00:00 • 4min
Exploring 'Joker: Folie à Deux'
04:08 • 37min
Dining Experiences and Film Critique
41:36 • 22min
The Intersection of Comedy, Criticism, and Cultural Conversations
01:03:35 • 4min
Inspiration and Aspiration: A Filmmaker's Journey
01:07:35 • 2min
Filmmaking Journeys: From Aspirations to Realities
01:09:45 • 18min
Building Chemistry in Film
01:27:56 • 15min
Exploring Singular Visions in Contemporary Cinema
01:43:03 • 3min
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Joker
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Sean is joined by Van Lathan to discuss ‘Joker: Folie à Deux,’ the off-putting sequel to Todd Phillips’s 2019 ‘Joker,’ starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga (1:00). They discuss the jukebox musical format’s successes and failures, the filmmaking vs. the experience of watching it, and whether they ultimately liked the movie. Then, they zoom out to discuss the state of moviegoing and movie watching (43:00) and explore whether we’re in a uniquely strange place with the reception of movies and the conversation social media inspires about divisive films and filmmakers. Finally, Sean is joined by director Greg Jardin to discuss his debut feature ‘It’s What’s Inside,’ an all-in-one-night sci-fi thriller with some unexpected twists (spoilers!) and fresh filmmaking choices (1:05:00).
Host: Sean Fennessey
Guests: Van Lathan and Greg Jardin
Senior Producer: Bobby Wagner
Video Producer: Jack Sanders
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