Venice 2024: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga Get 10-Minute Standing Ovation At ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’ Premiere

Director Todd Phillips, cast members Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix pose on the red carpet as they arrive for a screening of the movie “Joker: Folie à Deux” in competition at the 81st Venice Film Festival, Venice, Italy, September 4, 2024. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki | Photo credit: Louisa Gouliamaki

Musical psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips Joker: Folly a Deux Received a standing ovation at the 81st Venice International Film Festival. It was a proud moment for ace director and movie stars Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Joaquin Phoenix with director Todd Phillips and Lady Gaga, who last appeared at the Lido the joker Five years ago, winning the festival’s Golden Lion award, Sala Grande was greeted by an ecstatic theater crowd, receiving an incredible 10.5-minute standing ovation.

Throughout, the audience occasionally chanted “Ga-ga, ga-ga, ga-ga!” shouted. During a break between songs, others shouted, “Gaga, we love you!”. The actor-singer thanked and blew kisses to fans when he was not forced by his co-stars to smile throughout the applause.

the first the joker was a huge success both critically and commercially. It was nominated for 11 Oscars, with Joaquin Phoenix winning for Best Actor and Hildur Gudnadotti’s original score. It became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.

Phoenix reprises his role as the Joker in the sequel, and Lady Gaga joins as Harley Quinn. The supporting cast includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland and Harry Lotte. Zazie Beetz returns as Sophie from the first film. The sequel is said to be a musical, based on the Phoenix dance scene from the original. The first installment grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office and won Phoenix a Best Actor Oscar.

Phillips shared during the press conference before the premiere that “it feels right” to return to debut his sequel in Venice, but admitted that doing the follow-up made him “more nervous.”

“It’s a lot easier to come into something as a rebel than an incumbent,” he said. “There’s definitely a sense of more nervousness with this second one.” Gaga plays Lee, who eventually becomes Harley Quinn, a patient at Arkham State Hospital, a mental institution where Phoenix’s Arthur Flack is a maximum security inmate. When Arthur, who is awaiting trial for five murders, joins a music therapy group, they quickly develop a romantic relationship. Lee recognizes Arthur as the Joker and tries to reawaken his alter-ego.

“Joker Arthur’s neighbor Sophie Dumond (Jazi Beetz) makes a brief appearance when the character is brought in as a witness for the prosecution team led by young Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent (Harry Lotte) before his villainous alter ego Two-Face. Shows,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Phillips and Phoenix shared that they agreed, if they were to return for a sequel, “it would have to feel daring and like we were really swinging for the fences,” according to the director.

They asked themselves, “Can we do something as unexpected as the first one even though it’s a sequel?”

The mega-successful pop artist described working with her co-star as “a breeze”. She shared with the media, “I really enjoyed it, and it was a completely different experience than what I’ve had with other actors. He’s incredibly loose and free.”

When asked about their weight loss for the film, Phoenix declined to say exactly how many pounds he lost. “It felt a little more difficult, but it’s safe. But you’re right, I’m 49 now, I probably shouldn’t be doing it anymore. Maybe it’s for me,” before telling her co-star: “We rehearsed, and we’re one. Go away for months and come back and you’ve lost so much weight, it was really impressive.”

Gaga added, “We fed (Joaquin) blueberries when he was hungry,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Joker: Folly a Deux Released on October 4.