Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix soaked up the applause as Todd Phillips’ villainous musical sequel, “Joker: Folie à Deux” earned an 11-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday night.
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Before the premiere, Phoenix showed up early and generously worked the carpet, taking selfies with fans. Phillips asked a guest to borrow her paper fan to fan himself and keep cool in the hot temperatures. Gaga arrived to chants of her name as the paparazzi created one of the biggest frenzies of this year’s festival, with photographers tripping over each other on the carpet to get a shot of the star. One fan with pink hair held up a sign that read, “Gaga I just wanna hold your hold for a while.” The Harley Quinn star needed help maneuvering in her dress as a handler took her hand to fans and signed a long line of autographs. The premiere also included big names like CAA CEO Bryan Lourd and Warner Bros. Pictures CEO Mike De Luca in attendance.
As Gaga made her way down the stairs from the balcony seat where she watched the movie, she signed autographs for fans — almost causing a stampede as the Italian Little Monsters called out, “Gaga, please! Gag,a please!” in the hopes of getting a selfie.
The adulation was too much for Phoenix, who left the theater after nine minutes of clapping. He and Gaga were in deep conversation during the standing ovation, seemingly discussing the movie. Gaga also hugged her fiance, Michael Polansky, twice during the celebration.
“Folie à Deux” is the follow-up to Phillips’ 2019 film “Joker,” which also premiered at Venice and won the fest’s prestigious Golden Lion. It went on to become the sixth-highest grossing film of the year and won the Academy Awards for best actor for Phoenix’s performance and original score for Hildur Guðnadóttir. It received a total of 11 Oscar nominations, including for best picture, becoming the first DC Comics film to do so.
Taking place two years after the events of “Joker,” “Folie à Deux” adds star power with the addition of Lady Gaga to the cast and intrigue with a brand-new musical element. According to its official synopsis, Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, “now a patient at Arkham State Hospital, falls in love with music therapist Lee (Gaga). As the duo experiences musical madness through their shared delusions, Arthur’s followers start a movement to liberate him.”
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In a recent cover story with Variety , Phillips detailed his motivations for making the sequel, as “Joker” was originally meant to be a standalone film.
“Why do something if it doesn’t scare the shit out of you?” Phillips asks. “I’m addicted to risk. I mean, it keeps you up at night. It makes your hair fall out. But it’s the sweat that keeps you going.”
Gaga last came to the Venice Film Festival in 2018 with Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born,” which received an eight-minute standing ovation, kicking off its award campaign.
“Joker 2” also stars Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener and Zazie Beetz, and is set to premiere in theaters on Oct. 4 from Warner Bros.
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