Paul Schrader criticizes 'Joker 2', says he left 'really bad musical' after watching it for 20 minutes

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Writer Paul Schrader called out ‘Joker: Folie a Deux’ for being a ‘really bad musical.’

During a recent interview, the ‘Taxi Driver’ scriptwriter shared, “I saw about 10 or 15 minutes of it. I left, bought something, came back, saw another 10 minutes. That was enough.”

“I don’t like either of those people,” he said, referring to Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix. “I don’t like them as actors. I don’t like them as characters. I don’t like the whole thing. I mean, those are people who, if they came to your house, you’d slip out the back door,” he added.

What did movie critic say about 'Joker 2'?

Film critic Owen Gleiberman also reviewed the movie and wrote, “The concept is audacious but the execution less so in a movie that takes a step back from the danger of ‘Joker.’"

He added, "The casting of Lady Gaga certainly sounded promising, because she’s a great actor, and was put on earth (among other things) to make musicals. But Gaga, who has a lovely unforced presence in ‘Folie a Deux,’ is drastically underused,” according to Variety.

Viral video of Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga from Venice Film Festival

Amid worldwide criticism of the flick, a viral video surfaced where Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix's conversation was closely observed by lip-readers during their presence at the Venice Film Festival.

The video, claiming to accurately depict their exchange after the film's premiere on September 4, shows Phoenix appearing frustrated and disillusioned with the production. Since its upload on October 7, the clip has amassed over five million views on X, leaving fans feeling sympathetic towards the lead actor.

According to subtitles shared by BroBible, Joaquin Phoenix expressed disappointment and frustration with the production, allegedly telling Gaga, “It’s horrible!” When she attempted to reassure him, he firmly replied, “I do think so.”Confused, Gaga asked, “What? What are you talking about?” 

 Although Phoenix’s lips weren’t visible, Gaga’s seemed to align with the video’s interpretation. The conversation escalated into a brief argument with Phoenix suggesting the ending “could’ve been different,” a notion Gaga dismissed, stating she loved it. “Oh you did? Yikes,” Phoenix retorted, wearing an annoyed expression as he turned to greet other audience members.