AceShowbiz - Quentin Tarantino, the celebrated director of "Pulp Fiction" and "Kill Bill", has heaped praise on "Joker: Folie a Deux", the sequel to the controversial 2019 film "Joker". Speaking on "The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast", Tarantino hailed the film for its unconventional approach and subversion of expectations.

Tarantino remarked, "Todd Phillips is the Joker. This is a film by the Joker, for the Joker." According to Tarantino, Phillips "spent the studio's money like the Joker would," and his "big surprise gift" of a buzzer shock handshake is akin to the Joker's malicious antics.

Tarantino further asserted that the film "says 'f**k you' to everyone," including superhero fans, moviegoers, Hollywood and investors. He noted that Phillips "intentionally antagonizes" these groups, challenging their assumptions and expectations.

Despite being initially skeptical of the film, Tarantino was impressed with its execution. He described the talk show scene in the first "Joker" as "one of the best scenes made in the last 20 years," but found the rest of the film "pretty f**king one-notey." However, in "Folie a Deux", Tarantino was captivated by Joaquin Phoenix's performance as Arthur Fleck, calling it "one of the best... I've ever seen in my life."

Tarantino also praised the film's use of musical numbers, stating that the more banal the songs, the more effective they became. He defended Phoenix's unconventional singing voice, noting that it contributed to the authenticity of his performance.

Finally, Tarantino drew comparisons between "Folie a Deux" and his own film "Natural Born Killers", finding the sequel more satisfying than the original. He remarked, "That's the 'Natural Born Killers' I would have dreamed of seeing. I loved what they did with it."

Tarantino concluded his praise by emphasizing, "Todd Phillips is the Joker. This is a film by the Joker, for the Joker."