Joker: Folie à Deux: Unforgettable money lessons from an Oscar-worthy movie

Gotham City’s Arkham Prison is not a fun place. Prisoners are being tortured and medicated into submission. Among the prisoners was Arthur Fleck, known as the Clown Prince of Crime, who shot and killed television presenter Murray Franklin (on live television) and three drunkards who had bullied him on the subway. . But when you see Arthur in prison, thin and obedient, and repeatedly bullied by his guards, you wonder if the Joker legend is exactly what it seems.

In prison he meets Harley Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn, aka Lee, and falls in love with her. She tells him that the world (and she) loves the Joker for what he represents: chaos and rebellion against world order. Arthur wants her to see him for who he is, not just his wild personality…This dark psychological thriller features big band music and original songs written by Lady Gaga. , an epic retelling of the story that shows Arthur Fleck and the Joker. Like never before. What lessons can we learn about money from this Oscar-worthy film?

There’s always a joker in the pack!

Arthur sings this song in despair, realizing that the world expects too much from him. The Joker is only entertained in children’s cartoons when he is humiliated and beaten down. Arthur laments that it’s just entertainment for adults to laugh at him even when he fails at his job. He is never the protagonist of his story. No one cares what he feels or what he’s going through…this song (“There Is Always the Joker” by Shirley Bassey, later by both Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix) The lyrics of the song (reproduced for the film) say: Don’t worry about it as long as there’s a clown / Just a fool, as stupid as he can be / There’s always a Joker, that’s the rule / But when fate pulls out, you see / The Joker is me!

Driven to the brink by daily humiliations, the Joker turns his world upside down, ends up in prison, and is taunted with, “Tell me a joke, Arthur!”

Your portfolio may also contain some stocks that you have invested in that make you a joker among other investors. They want you to invest just like them. But you know that you are in the “game” of investing for the long term. They may take pride in short-term, immediate profits. But they will stop calling you a clown the day you decide your portfolio will explode and give you exponential returns.

Then they will sing for you as the prisoners sing to Arthur’s defiance: Yes, I would like to be among the number / When the saints march!

Lady Gaga’s epic seduction

Arthur’s rebellion was crushed by his stint in prison. The evil security guard knows about Arthur’s love of show tunes and takes him to a music therapy class, where he meets Harley ‘Lee’ Quinzel. Everyone is meant to sing, “Put on a happy face,” because “when you smile,” the whole world smiles with you…”

Lee tells Arthur that she is in love with the Joker and sings, “Why do birds suddenly appear / Every time you’re near?” /As I do, they desire to be, /Close to you…’ Arthur, starved for affection, is seduced by Lee. She helps him escape into a fantasy world where he “turns small hills into mountains.” And like all rebellious love stories, there is no happy ending because Arthur wants to be loved for who he is and not for who he is. Joker.

As an investor, you too may find yourself seduced by the promise of new financial products. And some people may become blind to the reality of fraud. We must always be wary of such temptations. And if you have the money to invest in such a plan, then by all means enjoy it. But continuing to chase Harley Quinn in real life will lead to disappointment, so you’ll have to have a backup plan that will save you when you realize you’re not the Joker, but just Arthur Fleck.

Joaquin Phoenix has already won an Oscar for his physically demanding transformation and brilliant performance as an emaciated tortured prisoner in the previous film. You will be amazed by his perfect performance in this movie. The proof is when the whole world wants to wipe the clown makeup off Arthur’s face, but you want to wipe that smug look off Prosecutor Harvey Dent’s face. Don’t miss this movie!

Manisha Lakhe is a poet, film critic, traveler, founder of the online writers’ forum Kafferati, host of Mumbai’s oldest open mic, and teaches advertising, film, and communication. She can be reached on Twitter @manishalakhe.