Lee/Harley Appreciation Thread

[SpadesToStart 3,444]

This one’s for all the Batman/Harley/comics fans. Let’s share some things we loved about Gaga’s take on Harley Quinn.

One scene that stood out to me was “The Joker” musical number, where she’s dancing sensually on the prosecutor table while Joker goes around committing violence in the court room. I remember thinking, “Now THAT is Harley Quinn”. tbh that scene gave me more fundamental Harley vibes than a lot of what Margo Robbie ever did with the character (though I like her Harley too).

another highlight is the song Folie A Deux. Musically and lyrically it just feels like the perfect song for Joker and Harley to dance to. It’s so clear that Gaga did her research and had a take on the character that was simultaneously true to form and totally fresh.

[The Ew from Judas 1,371]

This one’s a spoiler, but one of my favorite details in the movie was when they reveal that she has a degree in  psychiatry. Since they did such a different take on Harley, I absolutely flipped when I saw that reference to her regular characterization 

[SpadesToStart 3,444]

Just now, The Ew from Judas said:

This one’s a spoiler, but one of my favorite details in the movie was when they reveal that she has a degree in  psychiatry. Since they did such a different take on Harley, I absolutely flipped when I saw that reference to her regular characterization 

I loved how that paid homage to the comics, while also playing into the overall fun reversal of Harley being the manipulator instead of the Joker. Like of course she knows how to manipulate Arthur, she has degrees in psychiatry!

[JohnWayne92 2,162]

She was the best part of Joker 2 because she was crazier than him - and we didn’t get to explore that. She had so much to dive into, and I believe we were robbed of her becoming Harley in the film (I believe they shot it because of what they did show and that elevator scene in the previews/Lees initial one. 

[SpadesToStart 3,444]

1 minute ago, JohnWayne92 said:

She was the best part of Joker 2 because she was crazier than him - and we didn’t get to explore that. She had so much to dive into, and I believe we were robbed of her becoming Harley in the film (I believe they shot it because of what they did show and that elevator scene in the previews/Lees initial one. 

100%! The film would have been much stronger if it had been a story that focused equally on them both, instead of just being more or less an epilogue to Arthur’s story. Lee was clearly the true psychopath, and Gaga’s performance made me want to know so badly to know what made her tick. 

[MOT 3,020]

I just thought she nailed the 'unhinged' vibe. I couldn't see Gaga or Ally or Patrizia in there. I saw a believable portrait of a strung out girl (if I may).

[xanny 285]

37 minutes ago, MOT said:

I just thought she nailed the 'unhinged' vibe. I couldn't see Gaga or Ally or Patrizia in there. I saw a believable portrait of a strung out girl (if I may).

you may.

[Gaga Scholar 119]

Gaga's facial expressions don't get enough recognition just in general. But I appreciate how the film was shot to showcase them. 

One thing I found confusing, and if someone can clarify, there was J:FAD promotional copy that described Lee as a music therapist at Arkham Asylum, but I didn't get that from the film. Do we think that was a rewrite?

[Ashley 9,372]

My favorite Lee scene was when she set fire to the asylum. I really wish we got to see more of her because I found her character so intriguing.

[SpadesToStart 3,444]

53 minutes ago, Ashley said:

My favorite Lee scene was when she set fire to the asylum. I really wish we got to see more of her because I found her character so intriguing.

I really wished Lee would have burned down Arthur’s old apartment building at the end of the film (while singing That’s Life). Would have made for a much more dynamic way to close out the film. 

[StrawberryBlond 14,820]

Agreed on the courtroom The Joker sequence, that was my second favourite musical number after Gonna Build a Mountain. My favourite moment is when she's talking to him through the glass and she's clearly lying through her teeth and Arthur's trying to figure out if she's telling the truth. We just see so many shades of acting. She really nailed a genuine sociopath here. So many of these scenes gave me chills as she seemed so real and believable. For once, I couldn't see Gaga at all, she became a completely new person. If only we'd see her transforming into Harley with the cutting and bleaching of her hair, just like he did in the first movie, it seemed only fair. That short hair was only used for a super brief sequence yet it was in so much promo material, so it was a real waste. 

5 hours ago, MOT said:

I just thought she nailed the 'unhinged' vibe. I couldn't see Gaga or Ally or Patrizia in there. I saw a believable portrait of a strung out girl (if I may).

Totally. If she were a real person, I wouldn't want to be in the same room as her. She's terrifying in that silent, menacing way that sends shivers right up your spine. I feel it was perfectly depicted in this clip when she stared him coldly in the eye and smiled at 13 seconds:

Chills. If someone looked at me like that, I'd run.

35 minutes ago, Ashley said:

My favorite Lee scene was when she set fire to the asylum. I really wish we got to see more of her because I found her character so intriguing.

One of my favourites as well. Pity that it's the only time we see her set fire to things because it was very well done. Even if she never really burned down any apartments, the way she so quickly, casually and without panic set fire to those papers like she was doing something as mundane as making a sandwich made me think: "This girl's done this kinda thing before, many times." To not utilise this trait again was a big oversight.