THE DARK KNIGHT (includes trailer and news for Batman 3)
July 21st 2010 12:43
At the end of Christopher Nolan’s highly accomplished DC revamp, Batman Begins, Lieutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman) suggests to Batman (Christian Bale) that now that he’s around criminals will only get worse. “Take this guy for example, 2 counts of armed robbery, 3 counts of grand larceny, 1 murder, with a taste for the theatrical – like you. He leaves a calling card”. Gordon shows Batman the Joker card left at the scene of the crime, “I’ll look into it”, he replies. A sequel was hinted at, teasing us and when it finally was on approach it’s hype grew and grew, Heath Ledger’s death only adding to the sense of urgency for the films arrival. The Dark Night proved to be a huge spectacle that did itself proud as far as sequels go, however in The Dark Night’s attempt to be bigger, better, faster, stronger – a fair amount of that true essence in Batman Begins was lost. However, it’s like I said with Batman Begins, it’s a hard film to find fault with, it also proved that you could make a comic book film into a credible artistic achievement that was more than popcorn fun.
The Dark Knight indeed lost some of what made Batman Begins such a well realized film. The Dark Knight uses Batman Begins as a jumping board into increased spectacle and the dramatically bold. It looks to be more ambitious. Batman Begins is truer to the spirit of it’s source material, while The Dark Knight is looking to out do it, but stills hits the mark with a bloody well scripted story and exciting visuals. Batman Begins focused more on Batman/Bruce Wayne while The Dark Knight focuses more on his arch nemesis, who twists the city of Gotham around his little finger. If Batman Begins demonstrated slow burning, restrained tension then it’s The Dark Knight that let’s loose and is the pay off – building in intensity, not holding back. Batman Begins was a more introverted journey and The Dark Knight is chaotically extroverted, virtuosic film making which leaps head first at you. It’s all very exciting!
With Batman (once again played by Christian Bale) now keeping crime on a tight leash, he has pushed the mob into a corner. District attorney Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart (Thank You For Smoking, Towel Head) has wrangled up all of the mobsters and money launderers and in the Mob’s desperation they turn to a bizarre madmen known only as The Joker, played by Heath Ledger (Monster’s Ball, Brokeback Mountain), who extends out an offer to kill Batman in exchange for half of all the mob’s money. The Joker puts Batman to the test, making him jump through his hoops. Suddenly The Joker tires of the idea of a world with out Batman and instead decides to just unleash panic on the city and watch Batman sweat, as he stays one step ahead of everyone. The Dark Knight is a film that puts it’s foot on the gas and builds the fury. With all it’s twisting and turning plot lines, The Dark Knight stops for no one.
Obviously, the big talk around The Dark Knight was Heath Ledger’s posthumous Oscar winning performance, as he would die from a pill overdose before the film was released. I find Ledger fascinating to watch in this film, he was one of the most over-rated actors ever but here his successes and pitfalls with this part is an illuminating insight into his attempt to do something really memorable, challenging himself into new acting territory. I love how Ledger pulls back with this part, he doesn’t over do that iconic Joker laugh, but instead creates a portrait of a deranged, impish character who not only hides his true face with war paint, but seldom shows his hand, every now and then we get a glimpse into a more frightening psychopath and I love what he’s trying to do. Unfortunately in this attempt there are some missed opportunities and he seems to hold back a tad too much, continuing to wait for that right moment that sometimes is right in front of him. There are also things that Ledger does here that are brilliant, especially during the final act of the film – he gets better and better. The actor that impresses the most here is Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, Gotham’s White Knight you suffers a trauma at the hands of The Joker, revealing him finally as the conflicted, long time Batman Nemesis 'Two Face'. Eckhart is dynamite, and is the best actor in the whole film, he positively pops with personality. The difference between Eckhart and Ledger is that the entire film serves to elevate Ledger’s The Joker. When The Joker is on screen, the Hans Zimerman twisted, tightening musical score is buzzing away while Ledger is on screen, the camera is framed to heighten his menace, everything is acting to support Ledger, yet Aaron Eckhart pulls everything off without any additional back up – the man has got some serious talent to burn, he simply oozes charisma. Having said that, Ledger still carries the film and gives one of the most memorable villains ever seen in recent times, it’s definitely his best performance.
As for the film itself and Nolan’s directing, it’s pitch perfect and man oh man is it exciting! As usual the cinematography is on the money, giving The Dark Knight a significantly different look that of Batman Begins. This look adjusts the whole tone of The Dark Knight, making it appear more glossy but also more visually dynamic than it’s original. Every single detail in the film is perfectly in place from what The Joker is wearing to the cracks in the city walls. The action scenes are astonishing, as they also were in Batman Begins. The Dark Knight has a card or two up it’s sleeve, sure to make your eyes bulge out when you see what’s in store. All the stunts and action choreography breaks new grounds of perfection, including use of filming many of it’s scenes in I-Max, 70 mm, topping this all off with a shock or two that will pull the rug out from under the audience. The Dark Knight is a film bent on rocking your world – and it achieves just that while remaining interesting and engaging with it’s multi-layered writing.
All the actors are on their best behaviour, knocking one out the park. Aside from Bale, Ledger and Eckhart we have some old faces returning, to make this towering film all it can be, Gary Oldman is unrecognisable as the warm, wise and on his feet Jim Gordon, there’s just something about Oldman, when ever he’s on the screen you feel safe. Michael Cain is back for the ride as Alfred the butler, Bruce Wayne’s paternal figure of sorts, gracing the screen with a sly chuckle and a wink as he bounces off the other actor’s lines – Cain is really having fun here. Morgan Freeman adds an air of suaveness to the proceedings as Lucious Fox, the man who keeps Batman supplied with some very useful tools. Regarding some of the lesser discussed actors in this film – is it just me or is Eric Roberts one seriously cool son of a bitch! Roberts plays mob boss Salvatore Maroni and it astounds me at how different he is here, to how he was in his earlier films like ‘The Pope Of Greenwich Village’. Anthony Michael Hall (Pretty In Pink, The Breakfact Club) plays a news reporter Mike Engel again, and for the life of me I don’t know how he landed this gag, he’s great, but there’s something about Hall that when ever you see him on screen, you feel like you’re witnessing the big in-joke of the film.
The only inconsistency between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight is Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Secretary, Donnie Darko) as Rachel Dawes, who has replaced the annoyingly elfish Katie Holmes. Gyllenhall isn’t brilliant or anything, as she tries to remain as likable as possible through out, but she gets the job done as Bruce Wayne’s love interest and she’s also a damn sight better than Katie Holmes.
I remember when I saw The Dark Knight on the opening night at the cinemas, it was mesmerising. As Batman speeds towards The Joker on the Batpod, The Joker causes him to swerve and fly off his vehicle, leaving Batman unconscious – when this happened the whole cinema exploded in claps and cheers! I was surprised at this, but put it down to it being Heath Ledger and the scene being so exceptionally awesome to witness. So now – we wait for Batman 3 due out in 2012. Well, there is an exciting rumour abound that seems legitimately convincing, in light of who’s been put on the third Batman film’s casting sheet. It seems yours truly’s favourite actor Joseph Gordon Levitt (Brick, Mysterious Skin, Inception, 500 Days Of Summer) has been cast as The Riddler.
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Comment by Matt Shea
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
You bring up some very good points, I think I personally think that Batman Begins is the slightly better film of the two. I agree with most of your points, and while I think your observation about Two Face is correct I dont necessarily see this as a flaw, I seethe joker being written here as a catalyst for the more important Two Face stand off at the end, I saw The Joker as sort of winning in a way as he denies Batman a victory by causing so much destruction (killing Rachel Dawes for example), as for the Joker stand off, I find it satisfying, especially the shot where he's hanging upside down and the camera spins around with him when he's talking about 'Madness being alot like gravity', definitely the best moment in any Nolan film I think - but I see your point of view though in everything you say. I very much can be blinded sometimes by a film's impressive veneer.
and yes - we like Eric Roberts. Nutjob you say? Prey tell..... maybe he's been hanging around Gary Busey too long
Comment by Matt Shea
All this makes it sound like I disliked the film - I still enjoyed it quite a lot, despite what I perceived to be flaws.
As for Roberts - ha, Busey, that's exactly who popped into my head when I mentioned it. The main story that sticks in my brain is from Greta Scacchi about The Coca Cola Kid, where halfway through their sex scene she discovered he'd gone all method by jumping in the bed nude. Some of his performances in those early years were just totally off the wall.
On a side-note, Nolan has mentioned that he'd be interested in doing a Bond film - would love to see that.
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
That Roberts anecdote has made my life richer now for the telling - thanks hahaha
As for your other points they're very valid and they are flaws that I have simply learned to ignore as they are ever present in too many films, so much so that the flaws them selves have become cliches - which I already mentioned in one of my batman reviews that the cliches were scattered through out with the intention of being used as short hands for the audience.
But I'm with you all the same.
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I would have to say that The Dark Knight exceeds the parameters of Batman Begins to rank a little higher for me.
As you know Ledger as the Joker was Ok for me, but not exceptional. He wasted to many opportunities, but his physicality was spot on, especially when hopping in the back of the bus in the opening scene.
From my own review:
"Darker and more intense than any of its predecessors, this is the batman movie for the 30 year old geek boy age.
Many are claiming the film reinvents the comic book genre. John Doe won’t go that far, but it certainly continues to evolve the adult extensions began with Alex Proyas’ The Crow, and Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City. It is easy to draw comparisons between the film and Cinema classics like Citizen Kane and even Hearts of Darkness reworking like Apocalypse Now.
The tight narrative ensures the viewer is constantly assessing the plot. Dwelling on the similarities between each of its 3 leads, the screenplay by the brothers Nolan exploits the character dynamics to become a triage coin of psychological examination.
The set pieces are astonishing in their authenticity. Utilising all the technical tricks of manipulation, the sound design and cinematography invest the viewer in the heart of each fresh visual maelstrom."
Comment by ShaunK
Screen Adventure
Thanks for reading!