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Review by David DiMichele

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Our senses are welcomed by an unknown force of emotion and darkness, the existence of which within the bounds of a superhero film none of us had ever suspected. It hits us with unexpected force and velocity. The result is a generations-wide gap between all the other amateurs and their superhero films and Christopher Nolan’s nocturnal epic of a nightmare. The breath of pride in his work unleashes the beast that has been waiting for years to break free from the Batman franchise.

Nolan’s vision of the unseen city is both instinctive and glorious. An anarchic world that broadcasts a sense of corruption in every direction the camera looks. Gotham City (filmed in Chicago) is a confused metropolis of people who can’t come to terms with paying the respect that is overdue to Batman (Christian Bale). Bruce Wayne’s alter ego is willing to take time out from his playboy life and to gain bumps and bruises in order to rid the city that his late father built of corruption. The idea of being a vigilante inspires him to put on a mask resembling Batman and do what he does, resulting in chaos. He might be the superhero with the most guilt ever. What he does and how he thinks issues out are what make him the most realistic of all superheroes.

After the background fluff that was intriguing in Nolan’s first attempt in the 2005 Batman Begins, this one plunges straight into darkness and despair. The last time a sequel accomplished this feat was in The Empire Strikes Back. You might even say that The Dark Knight is Nolan’s empire.

This is all made possible thanks to Nolan’s faithful care for his characters, who are both dark and desperate. There is a weird mix of heroes and villains who unnaturally and psychotically enjoy each other's presence (“You complete me,” the Joker tells Batman), lawmen who attack their fellows and members of the Mafia who place their trust in a Hong Kong business man. Something which is buried deep - the characters' need for acceptance and power - casts a prolonged and appalling humor over the whole situation, and it is a tormented and sadistic voice which makes this possible.

It belongs to the Joker, played with malicious joy by the late Heath Ledger, who deserves nothing less than a posthumous Oscar. A master of manipulation who is more evil than any of Nicholson’s other roles, let alone his Joker, Ledger’s Joker transcends what a movie villain should be: a coldly calculating person trapped inside his purple suit and decaying make-up, yet trailing with him all the time a wounded and deprived soul.

We learn of the various accidents that apparently caused his vicious scar, which compels him to smile a dreadful smile his entire life, when he tells his victims different stories; either his father carved it onto him as a child or he brought it on himself for the same reason: being too serious.

The Joker is a smart criminal (don’t let his appearance fool you). We witness his trade in an instant classic opening sequence: a superbly well orchestrated bank robbery. After that he gains more confidence by taking command over Gotham City’s Mafia, their money, and eventually he is on his way to targeting political figures, police officers and finally, Batman. He and Batman are two adults who came from the same troubled childhood.. The difference is in the way each of them dealt with it: Batman good, Joker bad.

During his journey to fulfill his darkened heart he has a moment of ecstasy: it takes place after he has committed a crime and is inside a police car fleeing the scene. His face is seen outside the car window, his filthy hair blowing in the wind, breathing in the aroma of hate and chaos with which he has filled the air. It is a scene that moves in slow motion, without any music, and yet it is subtle and completely terrifying.

Then Gotham produces a new hope. A hope that should take the load off Batman. A hope that doesn’t wear a mask or perform as a vigilante in the night. That hope is Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) the new DA who has the persona of a movie star (just ask his love interest, attorney Rachel Dawes played by Maggie Gyllenhaal), and the ability to bring down Gotham’s most feared criminals. The people of the city adore him for his contribution. Batman sees this. And Batman likes this.

The Dark Knight is an ensemble piece. Morgan Freeman’s Lucius is Bruce Wayne’s right-hand man when it comes to technology; Michael Caine’s Alfred is Wayne’s butler; both are lightweight roles, yet they make the most of them because both are great actors. The veteran actor with the most screen time is Gary Oldman. His Lt. James Gordon is a key character to Batman. All the actors, including Bale, Gyllenhaal and Eckhart, turn in fashionable work but there is only one breakthrough role and it belongs to Ledger. He has the same amount of screen time as Bale, Oldman and Eckhart , but the movie allows for only one flashy performance and Ledger eats it up.

The movies that follow this year will have a mighty tide to overcome. Nolan goes for the maximum as he jars our emotions and literally rattles our soul to the core with a film that should merit at the very least a Best Picture nomination. To sit through this scary, malevolent and fierce epic is to witness a master class in direction, turning pulp into art, and an acting spectacle second to none. Each of these will produce grandeur-sized nightmares of characters deprived of their own morality. I encountered a luminous view while enjoying the macabre play of this movie, that for two-and-a-half hours it does not seem capable of being so swiftly condensed into merely a movie; it transcends that realm, creating a movie that can be labeled “great.”

David's Film Rating: **** out of ****

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Comments (3)

Wow...

I can't get over how great this movie is. Ledger's performance will go down as one of the great movie villians of all time. Brilliant.

Great review!

Jeremy , July 18, 2008 | url

...

this movie was absolutely amazing. It was so intense not only the action scenes but the cahracters and the whole story line had me at the edge of m seat constantly. Ledger was amazing. He was just wow. I hate that I don't have words to describe him cos he deserves like a million cos he was so freaking great! And I can't forget Christian Bale who was amazing.

Hands down one of the best movies mad everrrr!

jessicacakes , July 21, 2008

Well said..

..I like this review, you pretty much nailed my thoughts on this film. This will be that sorely missing great movie of the decade.

Jess , July 24, 2008 | url

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