REVIEW: THE DARK KNIGHT
REVIEW: The Dark Knight
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhardt
Release: July 18th, 2008
Grim, mesmerizing, gripping, epic. These are the words that come to mind after watching Chris Nolan’s newest installment in the Batman series. The Dark Knight really is a cinematic masterpiece. It not only transcends the comic book genre, but it asserts itself as one of the best crime dramas of all time.
TDK makes no time for back story exposition or catch up from Begins, instead the viewer is thrown right back into the now Bat-protected Gotham City. Things quickly heat up as the first scene boasts the most impressive bank robbery since Michael Mann’s Heat, and also gives the audience their first look at Batman’s maniacal arch nemesis, the Joker. The scene is extremely effective at not only setting the dark tone of the film, but also establishing a hyper-reality that Nolan has created his Batman universe around.
The major portion of TDK revolves around three intertwined character arcs. First there is Batman/Bruce Wayne, whose partnership with Lt. Gordon has spawned a mission to take down the mob using an intricate money tracking operation. Batman’s motives and identity slowly come into play as Gotham begins questioning why they have entrusted a vigilante to protect their streets. While Batman is left to struggle with new enemies, Bruce is faced with a realization that Batman is no longer his alternate identity, and it is the playboy billionaire who has become the mask.
Second, is Harvey Dent. Harvey is Gotham’s newest hope in the battle against crime, only instead of fighting criminals in a bat suit, he takes them on in the court room as Gotham’s newest District Attorney. By taking the mob head on, Harvey intends to set a precedent that crime and corruption will no longer be tolerated. While Batman can only fight foes at night, Harvey is taking them on in broad daylight and becoming a valuable asset in an alliance with Gordon and Batman himself. Harvey and Bruce find out they share a lot more then the same ideals, as Rachel Dawes is Harvey’s new girl friend.
Last is possibly one of the most interesting villains in movie history, the Joker. The Joker will stop about nothing to produce pure anarchy in the streets of Gotham. While he creates chaos through murders, mind games, and explosions, his real plans go a lot deeper. By defacing the symbols of justice in Gotham (unmasking Batman and ruining Dent’s reputation), he hopes to force the citizens of Gotham into breaking their moral codes and becoming ‘fuel for the fire’ in his quest to establish an order-less world.
Everyone in the movie brings A-game performances. Bale delivers again with a Bruce Wayne who is cocky yet likeable, and a Batman who is forced to struggle with the very ideals he stands for. Eckhardt, while overshadowed by Ledger, is fantastic in his supporting role as District Attorney Harvey Dent. He provides the audience with one of the most memorable, and tragic transformations in movie history.
The Joker says it best when the he states, “I’m not a monster, I’m just ahead of the curve,” and indeed he is. Heath takes what are seemingly simple lines on paper and manipulates them into some of the most disturbing, scene stealing quotes since Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs. There is no point in the movie where Ledger is even recognizable as himself. He goes so deep into the mind of the Joker, that while the audience and Batman might not know what makes him tick, Ledger sure does. His performance surely warrants a best supporting actor nod during this year’s award season.
The movie is not perfect, but it is damn close. Coming in at 152 minutes, the movie is a lot longer then your average blockbuster. While some might struggle with the run time, the pace should outweigh any concerns as the movie flies by at a blistering speed. If anything, the movie could have benefited from an additional 25 minutes allowing Dent’s storyline to be truly fleshed out. It would have also allowed for some transitional scenes instead of some of the ‘bang-bang’ action the audience is hammered with.
