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MMonty
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- First reviewJuly 18, 2008
- Last reviewJuly 18, 2008
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MMonty's Reviews
Overall rating
5
/
5
Chilling, Sadistic, Relentless, and a Masterpiece.
PostedJuly 18, 2008
MMonty
from Maple Grove, MN
The Dark Knight is a special film. A film that not only gives us the expected(namely action sequences and a man dressed in a costume), but the unexpected, a film that transcends its genre and all together becomes something else. While you're watching it, The Dark Knight tricks you into thinking its a comic book film but in actuality it is a crime epic, depicting the nature of those who protect and those who hurt. On one end of the spectrum we have Batman, a man who's vigilante acts are meant to inspire good and sustain it. On the other end we have the Joker, a man so hell bent on destruction and maiming, that chaos and violence are almost an extension of bodily function, which are treated as more important than breathing. And in the middle is Harvey Dent, a man who wants to clean the streets up with rules and do goodery, but at times he strays from the middle, knowing that the rules can't always be applied. This is our setup, as these three men wage for the soul of Gotham City, which itself has seen an escalation of crime with the introduction of Batman. Granted, these aren't the only pieces to Nolan's film, but they are the beating heart. Credit must go where credit is due, Chris and John Nolan have crafted a script that is able to balance three principle characters, a load of supporting characters, and numerous subplots with such detail and cohesiveness. The script has so much respect for each character and their own stories, as it gives each one ample time to be fleshed out and understood. Not to mention, the numerous twists and red herrings only add more suspense to a world that is already unpredictible and on the verge from becoming a cess pool of evil. Yes, there is a lot to be seen in this film and its running time is massive, but it pays dividends as it gives us time to become wrapped into the character's lives as they crash in and out of tragedy, triumph, and loneliness. Ofcourse, what is on paper doesn't always translate well to the screen, so credit must also be bestowed upon this acting troupe, who are prestigious as any cast can get. Eckhart is heartbreaking as Harvey Dent, a man who is fierce and fears nothing at first, but as the film wears on, he begins to change as his image, his love, and his life's work hinge on every step he takes.Eventually all of those things he has loved and protected end up leading to his fall. In many ways he is Gotham City's Hamlet. Bale as Batman is all the more superb, as he is by far the best Batman to grace the big screen. A man who is two faced himself, a play boy by day and a man who fights crime by night. A man who is struggling with the realization that he can't keep fighting forever. He too wants to live a life with his one love, Rachel Dawes, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Gyllenhaal is a clear step up from Katie Holmes, as she is torn between Dent and Wayne, who she knows are both one in the same to a degree. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are charming and are the threads that keep Wayne's psyche in check, as well as push him to live up to his morals. Oldman as Jim Gordon, is tender and solid as he lives and breathes for making things right.And now we get to the real show, Heath Ledger as the Joker. Most people know the Joker from Jack Nicholson's performance in the 1989 Tim Burton "Batman" film. Well, thats all about to change. In Burton's version, Jack Nicholson was essentially playing Jack Nicholson in make up. In The Dark Knight, Ledger is the Joker. He literally disappears into the role and throughout the whole film I forgot it was even Ledger at all. His performance is so nuanced and full of ticks, its hard to believe he is merely a creation on film. At times he is playful and at times he is downright chilling. Ledger plays the Joker so sadistically, that we really don't know what to expect from him. Just the way Ledger deliver's his lines, like how the Joker explains how he got his scars, or the way he walks with a slouched posture, we see a man completely unhinged and restricted by no rules or norms. I'm going to take this moment here and declare Ledger the frontrunner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. His performance dominates the screen. With all of these actors performing at a high level within an already great script, big props must placed upon Chris Nolan. First off, he has improved his direction on action sequences. No longer are they jumbled quick and dark cuts. They're clear, concise, and completely lacking CGI. I dare you not to marvel at his stunt based sequences like a semi flipping or midnight Asian extradite. Also, Nolan should be given credit for not comprimising the world he established in Begins and tackling dark and philosophical subject matter. He could've gone the Spider-Man 3 route and just half heartedly performed for the studio and fan service. Thankfully Nolan's not a man who sacrifices a story just to appease a few. Nolan even kills off a few major characters, all of which may anger some, but they only add depth to the story and push it farther into greatness. Which leads me to laying one last kudo at Nolan's feet and that is for making a film so complex and rich, despite it having the "based off a comic" tag. It is so much more than a film about a man with a penchant for dress up. Its about the grey areas we all encounter in life. Its about the morals we try to balance and justify in a world full of terrorists, mad men, and corporate executives. Its about how we too, of even the strictest of rules, can find ourselves lashing out despite our beliefs when we have been pushed to the brink. Near the end of the film the Joker explains himself to Harvey Dent and says that people aren't chaotic when something happens when its "part of the plan". Instead, people fall apart and are chaotic when things occur on a whim and don't fit what they expect. I must say this is what got me in The Dark Knight...a film that dared to be something so much more than what's usually the "plan" for a comic book film. A film that is relentless in its depiction of moral upstanding and monstrosity, and how both can be interchanged from situation to situation. From the first second to the bittersweet ending, The Dark Knight will clutch you in its grasp and drain every last bit of emotion from you, while showing good and evil can be one in the same. Nolan, you have your masterpiece.
Yes, I recommend this movie.
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