The first Spiderman film was lauded as visionary for having a downbeat ending. If that's the criteria for accolades, then the utterly bleak The Dark Knight must be hailed as an unparalleled triumph. Without skimping on action sequences - in fact., benefiting from the thoughtfully-placed and not continuous set-pieces - Nolan's sophomore effort in the reinvention of the franchise shows that even a $180+ million epic can have a heart - and a tortured soul. Casting is exquisite. Oldman, Bale, Eckhardt, and of course, Ledger, are a superb ensemble.