The Dark & Humourless Night

Rating: Null/10 (3 August 2008)

It was a trade show - days before the film's release - I had tickets - I was excited - I was going to see The Dark Knight: Chris Nolan's second Batman film after the promising start he had made with Batman Begins...
I had heard Oscar mentions about the late Heath Ledger, and I couldn't wait to see what they had done with the reinvention of The Joker - which I hoped went back to the graphic novels - harsh and insane, but tinged with a little sympathy on our part for what is ultimately a tragic character.
Unfortunately, we got none of this. The movie plods along a path of politically thriller which would suit any vigilante film, except this is Batman - and you could live with it - except there's no light here. The only slight humour in the entire film features Michael Caine (as Alfred the Buttler) and then it's all doom and gloom...
I liked seeing the mechanics of how people support Bruce Wayne in his Batman guise; it's interesting. But the pace is never more than pedestrian unless we're thrown headlong into one of the action sequences - which are excellent, of course. But so what?!! I didn't care about anyone, so I didn't really become emotionally involved with anyone to care if they lived or died. Christian Bale plays Batman with such merciless grimace that it's hard to understand why anyone would speak to him, let alone support him.
All in all the story culminates at around the 2 hour mark with spectacular orchestration and manipulation - and you think 'I can't wait for the sequel' - and then, unfortunately, the film continues for another 30 minutes of action which would be better placed in a whole other movie. By which time you are so numb that you just want to run from the cinema while rubbing the feeling back into your arse cheeks!
The afore mentioned Heath Ledger IS superb. He's the only light in this humourless darkness. I only wish they had gone back to the comic material and given him a proper background. It would have added such depth to what is an extraordinary performance.
It's such a shame that after stunningly inventive and interesting movies like Memento, Insomnia and The Prestige that Chris Nolan has been given enough rope to hang himself with. Batman Begins was too long and warning flags should have been waving. And yet with films costing more than ever, this movie could have cut it's running time and budget by 20%. I could be wrong, but I think the prohibitive length and dour humourless tone it takes could mean it's market cutting shorter than it could otherwise have performed.
Also a word to parents: This is not a kids film. It's violent, a little sadistic, and bares an adult sensibility throughout. Frankly, even if kids were allowed to watch it they would be bored stiff, fidget, talk and possibly fall asleep.
This is not a masterpiece. It's not rubbish. It's a very very long dark night.