Dark natured but always in the light of greatness...

Rating: 8/10 (30 July 2008)

The Dark Knight Director Christopher Nolan has created the newly invented and ultimately prestigious, The Dark Knight, the sequel to his revolutionary Batman Begins. Nolan has completely raised the bar and set the standards high for himself and any comic book film that will adapted from here on after. Nolan creates one of his darkest pictures to date, definitely his strongest so far from his already impressive film credits which includes Memento and The Prestige.
The screenplay written by David S. Goyer and Christopher and Jonathan Nolan breathes new humanity into the Crusader. As we left off in the previous film, Batman is now fighting crime and sorting himself and Gotham City out into a safer haven for its people. Bruce Wayne and Batman are co-existing with the help of his butler Alfred, and technological analyst Lucius Fox. The three writers will put Batman through things never seen on film before. He will learn about sacrifice, and not jumping in front of a bullet or giving up your girlfriend sacrifice, Bruce will learn about real loss of self, integrity and identity. The film works and succeeds as a tragedy, not taken in any comic film before. The Dark Knight holds resonance and prestige as the way 1980's The Empire Strikes Back did as it held its own on its own merit and not its predecessor.
Christian Bale returns as the Caped Crusader, both playing Batman and the millionaire Bruce Wayne and Bale like always is as dependable as can be. Always creating new characters, mannerisms, behavior, Bale is one of the great actors working today however, Bale as the dark knight this time around, seems forced, too controlled, too over-the-top. His Bruce Wayne was as always charming but something didn't seem to work when he transforms into Batman. His voice almost comes off like a lisp and almost like he's pushing too much.
Michael Caine as Bruce Wayne's butler, Alfred, was amiable, gracious, and wise as he provides a balance to this film. He controls his emotions and acts as the film's father figure while he is on screen, the viewer feels at ease. Gary Oldman as the newly appointed Lieutenant Gordon is nearly flawless in poise and makes the role seem effortless. How Gary Oldman has flown under the Oscar radar in his long career is inexcusable, this man's supporting work is vast. Morgan Freeman, as always, gives a presence in a film that relaxes us as we're pulled through this thrill ride.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, taking over Katie Holmes' previous role of Rachel Dawes puts forth a valiant effort and superior than Holmes' turn last time around but a realization has come to me following the film. For myself, the worst part of Batman Begins was Katie Holmes and I blamed the performance on her, which is ¾ true but after watching a great actress like Gyllenhaal, who has had impressive turns in Sherrybaby and World Trade Center, I've come to recognize that the character is just poorly written. Rachel Dawes is the fluke in Nolan's plan for this comic book franchise. She's unimportant, annoying, and not very likable. She holds some significance in Bruce Wayne's life and as we learn in the new film, now D.A. Harvey Dent's life, but she holds none in the viewers. The love triangle between the three is unnatural and puts forth a sour taste in your mouth.
Aaron Eckhart who plays Harvey Dent puts forth his best performance of his career. Eckart who has really shown some promise over the years as we've seen in Erin Brockovich and Thank You for Smoking plays Harvey like Tommy Lee Jones from Batman Forever would have hoped for. Eckhart reveals Harvey's inner most demons but never loses the mystery of the man. He's tantalizing in the finale of the film and shows what a three dimensional character can really be.
Now, what everyone has been talking about; Ledger's frightening turn will probably go down as one of the darkest and most creative villainous turns by any actor in American cinema. Nolan guides Heath down a corridor only Heath can follow, where the Joker's existence and style are revealed but only to himself. The only problem I've ever had with Tim Burton's take on Batman in 1989 is where the Joker fits in Batman's life. Jack Nicholson played him marvelously and pretty much the way any comic book fan interprets the Joker in real life but when it is revealed that Jack Napier a.k.a. The Joker murders Bruce's parents when he is a child, you lost me. It was a disappointing turn to what could have been a great film. Rest assured, Joker doesn't kill Bruce's parents or pet gerbil, his entrance and exit are that of a mystery. Ledger keeps us at a distance so we understand very little but are intrigued enough to keep learning and waiting. This is the performance of the year thus far and should be viewed if only for the performance.
The film is not flawless, and should not be overdrawn in the mind of the viewer. I waited for two viewings and post-Dark Knight Chatter to write a review as I did not want to be influenced by the crazed fanatics. The film does drag a bit in the last third of the picture and as stated before, there are some performance errors, but all in all this is the best picture of the year so far and if the Academy Awards ever had a chance to be cool with anyone outside the artsy crowd, this is the time. Consideration should follow for Picture, Supporting Actor, and a slew of technical categories. Smooth cinematography, cutthroat editing, eye candy of the sort art direction and remarkable sound and visual effects are the standouts. The Dark Knight to encapsulate is plainly genius.
***½ /****