Whalah! Magic...

Rating: 10/10 (18 July 2008)

The perfect film has finally been made. I can not express how much this film has surpassed my most dire expectations.
First off, Christopher Nolan has made four big movies, and three of those four are in the top 250 for a damn good reason. Nolan has somehow managed to create films with the intensity that one wishes to experience in any film labeled as Dark. And The Dark Knight lives up to its themed title and furthermore surpasses it due to the marvelous acting throughout the entire film.
Of course I am going to speak of Heath Ledger but let me hold off and say that every single person played their character to perfection. Gary Oldman is once again the all intensive good guy who you feel for, relate to, empathize with, and he earns the audiences support with another stunningly spectacular performance as Gordon. Replacement Maggie Gyllenhaal enhances the role of Rachel Dawes and takes it to a level that Katie Holmes did not have the capacity to reach. Aaron Eckhart steps in as the biggest surprise of this film and delivers the goods as the guest good guy gone bad as Harvey "Two Faced" Dent. Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman, what can I say they constantly deliver the goods.
On to the two main men, the men of the hour. Christian Bale returns as Batman, and gives a performance that should not be overshadowed by the truly Oscar Worthy performance of Heath Ledger. Bale's loose cannon stature as Wayne is perfectly contrasted by the hard nosed do good nature of his Dark Knight.
Now to the Oscar contender. And I say this, not because of the buzz, but because I saw the film, I am not one to be biased based on sympathy for the man, but I have never been more wrapped up in a character as I was with Heath Ledger's portrayal of the comically insane Joker. His opening scene with the mafia shows it all, you see his talent through the pencil trick, you see his humor and wit through his eerie speech, and you see his insanity. At the same time, you feel sorry for the Joker, who repeatedly, and sternly denies that he is insane. When he is called a freak, a loon, his seriousness in saying "No...I'm...not...I am not." Is frighteningly discomforting. Such terminology can describe Ledger's stellar final performance, completely and utterly... frighteningly discomforting, and darkly humorous.
From the pencil to the end, the Joker, along with all of these characters, will keep you wanting more. I can honestly say I did not want it to end, this is literally the best movie I have ever seen, there is no doubt in my mind, and it deserves its high spot in the top 250.
By the way, if you have not yet seen the movie, it should be up for more than one Oscar, easily could be a Best Picture contender in my mind, Best editing, Score, Sound, Effects, Director, Screenplay, Makeup... of course Ledger will probably be up for Best Supporting Actor, but this film should receive its high recognition for what it truly is. For it is not only Heat Ledger's final and finest performance, but the entirety of the film makes it one of the greatest cinematic achievements in history. Truly...Magic.