The "Descent Into The Maelstrom" Continues...

Rating: 10/10 (9 December 2008)

With able assistance from brother Jonathan and co-scripter David S. Goyer, writer-director Chris Nolan continues to peel back the onion-like layers of the psyche and persona of Batman and his alter-ego, Bruce Wayne, and takes into account the wear and tear that serving as Gotham City's "trash collector" has on Bruce's soul.
Much has been made of the issue of whether or not the cast is up to the ability to ramp up their acting skills, to meet the challenges presented by one of the smartest scripts created so far for this series. I think that everyone does an arguably great job - from Christian Bale as the title hero-slowly-turning-into 'anti-hero', to the tragic optimism of Aaron Eckhardt as Harvey Dent.
But make no mistake about it - good performances by the other principals being considered, THE DARK KNIGHT is, first and foremost, a centerpiece with only one performance as its spotlight: one of the most remarkable turns of villainy ever captured on film as performed by the late, great Heath Ledger.
His Joker completely obliterates the memory of every other performance in the role before his (with sincere apologies to Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson.) So good is Ledger that he does not so much inhabit the role as he simply disappears into it. There are virtually no traces of someone acting here, but rather LIVING the role.
The 'maelstrom' that results as a product of Bruce's inner struggle with good and evil and his outer battle with his arch-nemesis is aptly reflected in every aspect of the production, with the photography, production design, visual effects, scoring - each and every department is at the top of their game here.
As far as this reviewer is concerned, no amount of acclaim is too much to praise Ledger's performance. And although it causes me to lament the towering career that this incredibly talented young man would've had if he had not left us so soon, his legacy to this series almost ensures that the filmmakers will honor him by striving to make the next installment one of the best sequels in a continuing series that has ever been produced.