A fitting end

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2012)

What makes the Batman so appealing? Essentially a caped and cowled crusader earning his bread by his ability to strike fear, albeit with lots of cash and technology to boot, Batman is easily the most human of all superheroes. Tormented, often ridiculed, and always looking for relevance, he is but an enhanced everyman.
The Dark Knight Rises picks up eight years after the fateful events in The Dark Knight, where the Batman lost his love (Rachel Dawes) and also struck a Faustian deal with Police Commissioner Gordon where he disappeared from the public taking the rap for Harvey Dent's death. Bruce Wayne has become a recluse, only to be drawn out into the world when cat burglar Selina Kyles as Catwoman stirs his fancy.
Something is rotten in Gotham, though there is an uneasy peace prevalent, for Commissioner Gordon thinks it is the lull before the storm, and he is prophetically proved as masked terrorist Bane explodes into the scene literally. In a thrilling and audacious opening sequence, Nolan sets the tone by orchestrating a mid air kidnapping. The Batman trilogy deals closely with post 9/11 terrorism than any other movie- and here too the context is evident as Bane destroys first the stock exchange, then a football stadium and cuts off Gotham from the rest of the world, throwing it into complete anarchy. He might not be a jihadi and might speak with a cheerful English accent, but comes from a hell-hole in the subcontinent, and is clearly socialist- wants to turn over power to the people, obliterate the symbol of law and order, Batman, and bomb the living daylights out of Gotham. Like a well orchestrated symphony, Bane sets things in motion that create overwhelming odds for the Batman who now has the fight of his life on his hands, because for the first time he faces an adversary that is more powerful than him and staggeringly smart too. Broken, battered and bloodied, but like an All American hero, the Dark Knight rises up one final time for a fitting climax to the best superhero trilogy ever.
But Christopher Nolan is wrapping it all up here, so there are strands from the earlier movies woven in. To his credit, Nolan makes a brilliant crime drama playing out of a superhero movie elevating the genre to art with its entertainment quotient intact- grandiose and emotional at the same time. There are soul searching moments, as there is plenty of action along with super-cool gadgets. This movie is as much about ends as about beginnings. Bane is following what Ra's Al Ghul set out to do in Batman Begins- ie. In a world without redemption, destroy this corrupt society so that a new one can take its place. Alfred wishes Bruce Wayne to start a new life, even the Catwoman is running after for a clean slate. At the same time, The Dark Knight Rises explores recurring themes such a) As a villain instilling fear (Scarecrow through chemicals, Joker through random unpredictability, and Bane through brute force), b) "what you are in the dark"- Bruce always believes the people of Gotham are inherently good, while his adversaries think the opposite, and c) the Batman's desire to save the city at whatever cost.
Key highlight of the movie are powerhouse performances by an eclectic mix of actors from whom we expect, and some new surprises. Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordon, Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, and Michael Caine as Alfred are series regulars that like wine kept getting better with age. The newcomers are scene stealers in their own right- Joseph Gordon- Levitt as rookie cop John "Robin" Blake brings earnestness and gravitas to every scene he is in- a working man hero. And as Selina Kyle/Catwoman, Anna Hathaway just blows apart all her previous wonderful performances by getting just the right amount of catty, ass-kicky and supreme sexy. Hers' is the best character in the movie- ethically and morally ambiguous, you really can't help but keep thinking what she will do next.
The movie's weaknesses are in a way linked to its strengths- this is a heavy and dark, nay, almost black film with an apocalyptic future that treads the fine line between entertainment and lessons in morality. And even with a 3 hr running time, too many characters do spoil the broth. Comparisons are inevitable, and this one lacks in intensity as compared to its predecessor. The Dark Knight made me squirm in my seat, and gave sleepless nights. I had kept playing myself on one of those ferries with THAT choice to make, and never found an answer. Any comic film is as good as its villain- Tom Hardy as Bane radiates intensity and presence, but now I realize how crucial Heath Ledger's Joker was to the epic-ness of The Dark Knight. To be fair, it is not right to expect Bane with his mask and one dimensional character to come up trumps when up against the insidious Joker, but I did wish for some more swagger and style from the only man that ever "broke the bat". Christian Bale as both Bruce Wayne/Batman looked tired throughout- might be what the script required but it kind of felt that he has had enough. He looked like a rubber stuffed toy in that overdone suit, and after building the sacrifice friendly legend of Batman in the earlier movies, shouldn't it all have ended in an explosion in the sea? Was the final happy moment necessary? Oh, but superheroes never die. Mildly disappointing, but maybe I am nitpicking, but only so because expectations were sky high.
To sum up, this is a near perfect effort from currently the best movie-maker in the world at the height of his powers. It is a fitting and satisfying end to a blockbuster series which will inspire future generations of movie makers. Easy to say film of the year and a must watch for all- 9/10