One of the year's best films

Rating: 10/10 (17 July 2012)

May contain minor spoilers
Well people I will begin by saying that "The Dark Knight Rises" is almost exactly like Marvel Studio's "The Avengers", and that's because if there was ever a film that you could deem 'Critic Proof' this is definitely it. Now the aspect where "The Dark Knight Rises" completely separates itself from Marvel Studio's "The Avengers" is that this is just next level filmmaking at its best. Now don't get me wrong I loved "The Avengers" and it was a fantastic and fun ride, but this 3rd installment of Nolan's Batman trilogy is a real movie, with real characters, surrounded by real conflict and depth.
I will pick up right there with Christopher Nolan, which is to say he is everything that represents the good in filmmaking. There is a line at the end of the very long credits where he attests to this wholeheartedly when you read, "This motion picture was shot and finished on film." The 2 people that I can compare him to the most are Quentin Tarantino and Steven Spielberg. First off Nolan won't even move forward until he has a strong story that is worth telling, and most of the time he writes the stories himselfwhich makes him a lot like Quentin Tarantino. Then he is just an absolute master that brings these almost intimate characters and concepts together in some of the biggest Hollywood films ever created, which makes him a lot like Steven Spielberg. Regardless, he has already proved that just into his early 40s to be one of the best directors Tinseltown has ever seen, and here he tells a lucid narrative tale.
In the past he has had the hero of "Insomnia" commit an accidental crime of murder, killed off the love interest that did not choose the main character in "The Dark Knight", and here insanely traps an entire police force while holding a complete city hostage. Put simply this man has brass balls as a filmmaker, and takes chances and risks that would make William Friedkin and the great Sam Peckinpah proud. Actually the only thing that is anti-Nolan in this film is the ending that leaves us with the following or continuing tale.
As the film's central protagonist and in the dual roles of Bruce Wayne/Batman Christian Bale has almost never been better. He gives us a billionaire that has the misfortune of becoming fortune less, but centers his character as a realistic if not righteous man. Bale delivers a haunting and tormented performance, and the Academy award winner brings at home at every turn.
This brings me to Tom Hardy as the villainous Bane. Tom Hardy seems to impress me more with each performance, and is nothing short of amazing as the nemesis of The Dark Knight. Even though his face is covered almost every moment of the film, his eyes, the rest of his face, and his physical body language speak an Encyclopedia of words throughout. Much as he did as Tommy Riordan in last year's brilliant "Warrior" he really doesn't need to say much, and when he does through his voice altered masked it's almost always chilling. I just found it wildly coincidental that the only part of Bane's face that is covered by a mask of sorts, is the only part of Batman's face that is free of disguise. I also enjoyed how Bane is maniacal but intelligent, and the worst kind of criminalone that is smart. Whether he is breaking out of a plane in midair, blowing up bridges or a football field, or crashing the stock exchange, there is always a method to his madness.
Then you have Anne Hathaway, who is never referred to as 'Catwoman', and brings some lighter moments to the film. She teases our hero in a love connection sort of way, and without her the film I believe would have been much too morose. Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman are both solid as always, and Michael Caine brings wonderful humanity to the film more than a few times just as he did in the previous 2 films. Then Joseph Gordon Levitt, another Nolan favorite and regular, shows up as a street cop named John Blake. Levitt is once again extremely well above average and holds some surprises of his own.
At 2 hours and 45 minutes "The Dark Knight Rises" is filmmaking at its absolute finest and a model for summer films to try and live up to. The production designers have crafted a look that brings realism to a comic book feature, and the entire art Department completely out did themselves. Director of photography Wally Pfister collaborates for the 7th time with Nolan, and his expert use of bringing the lighting, the framing, and the choice of the visual look to this film is astounding. It looks like San Diego's Comic-Con was raided by costume designer Lindy Hemming, and Hans Zimmer's score really captures the dark feel of the feature, but still find a sense of enlightened resurrection. One of the film's best assets however is how extremely careful and precisely edited the film has been put together. Lee Smith has been cutting films in Hollywood for about 25 years now, but has never utilized his talent more brilliantly or meticulously then he has here. "The Dark Knight Rises" impresses without trying, and brings morality to almost every frame without ever standing on a soapbox. This is not just a summer movie; this is a surefire Oscar contender that will demand respect and notice from the Academy. "The Dark Knight Rises" is the crowning achievement to not only the films of Batman, but could easily be considered one of the best superhero films of all time.