The Dark Knight

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***The Dark Knight*** is a 2008 action superhero film based on the DC Comics character Batman, directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Nolan, his brother Jonathan Nolan, and David S. Goyer. It stars Christian Bale as Batman, Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Heath Ledger as the Joker, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox. A direct sequel to *Batman Begins*, *The Dark Knight* sees Batman join forces with police Commissioner James Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent to combat organized crime in Gotham, while a criminal mastermind known only as the Joker works to plunge the city into complete anarchy.

*The Dark Knight* was produced by Emma Thomas, Charles Roven, and writer-director Christopher Nolan. A co-production between Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, DC Comics, and Syncopy, it is the sixth entry in Warner Bros.'s long-running *Batman* film franchise and the second entry in Nolan's *The Dark Knight Trilogy*. It premiered on July 14, 2008 in New York City, and was released to American theaters on July 18.

With *Batman Begins* proving critically and financially successful, the film's cast and crew were reunited for a sequel which would follow through on the previous film's ending tease of Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker. Most of the previous film's principal cast returned, save for Katie Holmes, who was replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal in the role of Rachel Dawes. *The Dark Knight* was filmed in 2007 in various locations in the United States, United Kingdom, and Hong Kong, with Chicago serving as the primary shooting location for Gotham.

*The Dark Knight* was an unprecedented critical and financial success, grossing over one billion dollars and setting numerous box office records during its theatrical run. The film was critically acclaimed for its story, effects, performances, action sequences, direction, and many other aspects of the production. Widely considered the greatest comic book-based film ever made, *The Dark Knight* was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning the award for Best Sound Editing with Heath Ledger being awarded Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of the Joker. Ledger's performance was particularly praised, both by critics and the cast and crew of the film itself. However, Ledger died tragically six months before the film's release due to a toxic combination of prescription drugs. His Academy Award was given posthumously. The film was followed by a sequel, *The Dark Knight Rises*, in 2012, thus concluding *The Dark Knight Trilogy*.

## Plot

A gang of criminals, wearing clown masks and working for a mysterious boss known only as the Joker, robs a mob bank in Gotham City. As the criminals carry out the robbery, they progressively kill each other under the Joker's orders, in order to limit the number of shares. When only two criminals remain, a banker grabs a shotgun and opens fire on them before one of the two manages to wound him with gunfire. The other criminal draws his gun on his comrade, aware that the Joker probably told him to eliminate him as well. The criminal responds that he is supposed to kill the bus driver, after which a stolen school bus smashes through the wall into the bank, killing the other criminal. The driver helps to load the stolen cash, after which he is nonchalantly shot and killed by the remaining robber. The wounded banker berates the robber, saying that criminals in this city used to believe in something, and asks what he believes. The robber takes off his mask and reveals himself as the Joker, wearing clown makeup and bearing a Glasgow smile. He responds that he believes "whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger" before placing a grenade in the banker's mouth. He drives away in the bus, which is attached to a line that is itself attached to the pin of the grenade. However, once the pin is pulled, the grenade is revealed to only be a gas grenade. The Joker escapes by slipping into a procession of other school buses before the police arrive.

That night, criminals in Gotham are afraid to commit crimes as the Bat-signal is projected into the night sky. Police Lieutenant James Gordon mans the signal from the roof of police headquarters, where Detective Anna Ramirez asks why Batman hasn't shown up yet. Gordon responds that he hopes it's because he's busy. In a parking garage, the mob boss known only as the Chechen and his men confront Scarecrow over the effect his fear-inducing drugs have had on buyers. He responds that he only said his drugs would "take them places," and never said they'd be places they'd want to go. Suddenly, the negotiation is interrupted by a group of armed vigilantes dressed like Batman. As Scarecrow escapes, he notes that the attackers aren't the real Batman. The Tumbler soon bursts onto the scene and scatters the mobsters by firing rockets. The real Batman arrives and takes out the vigilantes as well as the mobsters. The Chechen sends his attack dogs after Batman, which manage to injure him before he takes them out. The Chechen and some of his men manage to flee the scene, while Scarecrow tries to escape in a van but is stopped and aprehended by Batman. Batman leaves Scarecrow and the captured mobsters and vigilantes for the police.

Gordon arrives at the bank the Joker had robbed earlier and is met by Batman, who notes that they had irradiated the money in order to make it easier to trace. Gordon asks if they should go after the Joker, but Batman responds that taking down the entire mob is more important than apprehending one man. The next day, in a hidden bunker from which Bruce operates, Alfred Pennyworth tends to the injuries Bruce had sustained from the dog attack the night before, and encourages him to know his limits. He notes that Bruce has been keeping a close eye on Gotham's new district attorney, Harvey Dent, which Bruce explains is because he wants to know if he can be trusted. Alfred, however, wonders if it is because Dent is currently dating Rachel Dawes.

Dent joins Rachel at the courthouse where they are prosecuting Salvatore Maroni, the alleged new head of the Falcone Crime Family. Dent questions one of Maroni's men who had agreed to testify against him, but the mobster instead takes the fall himself. The witness then tries to shoot and kill Dent, but the gun fails to fire. Dent quickly punches the witness and takes and disassembles the gun, then to everyone's surprise insists on continuing the court proceedings. After the case, Dent and Rachel note that although Maroni has avoided justice for now, the mob is clearly scared of Dent if they are going so far as to attempt to assassinate him. Dent then meets with Gordon in his office, and the two express distrust for those working in each other's offices. Dent asks Gordon about his involvement with Batman, with Gordon feigning ignorance and saying that Batman is a criminal. Well aware that Gordon is working with Batman, Dent says he wants to meet him. The two form an alliance, with Dent agreeing to provide search warrants allowing Gordon and the police to search other banks suspected of holding the mob's money.

Lucius Fox holds a board meeting at Wayne Enterprises regarding a potential business deal with Lau Security Investments, based in Hong Kong. After the meeting, Bruce informs Fox that he suspects that Lau's profits come from illegal money laundering for the mob. Fox agrees to cancel the deal, after which Bruce asks for a new Batsuit that renders him lighter and faster and grants him the ability to turn his head. That night, Dent and Rachel dine out but are joined by Bruce. Their conversation turns to the legitimacy of Batman, with Dent openly supporting his work. This convinces Bruce to hold a fundraiser for Dent in order to assure his reelection.

The top members of the mob in Gotham hold a secret meeting to discuss the police department's attempt to seize their money. Lau, speaking over a video monitor from his plane as it returns to Hong Kong, informs them that all of their money has been moved to a secure location, just as Gordon and the police raid the banks and find the money gone. The Chechen expresses concern over the fact the Joker stole $68 million from them, but Maroni dismisses him as a "nobody." Just then, the Joker walks into the meeting, laughing sarcastically. One of the mob bosses, Gambol, sends one of his men to deal with the Joker, who effortessly kills him by shoving a pencil through his skull. He sits down and tells the mob how pathetic and scared they've become since the arrival of Batman, and says that the solution is simple: kill Batman. He offers to kill Batman in exchange for half of the mob's money, and also warns that Batman will find Lau and make him "squeal." Gambol threatens the Joker, who opens up his coat to reveal several grenades. Gambol says he is placing a bounty on the Joker's head, to which the Joker responds by leaving a joker playing card and telling everyone to contact him when they're ready to take things more seriously.