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 Dark Knight begins with a bank heist. But this is no
stereotypical, clichéd heist; this is the opening movement in a chaotic
masterpiece, the brain child of the fevered imaginings & plotting of The
Joker. So begins a tale that is equal
parts darkness & light; majesty & mundane; hope & despair; irony
& pathos. This is a story of dueling dualities, played out on the stage set
so many years ago by Bob Kane, when he first created Batman.
For long time fans, there is much to enjoy in this film.
Strangely, the Bat may be the least of those treats. This is not to say that
Bale’s performance was lacking as Batman; the only issue with his performance
would be that there was not equal time given to Bruce Wayne. In a story that
depends so much on the levels of duality found within each character, & as
each character is played off against others, this imbalance weighs more heavily
than it might in another storyline. Perhaps that imbalance was intentional; to
show the growing need of not only Gotham, but Bruce, for Batman. The
revelations that are dropped like rough diamonds throughout the movie about
characters we think we know, & the continued building of layers upon the
foundation provided in Batman Begins, are enjoyable for long time comic book
aficionados, & more recent fans brought to the Batman legend by the movies,
Burton’s & Nolan’s versions.
All of the performances are strong, with the exception,
perhaps, of Maggie Gyllenhaal, who never seems quite convincing as the strong,
independent attorney Rachel Dawes. Bale’s performance, as mentioned, is solid
& still seems to define Batman on the silver screen. The supporting cast of
Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman & Michael Caine come through brilliantly. The
trio of supporting men show that these characters, while not caped crusaders,
are also heroes in their own rights. This display of everyday heroism is
explored successfully & skillfully within the parameters of Dark
Knight. Further, the questions about
duality that are posed foremost by the comparisons & contrasts between
Batman & The Joker, continue as we see the difference between pragmatism,
with Alfred, & Fox’s idealistic point of view. Ultimately, the debate
between morality & practicality is vital to the heart of this story. The
performers bring this to life, even when the issue must be shrouded in the
shadows, like the Batman, himself.
Heath Ledger’s performance is masterful. I do not say this
out of a sense of kindness, because of the tragic circumstances surrounding his
untimely, accidental death. I say this because it is simply true. The character
comes to glorious, terrifying life through Ledger’s interpretation. The Joker
can so easly be misplayed, misconstrued as a comic characterization. Ledger
uses this against the audience, reeling them in & hooking them by the
throat. The walk; the laugh; the mannerisms & the voice all add up to a
chilling portrayal of an agent of chaos. If the Academy would recognize that
great performances can come through any vehicle, even one based upon a comic
book, they should recognize Ledger’s accomplishments with this movie. It may be
his best work.
The imagery & symbolism should not be overlooked,
either. The transitions from Batman to Wayne, showing the duality within Bruce,
by simple tricks of lighting & scene shifting are subtle but well done. The
tools of Batman’s trade, those “wonderful toys”, also help show the sides of
the Bat, from Batmobile to Lamborghini, to a yacht full of Russian
beauties. Not to be left out, The Joker
has his knives & Harvey Dent has his lucky coin, which he uses to make his
own luck. Even the buildings play their role; Wayne Manor is still under
construction, so Bruce must spend his time in a make shift Bat Cave that is not
a cave at all. Fights are fought in partially built buildings. And some of the
scenery, such as the skyline shots & the Bat Diving done in Hong Kong will
leave you wanting more. Batman’s regard for life, & his adherence to his
own code of rules & ethics comes out nicely simply by showing his dislike
& disregard for guns throughout the film. No prop was left unturned to
flesh out the characters & the story.
This is a dark tale, told with great skill. I do not say it
is a perfect film; I am a long time fan of the Batman. I have been reading
about his exploits in Gotham & beyond for more years than I care to admit,
so as a fan, it is hard to say anything is perfect. But I must say, that if
anything has come close to perfection, it is Nolan’s vision of Batman, with
Bale’s portrayal of the Dark Knight, Gotham’s silent protector. For us, the fans, this movie is Faith,
rewarded. Joker says, “This town deserves a better class of criminal.” The
followers of Batman deserved a better class of movies, & Nolan & his
cast deliver.
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