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The Dark Knight film review
THE DARK KNIGHT
Running time: 152 mins
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman
The spectre of Heath Ledger looms large over the pulsating The Dark Knight. The actor's death lends an eerie quality to an already sinister film, but his brilliant performance as the gleefully sadistic Joker brings it fully to life. Taking an intense, psychological approach to the role, compared with Jack Nicholson's more comical turn, Ledger has created one of the screen's truly great baddies. And his memorable entrance, when he demonstrates an original trick by making a pencil disappear, is as funny as it is disturbing.
That Ledger's performance is the best thing about The Dark Knight is praise indeed given the film's many highlights. At least the equal of Batman Begins, it is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride filled with wit, invention, surprising depth and terrific performances. If deserving of one criticism, it is that in its effort to provide more bang for its buck, it rather goes over the top. I have never quite understood the maxim "Less is more," but with The Dark Knight, I can see how it applies. Had the film had a less convoluted and protracted denouement, it would have ultimately been more satisfying.
The reignited franchise has benefited from director Christopher Nolan's more sophisticated approach and Christian Bale's deft portrayal of the Caped Crusader. Although The Dark Knight is possessed of a noirish quality, there is plenty of humour and Bale frequently reminds us that his tongue is still on familiar terms with his cheek. Perhaps the most refreshing element Nolan, who also co-wrote the script with his brother Jonathan, has brought is a philosophical dimension. In addition to Batman's physical conflicts, he finds himself facing an internal battle.
It begins with Gotham's public wearying of Batman, who they see as a lawless vigilante. A number of copycat Batmen have further sullied his reputation. Batman's alter-ego, wealthy businessman Bruce Wayne, starts to question his position, and looks to District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) as the person with the integrity and strength to takeover his role working with Lieutenant Gordon (Gary Oldman) to clean up Gotham. In an effort to insure that doesn't happen, the city's crime bosses have collaborated. Into this long-standing and well-defined feud comes the Joker, describing himself as "an agent of chaos." With a scarred smile etched on a face caked in crudely-painted clown make-up, he offers to help the crooks by eliminating Batman, a service for which he demands 50% of their operation. But it soon becomes apparent that the Joker is less interested in money than mayhem.
To combat such a maniacal foe, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) provides Batman with an impressive assortment of gadgets and a new mode of transport, the two-wheeled Batpod, all of which are used in some spectacular action sequences. The Dark Knight also exhibits Wayne's propensity to surround himself with beautiful women, lending him an almost James Bond air.
Maybe just an overly-sensitive reaction given the present climate of terrorism we live with, but video footage of a hostage being tortured by the Joker is too disturbingly similar to scenes from Iraq of hostages pleading for their lives to go by unchallenged. Another quibble is with the film's length. At two and a half hours, The Dark Knight was in danger of becoming The Light Morning. And even then, it leaves a number of loose ends and unanswered questions.
But for those who believe you can't have too much of a good thing, The Dark Knight certainly offers lots of very good things. None better than the moment the Joker lives up to his name by taunting Batman with Tom Cruise's famous line from Jerry Maguire, "you complete me." That Ledger's delivery makes you smile and shiver simultaneously is testament to an extraordinary performance and the ambitious and bold filmmaking that spawned it.
Kevin Murphy
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