The anticipation is palpable for the sequel to Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins. The Dark Knight has fanboys and even the average American public, who are curious after Heath Ledgers death, salivating to view the film. I was incredibly fortunate enough to catch an advance screening of it this past Friday at the WGA theatre for the SAG nominating committee.
After the film there was a Q and A with Christopher Nolan, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Aaron Eckhart. The Q and A was lively and entertaining, Nolan and Oldman got the brunt of the questions, especially Oldman who is a chameleon of an actor, so it would be obvious that other actors would want to pick his brain. Even when one person asked a question to Aaron on how it was playing Two-Face Aaron said something along the lines of, "It was fun I just wished the finished the rest of the face makeup, but when Nolan says he wants to go we go." Then laughter spreads across the room and Aaron then deflected every other acting question to Gary. When Maggie finally got a question on how it was playing such a strong character, she jumped at it and said she always wanted to play a strong female in a big time studio movie yet was never a fan of the comic book or the lore... until she was held by Bale in the suit and was wrapped around in Batman cape. At that point she "got" it. Nolan was also asked a question on the bat cycle and how it came to fruition, "Well we built it in my garage and then showed it to (the prop guy) and he said, "There is no way that I can make this look real." Then I said, "Well if you can make the tumbler work with no front axel you can make a bike work." Then 2-3 weeks later he showed up with a working model." The later questions dealt with Heath Ledger and how it was to work with him and everyone had nice things to say and how kind and great he was. Nolan said, "I had always wanted to work with him but Heath didn't want to take a BIG BIG movie until he proved to everyone that he was a diverse enough actor. He wanted his work to be more important then his fame." There were other questions strewn about in the Q and A but they are all spoiler questions that would ruin the movie for everyone. So I'll leave those out. But to the actual movie review!!!
In a word the film is fantastic. But I will try and review the film without any major spoilers... I may have a couple of plot threads that I touch upon that may or may not spoil something. But all major spoilers will be excised from the review.
From the opening sequence, which is actually a catalyst for the rest of the film. The movie has you engulfed in every situation. It never lets you go, the pacing from the beginning bank robbery to the final confrontation is brisk and wonderful. Nolan and company steer away from using any type of blatant exposition, much like in Indy, for any new character. You have to piece it together on your own.
Christian Bale is still great as Batman/Bruce Wayne. He still is the same Bruce Wayne, the spoiled playboy, yet at the turn of a switch he can be the real Bruce Wayne, which is Batman. His entire performance is much the same as it was in Batman Begins, but it is not a complaint or a determent just more of the same.
But what really steals the show is the supporting cast. Maggie Gyllenhaal and Michael Caine are both great as the people who know the real Bruce Wayne. Maggie has a charm and wit to her that fits better in this film then Katie Holmes did. Then there is the magical Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon. He is still the ultimate good cop, the public face of Batman but he plays a much bigger role in this film and is integral to plot just as much as Batman is. Also in Gary Oldman's words, he" is trying to make a mustache and glasses look sexy!"
But there were the two stars that steal the show, first is the most obvious Heath Ledger. Who I always liked, I loved his performance in Brokeback and even The Patriot. He is undoubtedly one of the main reasons everyone is excited for the movie. His take on the joker is something that I have never thought I would see in film. He is crazy but he has a reason for his craziness, it's really just his morality that's warped. The best comparison I can make for the character is basically Tyler Durden from Fight Club gone even further off the deep end. He is as charismatic and stubborn in his ideals but doesn't mind killing people. As for Heath Ledger as an actor in this film, he is the highlight reel, the man who is basically selling the movie for Warner Brothers. He has two scenes that are still stuck in my head even days later, one when he performs his "Magic Trick" and during a hospital sequence in the last third of the film when he is walking away his look and walk is incredibly memorable and really funny.
But I can feel that Ledger will get much of the accolades throughout the summer and hopefully a best supporting nod. But he has no real character arc he is the same person he was in the beginning of the film as he is at the end of the film. The acting showcase was really from Aaron Eckhart; he is the heart of the film. From where he starts the film to when it ends he really does every spectrum of emotion, and it is all believable, he is incredibly charming and makes you believe everything that spews from his mouth. His journey is heartbreaking and entertaining. It's Dents movie, the mass public can't really identify with Bruce but with Dent, he is the closest thing that people can relate too in this film.
There was a number of action set pieces in the film that can make your jaw drop and are all believable and necessary to the plot... that doesn't happen often. There was one thing in particular that is quite impressive, in the trailer when the Semi Truck does the flip, the intricacies to how it was done is awesome and when the truck is flipping it's awe inspiring, it was perhaps the closest I would come to experiences the AT AT getting trip wired in the Empire Strikes Back.
The Dark Knight is a film that transcends the superhero genre. It is an adult superhero film; it is what the Bourne Supremacy is to action movies as this is to superhero films, but thankfully not as shaky. To tell you the truth it is more a cop/gangster film then a superhero film reminiscent of Heat with all the intricate plot details and how some of the sequences are staged, especially the bank sequence. Then there is the sequence in Hong Kong that is really interesting and there was a Sky Hook sequence that was very impressive. Nolan filmed the sequence like he was channeling John Woo, which makes sense since it was in Hong Kong.
But the overall theme of the film is morality, and how one's morals can be shaken and how one deals with the effects. Whether one still stays true to what they believe or fold and give in to the easiest route possible. There is always a deeper meaning in Nolan's film and this is by far no exception.
While this summer we had the fantastic Iron Man and the fun Incredible Hulk. Warner Brothers and DC produced a film that will be looked upon as a real contender for accolades for years to come. I'm just getting a head start; I have never had a more enjoyable or memorable experience in a film since Saving Private Ryan in 1998. This is a classic for the ages.
10/10
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