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So once with the press, a second on my own, and a third time last week with my 16-year-old daughter, and still the film enthralled me from beginning to end. In fact, I probably liked it more this time than I did the previous two, realizing as the film’s mighty power rolled over me that I was watching something truly spectacular, the likes of which we have not seen for quite some time, and are not likely to see again.
Here is a film, a work of art that is also a movie, a great ride for the mainstream audiences seeking nothing more and a reward for those who are. For we film maniacs who like our films to have substance, “The Dark Knight” is loaded with it: Christian Bale’s tortured hero, Heath Ledger’s deeply troubled Joker, Aaron Eckhart’s truly decent man corrupted by loss and the Joker’s twisted games, Michael Caine’s wise and warm Alfred, and the heart of the film, Gary Oldman as James Gordon, who alone understands the Dark Knight’s sacrifice for the good of his city.
The action sequences are stunningly choreographed, but Nolan is aware that his film must have much more. He gives the picture a mood and tone that is perfect for the screenplay, he guides his actors with a delicate hand, allowing them to inhabit the characters, and he understands not only his subject, but his audience’s expectations.
“Batman Begins” was a revelation, a film that completely re-invented a franchise that started strong and then went sour under Joel Schumacher’s direction of “Batman & Robin.” Admittedly I was a fan of the first three films, even “Batman Forever” with Jim Carrey remarkable as the Riddler.
Christopher Nolan’s Batman IS Batman, however. Though I knew little of the comic until recently doing some research, I felt this director, more than any before him allowed the drawings to come to life on film. Tim Burton’s films were fun, but Nolan’s are breathtaking. Michael Keaton’s hero was fine, but Bale is extraordinary, and while it was fun to watch Jack Nicholson have a ball playing the Joker, Ledger is what an insane criminal should be…terrifying.
I know much is being written about the fact the film deserving Best Picture recognition, and there are still many films to go. I truly hope if it is among the best five films of the year that it is indeed nominated. But admittedly it is only a hope…rarely do the best five find room in the Academy’s choice for top tier. Watching the film again, I found the images sang, the story enveloped me, and the acting…my God…the acting was something utterly astonishing.
Obviously I’m not the only one. And surely the Academy will have the same reaction here and there……right?
11 responses so far
1 8-25-2008 at 9:23 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
I caught it for a 4th time last week and every time I see it, I’m stunned by Oldman’s work. His is the second best performance of the film in my opinion, and equally worthy of a Best Supporting Actor nomination alongside Heath Ledger.
And ultimately, James Gordon is the character that REALLY needed to work in this franchise. The rest could have been passable and still hit the right marks, but to get the most human element of the story down, the character that the audience has to connect with, it is its own sort of tightrope walk. And like Oldman does so often, he makes it look easy.
2 8-25-2008 at 10:29 am
Jonathan Spuij said...
Seen it five times thus far and it still holds up so well. But there’s nothing new for me to say until I’ve finally seen it in Imax. I’m hoping next week.
3 8-25-2008 at 11:21 am
Chad said...
If anybody needs proof that after a certain amount of money is made, the Academy simply has no choice but to recognize a film, then look no further than Nia Vardalos getting a nomination for her embarrassing “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” script.
4 8-25-2008 at 11:26 am
Kristopher Tapley said...
Sure, but it didn’t get a Best Picture nomination. I don’t think many (if any) are doubting that Oscar nods are in The Dark Knight’s future, but the Best Picture stuff remains to be seen…in my humble and eternally (in this case) minority opinion.
5 8-25-2008 at 1:27 pm
Jeff said...
Gary Oldman does so much with so little, as always. I mean, he’s not playing Batman, he’s not playing the Joker, and still is “noticeable” (at the very, very least). I really think that this deserves Best Picture, and the combined talent of all the castmates (with no real bad acting, and tons of phenomenal acting at that) and Chris Nolan cannot be ignored.
6 8-25-2008 at 1:43 pm
Guy Lodge said...
I haven’t seen it three times yet – maybe the film still has more to reveal to me. But I don’t quite see the masterpiece there – a courageous, compelling and occasionally strikingly beautiful work, yes, but one that I found had too many odd structural lurches to hit the home run. And I still have problems with the relative blankness of Bale’s performance.
Batman Begins was actually closer to a masterpiece, for me.
7 8-25-2008 at 3:40 pm
John Foote said...
I disagree Guy, obviously, though I must state that I too felt Batman Begins was a masterpiece as well, though Nolan takes this to the next level. Bale does a fine job conveying the torment of what it is he knows he has to do, and an even better job with the sense that he needs to either doing it or pass the torch to another. I thought the conflict in his performance was very strong, in particular at the end when he recognizes that he must continue doing what he is doing, and (spoiler) taking the heat for some killings. There was something deeply noble in the performance, though admittedly the film belongs to Ledger and Oldman. No troubles for me with Bale, none at all.
8 8-25-2008 at 4:01 pm
Rob said...
The main reason why this is a masterpiece is that this film got us talking. Folks, we’re 5 weeks out and we’re still discussing the themes and importance of this film. That’s saying something. This films on everyones lips. Grandmothers, kids, teenagers, everyones talking about it and not just on a superficial “that was cool” level. America: Batman is part of our mythology. He’s our Hamlet, our Hercules. It’s okay to embrace it as art.
9 8-25-2008 at 9:44 pm
Silencio said...
Something interesting: much has been made of the score, particularly in the Joker scenes. But in my two times watching it, I did not notice the Joker music once. Not once. I think this is a compliment to both Ledger and the composers.
10 8-26-2008 at 12:05 am
Jonathan Spuij said...
Indeed. The score works wonders in this film. It’s being criminally overlooked. Also, the soundtrack album kind off hints to some deleted stuff from the movie I think. Some big themes and action pieces. I doubt they were just written for the album, even though Zimmer and JNH not unlikely to do that. But with Batman Begins soundtrack being full of used music…
11 9-08-2008 at 10:36 pm
Dagda said...
I just am not sure about Christian Bale’s portrayal of Batman. I’m not saying he was the worst. Michael Keaton, I couldn’t take him seriously, and George Clooney, no… just didnt work. Val Kielmer did quite well i think, in my opnion the best of them, true his acting would not fit in with the new and stunning driection Batman has taken. I’m not complaining about Batman turing to his true orgins as a graphic novel, as something very dark. Christian Bale may be dark enough, but Batman has two sides… he can play Bruce Wayne quite well. Christian Bale is a very good Bruce Wayne… as for Batman, not so much. He takes it to a level, that just… I dont know… It dosent fit… The voice he changes his to just dosent fit, its hard to explan but as Batman, Bale leaves much to be desired… I do not know who to replace him with… but it is time for a new actor to down the cowl. One who can give light to Bruce Wayne, and own the night as Batman.