I've been thinking...

The Dark Knight - consider the bar officially raised.

I’m going to start off by saying that it was very difficult for me to write this review without exposing any spoilers, while still explaining just how important this film is. Christopher Nolan is nothing short of genius. He pushed the movie as far as it would go before becoming pretentious or self-indulgent, and then stopped; he paid homage to several other filmmakers and films in tasteful and clever ways without arousing laugh-ability; and most importantly he conveyed a dark, haunting theme, utilizing a comic book world that transcends the comic book genre.

Some of these aforementioned “nods-of-the-head” include casting actors to play roles reminiscent of previous roles of the same genre or plot device, such as; William Fichtner’s role in the bank heist as a parallel to Michael Mann’s Heat. Nolan’s use of lighting, filters, and angle altering, are reminiscent of Coppola’s work in The Godfather.
 
Now, I could pat Nolan’s artistic genius all day, but I must move on to the cast. As a whole, the cast is nothing short of flawless; several of which, the performances of their career. This is the case for Eckhart, Bale, and of course the late Heath Ledger. Ledger’s performance makes this movie. That’s not to say that the movie would have been a failure without him, but it is his performance that makes this film truly one of a kind. The diverse uses of the character, “The Joker”, are surprising, yet necessary. One scene he is the evil force that is driving the plot forward, while the next scene, he is essential comic relief to break up even the minute possibility of monotony. Ledger’s performance is so layered, and so deep that not being nominated for an Oscar would be an insult to acting as a profession. He is so charismatic that at times I forgot who I was cheering for, which at the same time speaks volumes for Bale’s performance.

Christian Bale is a force to be reckoned with, but not just when bearing the bat symbol on his chest. The multi-faceted performance is really one within itself. Bale who is playing the role of Batman, who is playing the role of Bruce Wayne simultaneously, is no easy feat. Bale is the first actor to successfully portray a character acting convincingly within a role as his alter-ego, in a believable way. He plays Bruce Wayne as a shallow, playboy without a worry in the world, while playing Batman as a morally torn facade; all while convincing the audience that it is actually Bruce Wayne who is morally torn,  and Batman who is superficial symbol. The scene where Bale is wearing the bat suit without the mask is a perfect example of this complexity, and is breathtaking to say the least. Bale is supported gracefully by Freeman, and Caine, who deliver an element of class to the film.

The rest of the supporting cast is terrific, with special mention to Eckhart’s brave but haunting portrayal of Harvey Dent/Two Face, and Gary Oldman’s complicated yet under-estimated police commissioner. Oldman’s closing monologue will leave you with chills.

Apart from being a stunning crime epic, and I emphasize crime epic, because Nolan’s masterpiece should never be ignorantly jumbled in with the comic book genre, and downplayed because of such labelling; the film is eye candy from start to finish. The cinematography is truly an experience like no other, as you are quickly removed from the confines of the theatre and plunged into Gotham City by no later than thirty seconds of runtime. The action sequences are some of the best the big screen has ever had to offer, surpassing most of the films that would be considered the industry standard for action movies. The score is beautiful, and paramount to the non-stop adrenaline injection this film is. Never before has Batman sounded so good, or any film for that matter, from the sound-editing, to the faultless mixing. The costume design and makeup is exciting, yet true to much of the original concept art created so many years ago, with special kudos to “Two-Face”.

The Dark Knight tackles themes of internal conflict, morality and the ability to shape one’s own morals to accomplish what’s necessary, and the importance of showing courage during the darkest of times. Nolan’s Batman is a role-model for the generations. He never falters, and was willing to harness all of the people’s hatred to better man-kind as a whole. He did this, because it’s what the people needed most, hence the title. Nolan tried to show the good in people during the worst of times, this can be demonstrated during the “social experiment” scene with the two barges, and the choices the harden criminals make.

The Dark Knight is by far the best movie of the year, the most anticipated movie of recent memory, and one of the most deserving accomplishments in the history of film. I know that comment will garner much criticism, but it is important to look at what Nolan has accomplished. Taking a dead franchise and rejuvenating it with such vigour that it surpasses everything every created in its genre, and challenges modern cinema as a whole.

The Dark Knight - 9.7/10

-Gerald A. Dinkel (He just says things.)

http://sardonicconnection.blogspot.com/2008/07/31-dark-knight-review.html