Stephen SomersDark and Stormy Knight
August 18th 2008 12:45
To say that The Dark Knight has been hotly anticipated would be a gross understatement.
And while the film would undoubtadly have been a huge success, Heath Ledgers death did give it a certain air of mystique.
You see, it's been a big year for super-hero movies. From drunk ones to green ones to metal ones it's been a mixed bag. And with the exception of a certain crystal skull film, they've all been pretty good.
I tried not to get caught up in the Dark Knight wave of positivity. I went to see it three weeks ago and then stewed over it before going to see it again.
On second viewing it wasn't the masterpiece I first thought although it was close. And it occured to me on seeing it again what a horrific shame it is that Heath Ledger is gone because his Joker is even more astonishing on second viewing.
Let's face it, a review of Dark Knight is a review of Ledgers performance first and the rest of the film second.
And it is a really good film filled with great performances, great action, more explosions than you could possibly shake a stick at and a dark, menacing feel that befits a film about a weirdo who dresses up as a bat. It has a good plot (if a little muddled) which I'm not going to delve into because, frankly, I'm not a commited enough writer.
Instead I'm going to talk aimlessly about the good and bad bits/people that stick out in no particular order.
First up, I have a problem with Christian Bales voice when in bat mode. I just couldn't get comfortable with it. Sounds to forced and put on. I wanted him to just hack up that furball and clear his throat. I'm also not a fan of the new bat mobile and bat bike. Far to bulky and clunky for my liking. And god knows how much fuel they guzzled. He should have driven the Lambourghini more as far as I'm concerned.
On the acting front, well where do I start.
Gary Oldman has long been my favourite actor and he's great in this. There's nothing showy about the part, just all quiet and restraint. His best part in years.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is starting to overshadow her brother with a string of good parts and she's good here too.
Aaron Eckhart is all dashing and handsome as Harvey Dent and goes convincingly ga-ga after his one sided face peel.
Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, while both coasting, do add a bit of old class to the show.
Christian Bale is a sometimes brilliant actor but I just can't be convinced by him as Batman. Sure he looks the part of Bruce Wayne, all handsome and charismatic, but for mine he just looks out of place just as he did in Batman Begins.
And how nice it was to see Eric Roberts (Julia's brother don't you know) having some fun as mobster Sal Maroni.
And then there's Heath Ledger.
Everything you've heard about his Joker is true. It's a creepy, disturbing, charismatic and mesmerising turn that in some ways is too strong for the film. Every time he's off screen the film suffers. And it's not the grotesque face or the purple suit or greasy hair that gets you, it's the voice. He reportedly took weeks to perfect it and it shows. It slithers out of his mouth and wraps itself around the screen making you're neck hairs stand on end.
The best performance of the year bar none.
But as good as Heath ledger is , I don't want him to win an after death Oscar. Let's not insult the man by giving him an award the Academy would never have had the courage to give him were he still alive.
It's a landmark performance that doesn't need to be validated by a silly statue.
A memorable film.
8/10
And while the film would undoubtadly have been a huge success, Heath Ledgers death did give it a certain air of mystique.
You see, it's been a big year for super-hero movies. From drunk ones to green ones to metal ones it's been a mixed bag. And with the exception of a certain crystal skull film, they've all been pretty good.
On second viewing it wasn't the masterpiece I first thought although it was close. And it occured to me on seeing it again what a horrific shame it is that Heath Ledger is gone because his Joker is even more astonishing on second viewing.
Let's face it, a review of Dark Knight is a review of Ledgers performance first and the rest of the film second.
And it is a really good film filled with great performances, great action, more explosions than you could possibly shake a stick at and a dark, menacing feel that befits a film about a weirdo who dresses up as a bat. It has a good plot (if a little muddled) which I'm not going to delve into because, frankly, I'm not a commited enough writer.
Instead I'm going to talk aimlessly about the good and bad bits/people that stick out in no particular order.
First up, I have a problem with Christian Bales voice when in bat mode. I just couldn't get comfortable with it. Sounds to forced and put on. I wanted him to just hack up that furball and clear his throat. I'm also not a fan of the new bat mobile and bat bike. Far to bulky and clunky for my liking. And god knows how much fuel they guzzled. He should have driven the Lambourghini more as far as I'm concerned.
Gary Oldman has long been my favourite actor and he's great in this. There's nothing showy about the part, just all quiet and restraint. His best part in years.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is starting to overshadow her brother with a string of good parts and she's good here too.
Aaron Eckhart is all dashing and handsome as Harvey Dent and goes convincingly ga-ga after his one sided face peel.
Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, while both coasting, do add a bit of old class to the show.
Christian Bale is a sometimes brilliant actor but I just can't be convinced by him as Batman. Sure he looks the part of Bruce Wayne, all handsome and charismatic, but for mine he just looks out of place just as he did in Batman Begins.
And how nice it was to see Eric Roberts (Julia's brother don't you know) having some fun as mobster Sal Maroni.
And then there's Heath Ledger.
Everything you've heard about his Joker is true. It's a creepy, disturbing, charismatic and mesmerising turn that in some ways is too strong for the film. Every time he's off screen the film suffers. And it's not the grotesque face or the purple suit or greasy hair that gets you, it's the voice. He reportedly took weeks to perfect it and it shows. It slithers out of his mouth and wraps itself around the screen making you're neck hairs stand on end.
The best performance of the year bar none.
But as good as Heath ledger is , I don't want him to win an after death Oscar. Let's not insult the man by giving him an award the Academy would never have had the courage to give him were he still alive.
It's a landmark performance that doesn't need to be validated by a silly statue.
A memorable film.
8/10
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