SCI FI PI

Released July 17
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart
Director Christopher Nolan
Rating M





It's tempting just to write a one word review for this film - 'astonishing'. It's not just the best comic book movie ever made, it's one of the best 'movie' movies ever made.

You should go and see it.

All the hype that's been bandied about is not some kind of weird fanboy frenzy. This may be a comic book movie, but only because it's been based on a character created for a comic book. There is a tone of realism that acknowledges its origins within the film, that separates it from all 'comic book' movies that have come before it. Some of this is due to the performances, with most obviously Heath Ledger leading the way, but it is also a testament to top-notch direction and scriptwriting. We haven't gone to some far off world inhabited by super heroes and super villains. They've come to us.





The Dark Knight is an evolution of the way that the Batman story is told. This bears as much resemblance to the previous Batman film, Batman Begins, as Batman Begins has to Batman. Set mainly in Chicago, and not a studio, it is a story of a city under siege from corruption, and what happens when one man tries to stand up against the world. In so doing, it continues the basic threads from the previous film (whilst picking some up from the anime bridger Batman:Gotham Knight) whilst laying down its own, for what will hopefully be the next film in the franchise.





The writers of the film have taken into account not only what is going on in this movie, but what has gone before it. A crucial plot point is actually predicated on one of the mistakes of Tim Burton's original feature-film adaptation. It shows an astonishing attention to the detail of what is going through the mind of the audience, and in particular, the Batfan. Problems like Batman's obvious fighting skills going up against the Joker's are also dealt with in admirable fashion.

It points to a level of intelligence that is perhaps best summed up in both the character of The Joker and the way that Heath Ledger plays him. When you see the 'disappearing pencil', you'll understand. It is so good, you will not see it coming, but when you think about it, you will shake your head in awe.

The Joker may be nuts, but he's smart. Really smart. And when it comes to finding out the truth behind the character - there's no pat answers. Nor are there any for Batman. This is a world where nothing quite fits into the slot of good guy or bad guy, where people are automatically innocent or guilty. The villain and the hero of the piece share much in common - although they're not quite different sides to the same coin.





That honour falls to crusading Gotham DA, Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent! (uhurhr!). And when you see Harvey, and what kind of price he pays for standing up to both organised crime and insatiable chaos, you'll understand how he gets a little hot under the collar towards the end of the film. You'll also be astonished at what people in the CGI and makeup department can come up with these days. The character of Two Face is defined by his appearance as much as his scarred mind, and the manner in which he is portrayed is genuinely shocking. Choosing Aaron Eckhart who has a good track record as both hero and villain is an excellent bit of casting - in a film that also includes Maggie Gyllenhaal who gives her updated Rachel Dawes real depth and sympathy. It's a successful and smooth switch from Katie Holmes. Michael Caine (now 73! but you can't tell) and Morgan Freeman provide advice and warnings in equal measure, but the star of the show, above even Batman's Christian Bale, is Heath Ledger.

Heath Ledger's certain upcoming nomination for an Academy Award will not be the result of some kind of sense of longing or mealy-mouthed nostalgia for a career nipped in the bud. His Joker is something special. The laughter associated with the character is more than just a symptom of an insanity - it's about enjoying chaos, rather than any kind of glib merriment.

Whilst there is humour there, it's of the dryest, darkest kind (in keeping with the rest of the film). The character's casual acceptance of violence and chaos is about embracing a way of life without a moral compass rather than some kind fallout from a shattered childhood. Whilst his face may be caked in make-up, make no mistake - he's a mystery - and he's one of cinema's greatest ever psychopaths. Heath Ledger's Joker makes Sir Anthony Hopkins Hannibal Lecter look like a well constructed party trick.

For Batfans, Ledger makes Nicholson look like Romero. The only mystery for the Academy come next year will be whether to categorise him as the winner of the Support or Leading Actor category.





The only thing that may grate (at all) is Bale's gruff Batman-voice, this is the only 'cartoony' thing about the whole two and a half hours. Ironically, as the story about the 'adolescence' of Batman, there isn't as much story about Bruce Wayne and his alter ego as you may think. It's a story about the fight for Gotham's soul, and it's star is The Joker.

It is quite a story, obviously hammered hard for movie flaws and conveniences. You'll have a hard time picking the threads of logic apart, or finding fault with the way characters behave. The script is a genuine masterpiece, playing with traditional script structure and the audience build up/payoff contract with some genuine twists and turns, taking the film into unexpected new directions. It's a dark, often quite horrific movie, but it is a 'movie' above all things. It's hightened entertainment at its finest.

Director Nolan never lets go of the traditional cycle of a blockbuster film. You'll get your explosions, your ramping of action and your 'biggest bits last'. You'll get your Bat gadgets and your big chase scenes. But you'll also get complex psychological development and high calibre acting.

Combine that with yet another stunning score from Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, using the same themes from Batman Begins, and you have something that belongs on the same pedestal as Goodfellas, The Godfather and The Untouchables, although perhaps it veers towards the magical world of The Untouchables rather than the untamed savagery of Goodfellas. The only real difference is a cape and a bit of makeup, and a few extra gadgets.

This movie is long - but it doesn't feel long - indeed, as the action comes to its climax (or should we say, unpredictable climaxes) the feeling is 'please don't end'. This gritty, emotionally unstable Gotham is a place in which you'll you want to stay. As you walk out of the cinema in a daze contemplating your return, the one thing that will echo through your mind - the awful shame that Heath Ledger's Joker couldn't be there for the next one.