He is a Dark Knight! Written by: Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan.
Directed by: Christopher Nolan.
Starring: Heath Ledger, Christian Bale and Aron Eckhart.
As Gordon (Gary Oldman) says, "He is not a superhero. He is a guard. A dark knight" and credits roll it shouldn't be hard to realise that this is the best explanation there is to this great saga called as 'The Dark Knight'. Just like the last line in The Prestige (2006), 'You just want to be fooled', or Memento (2000), 'so where am I?' this movie does say the ultimate saying and leave you thinking for your drive home.
At a private meeting of Gotham city's thugs and mafias where they talk about a common solution to the problem, which to them is money laundering, Joker (Heath Ledger) interrupts pointing to the right direction. 'Kill the Batman'. If not this eye opener for mafias to kill the batman then atleast for the audience its the 'disappearing pencil' trick that convinces at the very first communication that he is serious. Well not 'so...' serious. After his proposal falls through he begins a game that not only realises the city of Gotham of his freedom of action but also keeps them on their toes as they miserably run for their lives. Now the newly appointed commissioner Gordon, district attorney Harvey Dent (Aron Eckhart) and Gotham's guard Batman (Christian Bale) start planning to capture Joker only to find him a step ahead at every point. The plans involve not just a high octane action but also a great storyline that dives deep into the character's mind sets. Almots all of them.
It has to be Christopher Nolan to grab all of the primary awards of story telling, writing and directing. Without his screenplay and direction this picture cannot handle the facets, open and hidden, this meticulously. His character studies are extremely rare to be invented. It is the idea to emphasize very strongly on the very core, like 'Embrace your worst fear' in Batman Begins (2005), that makes Mr Nolan stand out. This movie isn't an exception to an emphasys as the screenplay and Joker insist on calling Batman a dark knight and it has to be 2 hrs 30 minutes of the story that makes that point. The applied makeup of Joker is his identity just like the Batman who wears a mask. But its the Joker that understands the human psyche best among given. Mr Nolan knew it and did it all the way. The screenplay is well written, especially for Joker. His thoughts, DA's fight and Batman's struggle to keep us are all very clear. Bravo! It is hard to get dragged, almost.
Perhaps this paragraph is written by almost everyone who liked the movie. Heath Ledger. It is said that he locked himself for a month in a room to prepare for his role. I guess it was the time best spent. His makeup hides his traumatic childhood and forms an identity for his actions. Its the pauses at uncommon places in sentences, the screamig laughs, the lower lip-lick, the unkempt hair, the ability to look straight into eyes and a strong statement to know people he has killed with knives (Thanks to Mr Nolan again for creating this hidden facet). Its Mr Ledger's ability not just to get under the skin but let himself drown in it. It had to be Heath to play this role. He had proved his potential before he chose Joker when he did not recieve the Oscar nod for Brokeback Mountain (2005). Seems like he might get only a nomination this time because as the Oscar legacy grows only once has Academy bestowed the prize posthumously (Peter Finch in Network, 1977). May he win it or not you cannoit forget the image of him leaning against the wind from a car window. In summary just like Shyamalan's Unbreakable (2000) in which its the villain who makes the hero realise his true identity, likewise does this movie. But couldn't have been without Heath Ledger.
As the cape crusader has necessary gadgets, its the Aron Eckhart's DA that stands next to Joker. The coin flips and the unwanted accidental choices which act as 'gravity, all it needs is a small push'. He is memorable as well. He might also get a nomination. Short but noteworthy are Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. Then there are absolutely unforgettable and unique battle sequences. You have to watch them to realise the second most important facet of this movie. There are some distractions to the pace, a very few, but I wouldn't blame the writer-director.
Mr Nolan's first installment made Bruce Wayne fearless and now this movie dares to drop the quotes of 'hero' for a superhero franchise and dig deeper. It is Mr Nolan's stortelling abilities that keep us glued to the seats untill the grand finale. This is a must-see.
My rating: 9.5/10.
