The Dark Knight Film Critique

Heath Ledger Plays Sociopathic Clown, The Joker

Dec 15, 2008

Christian Bale returns as The Caped Crusader, in 'The Dark Knight', the sequel to Director Chris Nolan's 2005 smash hit, 'Batman Begins'.

Having cemented his position as Gotham City’s guardian angel, Batman, a.k.a Bruce Wayne, finds himself almost helpless in a town run by both organized, and anarchic crime. Outlawed by those who seek his help most, and persecuted by those who deem him to be hypocritical, Batman finds solace in a new figure of hope in District Attorney Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart; (Thank You For Smoking).

The charismatic Dent, who courts the character of Rachel Dawes, played by Maggie Gyllenhall; (Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind), is seen to be the pillar of strength and the symbol of hope in a city brought to its knees by the sadistic caniving clown, The Joker, played by Heath Ledger; (Candy). Batman, along with the assistance of the ever vigilant and newly promoted Commissioner Gordon, played by the magnificent Gary Oldman; (Bram Stoker’s Dracula) establishes a triumvirate of peace and justice with the ‘hero with a face’, Harvey Dent, to dismantle The Joker’s criminal empire.

Divided by his duty to the citizens of Gotham as Batman, and his unrequited love for old flame Rachel as Bruce Wayne, Batman embarks on a soul-searching mission which leaves him, at its conclusion, realizing that he must be feared and hated by the people, in order to fulfill his duties.

The Cast of Dark Knight

Chris Nolan could not have picked a more rounded, talented, and award worthy cast than that put forward. With the likes of screen dynamos Heath Ledger and Christian Bale, partnered with seasoned maestros Eric Roberts, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, and Morgan Freeman, the screen was blinded with deep, passionate, emotive performances. The mouth watering acts were reminiscent of a sporting All-Star game; it didn’t matter who would be declared victorious in the end, the real privilege was witnessing the game they played unfold.

The hype surrounding the role that many say was a catalyst for Heath Ledger’s emotional downturn during the final months of his life, was awe-inspiring. No preview had the potential of preparing any avid cinema-goer for the dark places Ledger take them. In contrast to Jack Nicholson’s comedic interpretation of the role, Ledger brought to the character depths of psychological and emotional instability which made The Joker so deep and three dimensional, that one wonders if Ledger can be denied award acclaim for his portrayal.

Michael Caine; (The Cider House Rules), along with the rest of the supporting cast, laid sound foundations for the stars to shine, whilst providing the type of insightful performance expected from such a screen legend.

Vigilante vs Super Hero

What sets The Dark Knight apart from other conventional comic book adaptations, is the continuance of the focus on the realism of the storyline and its characters from Chris Nolan’s first incarnation of the new saga, Batman Begins. Batman, who in comparison to his contemporaries is not immortal or superhuman, lives in the realm of possibility. Batman’s adversaries are merely mortal criminals; they don’t shoot lasers out of their eyes or control the earth’s gravitational pull. Nolan expertly reminds the audience of this, making Batman/Bruce Wayne more accessible to the audience.

The Verdict

Perhaps the only criticism one could have of The Dark Knight, is that it is quite long. Nevertheless, because the storyline is so enthralling and necessary there is never a dull moment to be had. All the T’s are crossed and the I’s dotted.

Cast

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