I remember seeing Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight in the summer of 2008. A recent high school graduate, I was spending a week in Florida with a friend before we parted ways to different colleges. In a needed escape from the July heat, we built into our schedule a trip to see the much-anticipated movie. The excitement grew as we drove to the theater, knowing we were about to see something incredible.
A follow-up to 2005’s Batman Begins, this gritty, crime-drama take on Gotham City and its favorite vigilante truly set the stage for future films–and it’s understandable why. The Dark Knight created a new standard for superhero movies.
Most notably is, of course, the late Heath Ledger’s disturbing take on the Joker. From his looming, somewhat off-kilter stance to the way he subtly licks his scarred mouth when talking and his erratic, unpredictable behaviors, Ledger is mesmerizing to watch—he commands attention in every scene. As Michael Caine’s Alfred surmises, “Some men just want to watch the world burn.”
While Ledger’s Joker is the most memorable performance, a strong cast of actors rounds out the film, including Morgan Freeman’s Lucius Fox, Gary Oldman’s James Gordon, and my personal favorite, Caine’s take on Bruce Wayne’s confidant and closest father-figure, Alfred Pennyworth (love him!).
Another compelling performance is Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent/Two-Face—the white knight trying to save Gotham from itself, who, in being human, is greatly tested by tragic loss.
Suffice to say, in my opinion, Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) is not a particularly memorable part of the movie—but that isn’t totally knocking Bale’s performance either. He captures Wayne’s struggles as Batman, and his love triangle with Dent and Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) well—even if the voice he puts on when in costume sounds a little goofy.
It isn’t just the stellar acting that makes this film so incredible. Christopher Nolan truly creates a visual masterpiece. Gotham itself is often shrouded in darkness, dank and dirty with no shortage of crimes taking place. There are plenty of explosions, violence, and a more than memorable chase sequence. Composers James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer create an impactful score that helps set the tone throughout. The music perfectly matches the grit and sense of urgency against impending disaster.
The more realistic, crime-drama take also makes this movie accessible to comic book fans and general audiences alike. Gotham itself feels like a character, with its mob-ridden streets, corrupt cops, and our protagonists trying to make positive change without being swallowed whole.
This film is captivating from start to finish, giving us the hero, we need: the Dark Knight.
The Dark Knight
2008
dir. Christopher Nolan
152 min.
Screens (in 4K!) Wednesday, 7/28, 7:00 @ Kendall Square Cinema
Part of the continuing series: Filmmaker Focus: Christopher Nolan
