Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 in 1939, so one could say that his early beginnings sit him aside other classic pulp detectives like Philip Marlowe. Director Christopher Nolan understands this and brings it to the forefront in his latest Batman feature film, which is at least as good as BATMAN BEGINS and in many respects better. Worthy to stand along other great crime dramas, this superhero film is like HEAT; only Al Pacino's character wears a cowl instead of perfectly coifed hair. It's like SILENCE OF THE LAMBS; only Hannibal Lecter fancies purple handmade suits to a classy linen ensemble. As much as you might have liked them or even hated them, it quickly rids the memory of images of Jack Nicholson hamming it up in circus make-up, or Joel Schumacher adding nipples to the Batsuit. This is the film Dark Knight fans have grown up to see.
Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale, AMERICAN PSYCHO) has been keeping up his image as a trust fund playboy in public, while in private he has cleaned up the streets of Gotham City as Batman. A new DA has come to town, his name is Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart, THE COMPANY OF MEN), and he's dating Bruce's longtime love Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, WORLD TRADE CENTER). Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman, THE PROFESSIONAL) doesn't trust Dent, who used to work in internal affairs, but Batman sees Dent, who is determined to take down the mob, as the white knight of Gotham, the public face of hope for the city. Plaguing the city in addition to the gangsters is a ruthless bank robber dubbed the Joker (Heath Ledger, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN), who proposes to the various factions of the mob that they pay him to kill the Batman.
Those are the outward struggles of Batman, but the inner struggles of Bruce Wayne are more complex. Rachel, who knows his secret, said that she could only be with him when Gotham didn't need Batman anymore. With Harvey cleaning up the streets and creating hope for the people of the city, Bruce feels it could be his time to put away the costume. His dutiful butler Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine, SLEUTH) warns him that there could come a time when he has to stop being the hero and become the symbol of something greater. At his corporation, Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman, MILLION DOLLAR BABY) continues to secretly develop new technology for Batman, but wonders how much power one man should be able to wield.
Bale has settled into his role as Batman, making him captivating as both personas. While Katie Holmes was adequate in BATMAN BEGINS, Gyllenhaal makes her seem like a schoolgirl masquerading as an assistant DA. But the film's real acting comes from Eckhart and, of course, Ledger. Eckhart develops Dent as a fearless crusader of justice. However anger fuels that drive to a degree, which makes him vulnerable to breaking rules for the greater good. Bruce understands his symbolic place as the city's defender, but Dent hasn't learned that he represents something bigger than himself. This is where we find the corrupting force.
You've probably already read the hype about Heath Ledger. Well, it's not hype. His Joker is a psychopath, motivated by causing chaos and exposing the darker side of human nature, which makes him feel more normal. He believes that most people are inherently evil and exploits that idea. Ledger's performance is menacing and captivating. When he's not on the screen, you eagerly await his return. It is a performance that will be imitated, and like REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE did for James Dean, could easily make Ledger a Hollywood legend.
At nearly two and a half hours long, the epic scope of the production doesn't get overwhelming with layer after layer of the plot unfolding in perfect secession, building complexity and intrigue. As writer, Christopher Nolan, along with his brother Jonathan and story help from David Goyer, have perfectly balanced action, plot, character and introspection. I will not attempt to rank this film among other superhero films, because it's more than a superhero film. This isn't for the "whop, bam, boom" crowd; it's disturbing in content and in its visuals. This is an adult crime drama.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
