2008 Woodie Awards
Now Rating: 'The Dark Knight'
Jeff Mason
Issue date: 7/23/08 Section: A&E
To say that "The Dark Knight" was one of the most anticipated movies of the year is something of an understatement. It seemed that every poster, every picture and every trailer was posted all over the internet, and that buzz translated into the biggest opening weekend in history, earning over $158 million in just three days. Luckily, the buzz surrounded the right movie.
"The Dark Knight" picks up where "Batman Begins" ended, following Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and his heroic alter ego's push to free Gotham City from the world of organized crime. He is assisted by Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart of "Thank You for Smoking"), and all seems to be going well until a new face appears on the street.
The Joker (Heath Ledger), whose smeared makeup and green highlights will stay in your mind for weeks, is not like the other criminals. He doesn't need money, and he can't be found until he pops his head out. He likes knives, talks in such a way that is both menacing and lisped. He is Batman's criminal opposite.
The movie, which lasts two and a half hours, has so many different parts to it that it's hard to single out any particular one. The twists and turns of the movie never allow the viewer to settle in, and those looking for a definitive final battle will be tossed about as if they were stuck in a washing machine.
The action in the movie doesn't allow Batman to hide and forces him into the open. Luckily, this results in car chases, brawls, explosions and hostage taking, all of which are usually started by The Joker. It's always tense and the darkness behind The Joker's unpredictability only works to make that tension all the stronger.
Ledger makes The Joker his own. His voice is haunting, and the way he moves is just as awkward. He is a standout in a cast full of stars, but held back enough to let the others get their moment in. Bale, who spends most of his time in the bat suit, does what he can with a character that tries to show no emotion or trace of personality. The rest follow suit accordingly.
Christopher Nolan ("Memento," "The Prestige") returns as director and keeps the many plot points moving along. From the very start, there isn't a dull moment, and the entirety of the movie makes up for its awkward pacing.
The script, written by Nolan and brother Jonathan, never flaunts The Joker as some prize that must be used at every available chance, but hides him just enough to make him feel elusive and untouchable. While the previously mentioned pacing is the script's lone flaw, its dark humor and effortless plotting work perfectly.
With all of this being said, I didn't love "The Dark Knight" and was more confused about how I felt about it than anything. It reminded me of "Michael Clayton," a movie that didn't impress me the first time but now sits among my favorites. I'll need to see "The Dark Knight" again to be sure, but for now I have a suspicion I'll love the movie the second time around.
4 out of 5 stars.
"The Dark Knight" picks up where "Batman Begins" ended, following Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and his heroic alter ego's push to free Gotham City from the world of organized crime. He is assisted by Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart of "Thank You for Smoking"), and all seems to be going well until a new face appears on the street.
The Joker (Heath Ledger), whose smeared makeup and green highlights will stay in your mind for weeks, is not like the other criminals. He doesn't need money, and he can't be found until he pops his head out. He likes knives, talks in such a way that is both menacing and lisped. He is Batman's criminal opposite.
The movie, which lasts two and a half hours, has so many different parts to it that it's hard to single out any particular one. The twists and turns of the movie never allow the viewer to settle in, and those looking for a definitive final battle will be tossed about as if they were stuck in a washing machine.
The action in the movie doesn't allow Batman to hide and forces him into the open. Luckily, this results in car chases, brawls, explosions and hostage taking, all of which are usually started by The Joker. It's always tense and the darkness behind The Joker's unpredictability only works to make that tension all the stronger.
Ledger makes The Joker his own. His voice is haunting, and the way he moves is just as awkward. He is a standout in a cast full of stars, but held back enough to let the others get their moment in. Bale, who spends most of his time in the bat suit, does what he can with a character that tries to show no emotion or trace of personality. The rest follow suit accordingly.
Christopher Nolan ("Memento," "The Prestige") returns as director and keeps the many plot points moving along. From the very start, there isn't a dull moment, and the entirety of the movie makes up for its awkward pacing.
The script, written by Nolan and brother Jonathan, never flaunts The Joker as some prize that must be used at every available chance, but hides him just enough to make him feel elusive and untouchable. While the previously mentioned pacing is the script's lone flaw, its dark humor and effortless plotting work perfectly.
With all of this being said, I didn't love "The Dark Knight" and was more confused about how I felt about it than anything. It reminded me of "Michael Clayton," a movie that didn't impress me the first time but now sits among my favorites. I'll need to see "The Dark Knight" again to be sure, but for now I have a suspicion I'll love the movie the second time around.
4 out of 5 stars.
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