The Dark Knight (2008)
"Why so serious?" could turn out to be one of the most iconic film lines of 2008.
The Joker is back in Gotham City and he has one objective... to cause mayhem.
This was Heath Ledger's final main role before his untimely death, and filling Jack Nicholson's boots as the Joker in a previous iteration of the series was always going to be tough. Ledger, however, makes the character his own in a way which would have propelled his career to loftier heights had he not passed on.
However, I don't think he is the real star of this film, despite the inevitable posthumous Academy Award nomination/victory. Christian Bale, as Batman/Bruce Wayne, isn't either. His growling of every line as the self-titled Dark Knight is irritating and gets very old, very quickly. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent is a good, well played role but his smug portrayal as Gotham City's "White Knight" left me wishing for a train to hit him firmly in his chiseled jaw.
The real star is Gary Oldman as Lieutenant/Commissioner Gordon. He is expected to be the side order to the main course, but he plays the role of Gordon as someone who is genuinely doing what he believes, for the right reasons... even to the extent of faking his death to catch the Joker. Oldman is superb in the role, and really caps off what is a good film - it will always be Ledger's film, but Oldman is the one who deserves more plaudits than he'll get. Another notable mention for the legendary William Fichtner who is a bank manager of the Mob.
Star of the film: Gary Oldman
Best bit: The end scene, perfectly setting up a further episode of another film.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/
The Joker is back in Gotham City and he has one objective... to cause mayhem.
This was Heath Ledger's final main role before his untimely death, and filling Jack Nicholson's boots as the Joker in a previous iteration of the series was always going to be tough. Ledger, however, makes the character his own in a way which would have propelled his career to loftier heights had he not passed on.
However, I don't think he is the real star of this film, despite the inevitable posthumous Academy Award nomination/victory. Christian Bale, as Batman/Bruce Wayne, isn't either. His growling of every line as the self-titled Dark Knight is irritating and gets very old, very quickly. Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent is a good, well played role but his smug portrayal as Gotham City's "White Knight" left me wishing for a train to hit him firmly in his chiseled jaw.
The real star is Gary Oldman as Lieutenant/Commissioner Gordon. He is expected to be the side order to the main course, but he plays the role of Gordon as someone who is genuinely doing what he believes, for the right reasons... even to the extent of faking his death to catch the Joker. Oldman is superb in the role, and really caps off what is a good film - it will always be Ledger's film, but Oldman is the one who deserves more plaudits than he'll get. Another notable mention for the legendary William Fichtner who is a bank manager of the Mob.
Star of the film: Gary Oldman
Best bit: The end scene, perfectly setting up a further episode of another film.
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/
Labels: Aaron Eckhart, Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson, The Dark Knight, William Fichtner
posted by Gary at
17:16
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