Tall, Dark, and Handsome: "The Dark Knight" Reviewed

You'll always be Theodore "Laurie" Lawrence to me, Christian Bale.

On Thursday night I fastened my LBC (Little Black Cape) and flew to the midnight showing of “The Dark Knight” with my father. Surrounded by brahs and sci-fi geeks alike and feeling rather claustrophobic and agoraphobic, , I settled into my seat at the Rave Multiplex to watch one of the best films—that was supposed to be The Best Film—I’ve seen.

Aside from stellar performances, the best aspect of the latest Batman installment is that it did not present itself as an superhero movie. Sure, Batman (a smokin’ Christian Bale) flies and wears a cape, but he strays from being a hero. Batman, or Bruce Wayne, is not appointed by any government (although he is anointed by Lt. Gordon, the police commissioner); he is essentially a vigilante, albeit a good one, taking the law into his own sexy hands. Citizens of Gotham either love him or hate him and as viewers want to love him, but should we?

Batman, the sort-of hero, wants to take down a different kind of vigilante, The Joker. Everything you’ve heard about Heath Ledger’s performance as the Joker is true. The dearly departed actor, Australian, hunk, father, and Brooklyn resident is nothing short of mesmerizing. I expected as much (see Brokeback Mountain. Really, see it!), but I did not anticipate sympathizing with some reasoning behind the Joker’s crazy. After much terrorizing of Gotham, the Joker, wearing a wig and a nurses’ uniform (yeah, it’s weird) explains why he does what he does. Gotham, like many nations, is a corrupt city from the top (see Sudanese president). There are some good forces at work, but there is substantial distrust in and for the government, leaving the citizens of Gotham not knowing who to trust. The Joker gets it; stating that only anarchy can suffice. In all of his sadistic glory, the Joker also asks the very topical question: whose life is worth more than whose? Does he kill a gang-banger or blow up a bus of schoolchildren? Guess who the citizens of Gotham would choose to die.

While the Joker is clearly psychotic, his response to the Gotham government provoke human rights questions of today. In a world where American-Knows-Best, whose life is more important: an Iraqi or an American (see coverage of decade old murder of JonBenet Ramsey v. lack of coverage of nearly 1 million dead Iraqi civilians)? Guess who the citizens of the U.S. would choose.

No matter how heart-pumping the explosives and high speed chases are, this action-hero movie is only as good as its acting. And it’s good. Christian Bale, almost eclipsed by that face looking “as if it had been carved with a chisel” as The New York Times film reviewer Manohla Dargis so rightly states, is excellent as playboy making good Bruce Wayne. Batman is aided by his superb friends, Alfred (Michael Caine), Lt. Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). Aaron Eckhart perfectly embodies Harvey Dent, the politician you want to trust. Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, who took over the role from Katie Holmes, presumably too busy with Xenu to be involved in the second film) is charming, if not the stereotypical woman in a superhero movie; her biggest dilemma is figuring out who she’s crushing on more, Bruce Wayne or Harvey Dent. And, well, I’m no Roger Ebert, but Ledger’s portrayal of the menacing and maybe misunderstood Joker is Oscar-worthy.

As Heath Ledger proves to be more than a pretty face, The Dark Knight is more than a superhero movie. The film moves past the Good v. Evil theme of superheroes to ask who is good? Who is evil? And who is to decide?

Do yourself a favor and see this movie. I'll be watching the 2009 Academy Awards (probably drunk), hoping that Heath Ledger receives a much, much, much deserved posthumous Oscar.