Starring:
Christian Bale, Maggie
Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Cillian
Murphy, William Fichtner, Aaron Eckhart, Anthony Michael Hall,
Michael Caine, Eric Roberts, Nathan Gamble, Sarah Jayne Dunn,
Michael Jai White, Nestor Carbonell, Melinda McGraw, Monique Curnen,
Joshua Harto, Chin Han, Chucky Venice, Beatrice Rosen
I've said before, that director Christopher Nolan's re-booting of
the Batman franchise would tolerate no middle ground. He would
either make it really good-or really bad. Now, I and a host of
others can safely attest that with his much anticipated sequel, The
Dark Knight, Nolan just keeps getting better all the time. My only
regret, Heath Ledger's premature death which prevented him from
seeing his own Oscar worthy performance.
Batman has had his share of ups and downs- on television and the
big screen. Adam West became so typecast as the caped crusader in
the late sixties, he couldn't find steady work anywhere; even Tim
Burton's resurgence of the masked man hunter in 1989 slowly fizzled
by the fourth installment. Changing directors and actors for
millionaire Bruce Wayne didn't help either, albeit my personal
favorite was Val Kilmer.
Casting Welsh actor Christian Bale as the
relentless crusader of justice, Nolan has taken Batman to the proper
level of fighting skills conjoined with the intelligence and
intuitiveness of Sherlock Holmes. And with a significant dose of the
vigilante spirit.
DVD
However, while Bale's reprisal of the role is indeed exceptional,
Batman The Dark Knight is really more about the Joker. This maniacal
menace who seems to come out of nowhere sports his crazed genius
from the beginning in a near perfectly executed bank robbery in
Gotham City assisted by some clown masked thugs. He escapes with
millions of dollars in a vehicle no one would ever suspect as a
getaway transport. Later, he interrupts a meeting of Gotham's most
notorious, demonstrates his homicidal tendencies, then encourages
them to simply "Kill the Batman" since he is the one who has taken
the bite
out of their criminal activities.
But the Joker is definitely not what you may think
he is. And the new sheriff in town, dynamic new District Attorney
Harvey Dent, police Lt. Jim Gordon and even the Batman himself
eventually come to realize that this is no ordinary criminal
mastermind. They do make a formidable trio of justice, wanting
to permanently smash all mob elements in the city- in different ways
of course.
" I knew the mob wouldn't go down without a fight",
affirms Bruce Wayne to his trusted confidante Alfred, played again
by the ceremonious Michael Caine. Despite Dent's moving in on his
sweetheart Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal), he does have enough
faith to believe that he is the "White Knight" that will clean up
Gotham- without a mask. Does this mean Bruce can hang up his cowl
and just be your average billionaire? And maybe win back
Rachel?
Not if the Joker prolongs pressure on Gotham - which he does
causing the good citizens to become little fickle toward their Dark
Knight who has made their streets safe for them. Like Bill Pullman,
the president in Independence Day remarked, "Isn't it amazing how
everyone can turn against you?
With all it's dazzling special fx, serious dialogue, vehicle and
flight mayhem and an almost nostalgic film noir attitude underlined
by an emotional score from returning composers Hans Zimmer and James
Newton Howard, Heath Ledger is the star of Batman The Dark Knight.
The brothers Nolan drew heavily from the most recent incarnation of
Batman's arch foe from the DC comic in look and dialogue, then
permitted Ledger to immerse himself. His determination to spread
chaos equals if not exceeds the Batman's fortitude for peace and
safety in Gotham. He is certainly the most enigmatic and fascinating
character Ledger has played.
Maggie Gyllenhaal who was so remarkable as Lee Holloway and
Sherry Swanson in the indies Secretary and Sherry Baby respectively,
replaces Katie Holmes as assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes. And with
considerably more depth. The love dynamic she bestows, torn between
Harvey and Bruce, is something I'm sure many women can relate to. On
top of her countless duties as Dent's right hand, she has a major
decision to make for her life.
It would be a crime virtually equal to the Joker's outrages if
Aaron Eckhart is not even considered for a best supporting award as
Gotham's D.A. Harvey Dent. His portrayal is that of an altruistic
straight shooter dedicated to cleaning up Gotham-even at the cost of
his own life. The transition from Harvey to Two-Face is quite
intense causing a frightening, corrupt downward spiral that Eckhart
masters to the fullest.
Gary Oldman is quite versatile, playing parts ranging from the
celebrated composer Beethoven in My Immortal Beloved , a Russian
terrorist in Air Force One to Harry Potter's godfather Sirius Black.
His reprisal of Lt. Jim Gordon was tantamount to Bale's Batman. One
may think it idealistic or downright fantasy for anyone to be
incorruptible- including those in law enforcement. Oldman's Gordon
is like an old fashion "Untouchable" with The Dark Knight at his
side when needed.
I just said above that it would be a crime for Eckhart not being
nominated. But It would be a sin for Ledger not to receive a
posthumous Oscar for his riveting performance of the Joker.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, it is the heavy who is the most
intriguing and will make the movie. Heath Ledger does just that in
The Dark Knight. I clearly admit that I was initially skeptical over
the choice of Ledger for the role. My uncertainy, even after seeing
the trailers, was unjustified. And anyone who sees this fine, long
(21/2 hours) sequel to Batman begins will, more than likely, think
so too.
SYNOPSIS & INFORMATION ABOUT THE DARK KNIGHT
by Joe De Matteo
Batman
and Gordon team up with the new DA, Harry Dent to
thwart the Joker Heath Ledger; surprises and table turning
abound. And now...in Hong Kong. What a
cool backdrop.
Other than to say that this will be a Batman vs.
Joker contest, the actual synopsis is not available
yet. The filming is scheduled to start in the
Spring of 2007.
Heath Ledger (Joker) was found dead today at 3:26 PM
in his Broome Street apartment (Lower Manhattan, NY,
NY), he was only 28-years old. This fine young
actor is a HugeReviews.com favorite. We will
miss him.
November 2007 by Joe De Matteo
Interesting quote by Christopher Nolan on November
10th regarding their choice to have Hong Kong as a
location. "When we were looking for a sequel, we
hoped for something more expansive. It'd be
interesting to put an iconic American character
somewhere else, and Hong Kong is a very energetic
cosmopolitan city," Nolan said.
So it's Hong Kong for the Caped
Crusaders latest out of Gotham City crime fighting.
Chicago and London are mocked-up to be Gotham City.
September 2007
A statement from the production
company:
"There was a fatal accident at a special effects
facility for The Dark Knight on the afternoon of
24th September. A technician on the film died when
the truck he was in struck a tree following a test
run. Warner Bros. Pictures and the entire cast and
crew of The Dark Knight are deeply saddened by this
tragedy and their hearts and prayers go out to the
family and loved ones of the deceased."
August 2007 by Joe De Matteo
Casting calls for Rory's First Kiss in
Chicago the last week in July turn out to be a
veiled effort to keep a low profile call for extras
for The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight had
already been filming in Chicago for a few weeks, but
casting call would have brought down paparazi,
site-seers, Bat-fans, as well as actors.
Luckily for the world, Chicago Sun-Times
columnist Richard Roeper put an end to the charade.
(That's sarcasm, by the way.)
NEWS FLASH
April 2007 - Joe De Matteo
Gatham News Corp.
Gotham National Bank building fire. A
fire broke out on the roof of GNB's downtown
building today. It is being reported
that the fire may have started in the
ventilation system of the building.
Gotham's fire department quickly put out the
blaze, and no one was injured.
April 2007 - Joe De Matteo
The search began for a new Rachel Dawes after Katie
Holmes quit the production, a casualty of marriage.
It is reported that beautiful, and new mom,
Maggie Gyllenhaal has
taken the part. Gyllenhaal was wonderful in
The Great New Wonderful, and I'm sure she'll
make you smile as Dawes.
Alan Dale is rumored to be joining the film as
Salvatore Maroni, and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey
Dent/Two-Face.
Locations are presently set at Chicago and London.
Shooting is set to begin in January, 2007.
October
2006 by Joe De Matteo
Internet rumors that Jake
Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger's co-star in
Brokeback
Mountain, would join the cast of The Dark Knight
have been called false. As reported on
imdb.com,
when asked if the rumors were true Gyllenhaal's
agent says, "No, the other guy from Brokeback
Mountain is in it if you haven't heard."
The big
sequel to the highly successful (and also great)
Batman Begins, with pretty much the same team as the
first one, which is good.
Heath Ledger has joined
the cast as The Joker! Who can follow up
Jack's performance? One look at Ledger's smile
on 10 Things I Hate About You and I think he can do
it!
Should be released summer of 2008.
The first Batman movie not to have Batman in the
title.
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