The Dark Knight: Ledger is Brilliant
It’s official, praises for The Dark Knight from critics and movie reviewers alike are pretty much unanimous in announcing, “it’s quite good.” Though I bet people aren’t just wondering if it’s worth watching or not, there is also an expectation, one that runs parallel to their appreciation of the film, which is: does Heath Ledger give us a proper farewell?
Based on reviews that I’ve read, the answer is an astounding yes. However, before anything else, critic Mick LaSalle cautions to, “shelve those outsize expectations, and, suddenly, Ledger’s performance opens up.” What he means is, don’t expect this last role to offer an explanation to the late actor’s death, nor should we look forward to a brilliant performance that justifies Ledger’s shocking death. The fact of the matter is that it is only a really good performance if and only we shed our rather romantic expectations. We shouldn’t think that watching Ledger as the Joker will tie up any loose ends about his tragic life or give us a satisfying farewell. We should all just appreciate his last role for what it really is, which is a performance by an actor and nothing more.
With that aside, Ledger really was the perfect joker. Everything, from his appearance (which is as scary as clowns go), his manner of uttering his words in a clear and concise way sounds like a “storyteller from hell,” and his interpretation of his character; reflecting on screen the troubling persona who has no other desires except for utter destruction.
Speaking of the movie itself, some might say that something over two hours is considered quite long—even too long for some. But this is a movie with plenty of action, or rather “smart” action. So don’t be dissuaded by its length for The Dark Knight is at par, if not above most “action flicks” when it comes to…action.
I mean it when I say the above. The Dark Knight shouldn’t be regarded as just an action flick as much as it shouldn’t also be seen as just another superhero movie. The plot touches upon themes that does the common action/superhero movie one better. Quoting LaSalle once more, “it’s about civic catastrophe and the fragility of our institutions in the face of blind, consuming evil.”
As for the part that most critics point out that the movie fall short on, it was mostly in it’s the job of trying to persuade the audience that it’s not an action film. It may be better than most action movies, but in the end it’s still a Hollywood action movie as it retains some of the exaggeration, and “mindblowing” effects that have tainted the genre. This quibble becomes more disappointing if one has read about Director Christopher Nolan’s meticulous endeavors to make the “action” scenes as realistic as possible. It was said that he refused doing them in CG, and just go “old-school” style in order to give audience a better feel for the drama behind the action. Sadly, it didn’t seem to work out.
Overall, The Dark Knight is a must-see. And if you have access to an IMAX theater, then you better watch it there. Five or six scenes were shot with an IMAX camera, so for those of you who prefer the whole experience, leave the regular theaters for the kiddies.
