MOVIE REVIEW

THE DARK KNIGHT - DOES IT STAND UP TO ALL OF THE HYPE?

Does Heath Ledger deserve an oscar?

By LARRY OLIVIER
Movie Critic, Real Man Magazine

Bottom line:  It’s hard for any movie to live up to all of its hype.  This one lives up to it just fine.  They very well may have made the best comic book movie ever.  It’s an instant classic movie - from any genre.

By now everyone knows that Heath Ledger died.  His portrayal of The Joker sends him off in style.  Easily his best work ever and legitimately deserving of an Academy Award nomination.  Often we hear talk of Oscars after we lose an actor, and often it’s a sympathy vote.  This may be a sympathy vote for Heath too, but it’s also a very deserving vote.

A great movie requires a great villain.  And Joker doesn’t disappoint.  He may be the best villain since Hannibal Lector.  Joker is pure evil, but he’s also fearless, intelligent, and arguably mad.  He keeps us glued to our seats, wondering what he’s going to do next.

The screenplay works.  It’s tight and focused.  There are many twists and subplots, but it’s easy to follow and enjoy all of them.  It takes us from the emergence of Joker through a series of schemes that makes him the dominant force in Gotham.  We see Batman struggle with his dark side.  We see the transformation of other main characters which keeps us guessing.  In the end, it’s all very satisfying.

The action sequences work.  There are two or three excellent chase scenes.  One involves Batman doing some cool moves on his street bike.  Most leave a large wake of carnage and destruction across the city.

Here’s some criticism.  Ledger adds a bit of a feminine lisp to his portrayal – similar to Johnny Depp’s pirate.  He also wears a dress later in the movie.  And of course, he’s got a face full of makeup.  He does redeem himself by making sexual overtures at the leading lady, but we could have done without the cross-dressing and lisping.

We’re also low on the sex meter.  Bruce Wayne offers up some hotties for some brief visual stimulation, but they are fully clothed.  We could have seen some more titillating shots of these beauties.  Also, the leading lady is hopelessly outclassed by any of the ladies Wayne introduces.  This is all little unbelievable.  That is, why would Bruce Wayne and the DA be enamored with this leading lady who has a very average appearance, when Wayne can have any one of the numerous Playboy Playmate type women he’s dating? But these are minor criticisms in an otherwise excellent adventure through Gotham. 

Here’s a rare accolade indeed.  I’m giving it five out of five beers.  Normally, I reserve such reviews for the classic, flawless movies such as Citizen Kane or the Godfather.  While The Dark Night might not be quite up to that level, it’s awfully damn close.  As you know, I don’t give away half beers, so here’s a full five for a very deserving effort.

Here’s to you Heath.

©2008 Real Man Magazine

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