the dark knight (2008)

the average person's film of the year, the dark knight proved to be a genuine treat, despite what the online naysayers may claim. it was with an air of apprehensiveness that i approached it a second time, hoping that i wasnt just taken in by the hype upon release. im happy to reveal that not only did it hold up on a second viewing, but i actually enjoyed it more this time, removed of the hype and expectation.

comparisons to the wire must be made. the dark knight feels like a big screen outing of david simon's epic masterpiece in places, and im surprised more hasnt been made of this. sure the situation may be severely exagerated when put next to the wire, but the concept of a city on the edge, of a society out of control with hope being an unobtainable dream draws many parallels, as does the intricate nature of how the plot is held together.

for me it is gary oldman that is the key performer in the film, and the one who's performance i enjoyed the most. his is the most relatable arc throughout the film, and the one that is easiest to literally relate to. christian bale is great as batman, further cementing his place as the definitive person for the role. aaron eckhart as district attorney really struck me upon initial viewing, but upon this screening didnt have the same impact. thats not to say that hes not good in the role, hes great, it just didnt strike me in the same way. maggi gylenhaal, morgan freeman and michael caine provide ample support, although caine is seemingly the biggest casualty of such a huge ensemble, as his role seemed to have shrunk when compared to the size of his performance in 'batman begins'.

the concept of heath ledger as the joker, initially a bitching-point for most geeks with internet connection, is possibly the most successful aspect of the dark knight, at least for the masses. removed of the hype and expectation i was able to appreciate the role and performance much more, noticing his subtle nuances and the ticks and mannerisms that really make the character. while genuinely terrifying a character, he is also brilliantly comical too, highlighted in the hospital scene, where the joker vacates the future crime scene dressed as a nurse. while not a fan of the "ledger deserves an oscar" campaign i fully appreciate the performance and am pleased to see it, alongside his role in brokeback mountain, as a fitting legacy for the actor.