Batman Burn-Out

I found this weekend’s record-breaking grosses for “The Dark Knight” terribly depressing. In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit I was part of those grosses, we saw the film on Sunday night. I did not care for the film but my fear about its massive profits rests more in how this will affect the already vision-impaired movie executives who, in their idiocy, will interpret this as a clarion call to green-light an endless list of superhero movies and to put the kibosh on anything that includes skilled character development.

Not that I have any desire to trash the talented actors and filmmakers who gave us the newest Batman flick. Director Christopher Nolan, along with “Dark Knight” screenwriter Jonathan Nolan, cinematographer Wally Pfister, and stars Christian Bale and Michael Caine were all in our house two years ago when our first floor was transformed into a period London tavern for Nolan’s film “The Prestige.” They couldn’t have been nicer or more professional. I am a huge fan of Nolan’s film “Memento” and I liked “Batman Begins.” But this one? Not so much.

I just didn’t get it. The look of the film was great although I preferred the old stylized versions of Gotham City instead of the clearly recognizable downtown Chicago streets that were used here. Batman’s gadgets were top-notch but maybe we’re so used to those by now they’re just not that exciting (I remember how in the James Bond movies of the 60s, the introduction of each film’s gadgets was always so thrilling—are we just too jaded in today’s high-tech world?). The violence was so intense and pervasive that I’m starting to give more credence to the folks that claim such films desensitize young people and run the risk of turning us all into crazed killers. After two hours and forty minutes of such unrelenting violence, I was ready to grab a machine gun and mow down all the people in the sold-out theatre who were talking or texting during the film.

The acting? I can’t complain although I have to admit I was far more interested in Bale’s zillionaire Bruce Wayne than I was in his monotone, nearly lifeless Batman. My favorite Christian Bale performances were when he played a young Nazi in “Swing Kids” and as the emaciated Trevor Reznik in “The Machinist.” Now word comes today that he spent four hours in a London police station this morning being questioned about allegations from his mother and sister that he assaulted them on Sunday night. Bale has denied the charges, but WTF? Something is going on in that family. What really got my attention in the news report is that the police did not question him on Monday because they did not want to interfere with last night’s European premiere of “The Dark Knight.” Excuse me? The police ignored an official complaint of assault because of a movie premiere? Did those orders come from the Gotham City PD?

The biggest draw this weekend was undoubtedly Heath Ledger, who was quite good in his creepy portrayal of the Joker—certainly light years away from Cesar Romero or Jack Nicholson’s take on the character. I’ve no doubt a substantial portion of the weekend grosses are due to the curiosity of many to see Ledger’s final performance. I just hope his young daughter doesn’t see it—not exactly the way anyone would want to remember Daddy. I doubt that this disturbing role had anything to do with Ledger’s accidental death last January despite the salacious reports that try to connect his own Dark Side to the Joker’s. Ledger was an extremely talented actor who was able to disappear into every part he played. As riveting as he was in the film, I’m just sorry they didn’t provide the Joker with more of an interesting back story. I could have used a little less crazy, a little more character analysis.

I think Michael Caine was the perfect choice for Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s butler and Batman’s confidante. The friends we were with accused Caine of phoning in his performance but at least he provided a few light moments in this deadly serious tale. I get that the Batman movies have tried to distance themselves from the slapstick fun of the 1960s TV series, but could someone inform the producers that even serious films could use a few laughs? Hell, there were scenes in “Sophie’s Choice” that had me in stitches, but “The Dark Knight” takes itself so seriously I would've needed to grab the Joker’s paring knife to put a smile on my face. Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman were both wasted, and what was with Freeman’s sudden bout of ethics? He’s fine with all sorts of mayhem, illegal activity, and danger, but he draws the line when Bruce Wayne figures out a way to bug every cell phone in Gotham City in order to catch the Joker? Was that a veiled criticism of the Patriot Act?

Maggie Gyllenhaal took over the thankless role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes for this film, but in my opinion that part should have been tossed the minute Holmes turned down the sequel. Dawes is not even a “real” Batman character, she was invented for the last film in an attempt to give the series a character that provided Batman with the same angst that Spiderman had to face with Kirsten Dunst. But Dunst’s character achieved its purpose beautifully while Rachel Dawes’ motivations never made any sense. (And just to be clear, I am a huge fan of Gyllenhaal’s, I just didn’t think she belonged in this film.)

Aaron Eckhart’s Harvey Dent is an interesting character and he does a good job with the District Attorney who becomes an Obama-like savior for the desperate citizens of crime-ridden Gotham City, but (warning: spoiler ahead!) his transformation into Harvey Two-Face is absurd. To go from being such a fantastic guy to a child-killing monster all because of a severe facial disfigurement makes no psychological sense at all. Eckhart’s makeup or the CGI effects that ravaged half of his face were excellent (notice how even after he turns into Two-Face, he is still coiffing and blow drying the side of his head with that perfect hair) but more was needed to make this character work.

Oy, enough with my sniping already, don’t you just hate people who endlessly kvetch about other people’s creative endeavors? I do admire Nolan’s attempts to re-invent this character. My only question is—why? If I had my way, they’d retire the series and let Nolan use his creativity to make more truly original films like “Memento.” But fat chance of that after the biggest opening weekend in movie history. Still, who am I to diss a movie that seems to be striking such a nerve? I should shut up until I come out with my own Batman flick. Of course, MY version would star 79-year old Adam West as Batman and 75-year-old Julie Newmar as Catwoman. Do you think it will be a hit?

Comments

[Liza Cowan]

I just checked imdb and Robin wasn't even the movie! What's up with that? Everyone knows that Batman and Robin had a "special" relationship. Are they trying to make Batman seem straight?

Now I'm really not going to see it.

[Gordon]

Yes, I do think it would be a hit. What I'd really love to see, is a batman film that was made more in the style of the TV series. ZAP ! POW !

[churlita]

I will probably wait for it to come out on cable.

I hope Heath Ledger's daughter doesn't see it until she's much older at least. Once my ex-husband was in America's Most Wanted. He let my daughter watch it when she was too young to understand that he wasn't really getting beaten up and it really made her sad.

[Maria S.]

Well my son Jordan ADORED this movie. Save it on Friday and dragged me to it on Sunday. I probably liked it a bit better than you did, Danny. My main concern is that everything went on way too long. Also I lost my ability to suspend disbelief when Batman managed to fly in and out of Chinese air space so easily. Come on. That plane would have so been shot down.

[Fabian]

I'm sorry, but you're view of this film is so far removed from my own experience and almost everyone else i know who saw the movie that i actually have to go out of my way to recommend you see it again and give it a second chance and i feel u might enjoy it more if u keep a few things in mind...

the character of the joker shouldn't have more back story. the joker isn't a person so much as a force of nature. he is chaos. he is anarchy.more "characterization" would only demistify him.oh, and he's not crazy in the classical sense either...everything he does is planned and very well thought out (and the paradox of that only makes him all the more interesting) he is not crazy, he is...something beyond what we know, which is the whole point of the character really.

and fox's sudden ethics dillema isn't that strange after all, helping a guy beat up known scumbags is very different from helping a guy spy on millions of civilians, 99% of whom are totally innocent. and he does do it in the end anyway for the greater good.

considering the subject matter, i think all the violence was totally warranted. again this goes back to the whole concept of chaos, anarchy,the established order being upset etc. etc.

harvey didn't snap cuz of just his scars, he snapped cuz of all the pressure he was constantly under,the scars, but mostly it was losing rachael who was his whole world. Also, keep in mind that he was never really the angel that they made him out to be. remember the scene where he interrogates that one schizphrenic? this is man who clearly had long repressed demons, long before the joker came to town...

Also i would argue that there were a lot of funny moments. albeit of a gallows humor variety.

But yes, you're right. Maggies character is basically just a plot device. she just did the best she could with what she had. or didn't have rather...

[Yury]

I haven't seen The dark knight as it's not out here yet. Last night I went to see the Incredible Hulk though (don't ask how it happened) which was an incredible piece of crap. All movie long I had an impression that I was trapped against my own will into some violent video game and I couldn't find my way out of it. Reading your Batman review I can't agree more with your opening paragraph. I think I am done with superheros.

[Danny]

Fabian, you make some very good points but I don't think I could bring myself to sit through that movie again when there are so many other ones I'd rather see. I especially agree with you about Harvey Dent. As for the Joker, even if he's not "supposed" to have more of a back story, I'd still prefer it. I think villains are so much more intriguing when we have an idea of what makes them tick (although the constantly changing story of how he got the smile carved into his face was an interesting touch).

Yury, I'm taking a superhero break as well. I hear there are several more coming out this year and that a "Superman Returns" sequel is in the works. Yikes, compared to that bomb, "The Dark Knight" is a perfect film on par with "Citizen Kane."

[Judy]

I like the idea of the older Batman , Adam West and Catwoman Julie Newmar, meeting at an assisted living home, he with early alzheimers, and she uses a walker. they have flashback of their days when ...could it be they knew each other? and it was all smash , pop and bang! I would love to see that..maybe he first, and she totally clueless or vice versa...what could happen? create havoc in the cocktail hour? protest against lousy food in the dining room? Get lost on a bus trip to a concert in the park trying to find the bathroom?

[Eternal Jewish Family]

What I hope happens is that hollywood realizes that super hero movies can actually be compelling stories in their own right. Even though I'm a huge Batman fan, I didn't even view this movie as a comic book/super hero movie, it was just another movie that I saw, that happened to be a master piece.