The Dark Knight
Crit
You know how sometimes you see a movie and at the end you say, "I can't believe that was 2½ hours! The time flew past!" Well, you're not going to be saying that for this one--well, maybe the first sentence, with the addition of "only." Kee-rist, what a long freakin' film. And to say that I felt every one of the 152 minutes is to say that I was generally disappointed.
Yes, everything you've heard about Heath Ledger's performance is true, and then some; the problem is that nothing and no one else--well, OK, maybe Michael Caine, but that's it--deserves to be in the same film with that performance. I thought when they were forced to upgrade from the laughably inept (the single rebuttal argument of Pieces of April notwithstanding) Katie Holmes to the solid Maggie Gyllenhaal, perhaps they'd actually give the character something to do, but I should have realized that if they wasted Gary Oldman in the first Nolan-Bale collaboration, the prospects weren't good for Gyllenhaal (or for Aaron Eckhart, for that matter). With the single exception of the villain, this is not about the acting, it's about the dark.
Interesting footnote, though, that Ledger gets one scene of sickly romancing Maggie, having romanced her brother so memorably a few years ago. Other footnotes: Eric Roberts and Anthony Michael Hall sneak into the pic, along with a cameo by Cillian Murphy, reprising his role from the earlier flick.
Trailers
- Quantum of Solace--Daniel Craig's Bond is back, in the worst-titled picture in the series' long history; 3, despite my enthusiasm for Casino Royale.
- Righteous Kill--De Niro, Pacino, and some location shooting in New Haven: 4 verging on 5.
- Watchmen--Someone actually applauded the trailer for this schlocky-looking nothing-but-F/X superantihero based-on-a-graphic-novel pic by Zack Snyder, the man who brought us 300 (and, to be fair, the hilarious remake of Dawn of the Dead), but what I want to know is, if it's any good, why is it scheduled for March release? Soft 3.
- Terminator Salvation--Before seeing Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne, we get to see a bit of him as John Connor; Ah-nold is nowhere to be seen, which has to be a good thing (though a cameo as a politician talking on TV would be kinda cool). Good golly! IMDb tells me Helena Bonham Carter and Little Opie Cunningham's spookily beautiful daughter who has yet to prove she can act are also in it, and Josh Brolin is rumored as the Terminator; OK, 4, though a soft 4.
2 comments:
I think that I realized what made me cringe with this movie. It wasn't that it was so long, or even that the acting of some (many) of the stars was not anywhere near the level of energy put forth by Heath Leger. It was the fact that this movie was trying SO HARD to be better than the first one. In so trying, they relied too heavily on what they THOUGHT brought them success in the first one: special effects, gadgets, and action. In fact, the first movie soared (in my estimation) because of a great script, understated acting, and effects that filled in when they added to the overall success of the movie. Nolan went WAY to far into the realm of George Lucas on this one and the fact that he let Bale use his "Loud Batman" voice through much of the movie was a horrible directorial choice on his part.
Taken on the storyline alone, the Dark Knight was still trying a little too hard to do too much, but I think that it could have been a quality flick. If Nolan had gotten out of the way and let some of the movie magic come from his actors I think a lot could have been accomplished. Honestly, if the first movie had not been so damn good, I think I would have liked this one better.
One positive of the movie is that they killed off the Rachael character so no actress will have to try to do something with nothing again in the next sequel. One GLARING negative is that in the sure to be forthcoming sequel they are most likely going to bring the Joker back in to duel with the DK again. NO ONE will be able to accomplish what Leger did with this role and I hope that they leave well enough alone.
That's a fair comment, and I agree with virtually everything you've said. However, I think it's safe to say that the Joker won't be back, at least if Nolan stays w/ the series--he certainly realizes, as do you and I and anybody with an ounce of sense who saw the film, what a grotesque disservice it would be to ask anyone else to step in. Oh, and by the way, is there any more certain Oscar nomination than Ledger's for Best Supporting Actor? And if he wins, it won't be just a sentimental choice.
Post a Comment