London Kicks: The Dark Knight review

And so…after all the press, the overdose, the arrest and the new argument over action figures (apparently the beautiful CB is not a happy bat because Heath's action figure is selling better than his, bless) we finally get to the film.

I'm sure I speak for many Londoners in saying that as I approached the Imax last night with the multitude, queued to pick up the tickets I bought weeks ago, queued for my popcorn and queued to get into the cinema, I was worried the film could never live up to it's media coverage. I expected to be disappointed and to be beaten by teenage girls with 'HEATH RIP' tattoos on the 73.

Luckily, The Dark Knight does live up to the hype…just…if you squint a little and gloss over the fact that, at times, the structure buckles under the film's ambitious narrative. Christopher Nolan has attempted to turn a comic book into a full-bodied psychological thriller that makes Al Qaeda look like crèche. Gone is the film noir, 1950's pastiche of Batman Begins, this is a 21st century city with eccentric villains and a clearly under funded mental health authority. As a consequence the identity of The Dark Knight occasionally fractures, falling down the perhaps unbridgeable gap between comic book adaptation and realism but that is not to say it is not a very good film.

There are moments of genius in The Dark Knight; the most memorable being, untimely death or not, Heath Ledger's Joker. Ledger's supporting role expands and dominates the entire film. It is a credit to Ledger's skill and commitment that it is the least humane character that appears the most believable, leaving Christian Bale, caught between the man and the mask, receding into his costume.

The influence of Jack Nicholson's Joker and The Shining's Jack Torrance are unashamed. In fact, they are inspired. In drawing parallels with Nicholson's most iconic creations Ledger is able to push himself beyond, making the Joker a much more disturbing figure and his own. It is impossible to recognise the man under the make up, the twitching and the Hannibal lip licking. There is nothing funny about this role and it is chilling to think the Joker may have played a part in this talented, troubled actor's own demise.

The Dark Knight delivers. Incredible car chases, crazy stunts (some of which caused the audience to clap, I'm not down with cinema clapping), great one liners (the Joker says to Batman 'you complete me,' aka Jerry Maguire and Austin Powers), gadgets, gizmos, destruction and enough twists to make you feel sea sick.

The long and the short is that you have to see The Dark Knight and I know that you will.

Freya Faulkner

London kicks 2008

Written by:
charlie

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