The Dark Knight

“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” Harvey Dent

The Dark Knight not only captured my heart and imagination this weekend, but also the rest of America. The movie raked in more than $155 million—making it the biggest 3-day opening for a movie—ever. The movie prevailed on every level, and even now, 48 hours after viewing it, I am still trying to take it all in. The story was vast and complex , more akin to a Shakespearian tragedy, rather than a summer popcorn action flick. And at 2 hours and 33 minutes, the movie still manages to leave you longing for more—and counting the moments until the third installment of this terrific franchise. It’s a film, that will no doubt, only get better with each additional viewing.

Christian Bale, is superb as Bruce Wayne and Gotham’s Dark Knight. He brings a vulnerability to the character—he’s complex, tortured and driven. Never once do you question is authenticity as Bruce Wayne or Batman. Bale is surrounding by a first-class supporting cast. Aaron Eckhart. Morgan Freeman. Gary Oldman. Michael Cain. Maggie Gyllenhaal. Each of these actors brings dynamic life to Christopher Nolan’s script. These fine actors prove that there is no such thing as a small part—each one of them giving performances that were layered and went well beyond a big-budget action film.

Then there’s Heath Ledger. Simply put: I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He was mesmerizing and terrifying, a true villain in every sense of the word. The performance was bold and free and left me with an enormous sadness—knowing that this performance will be the last time we get to see this great talent, who obviously still had so much left to give. I can only imagine the characters and stories he still had inside him.

It is because of Heath Ledger’s Joker that the city of Gotham is in complete ruin and disarray. His quest “to see the world burn” reaches to the very core of human nature and is entirely psychological. The Joker’s path of destruction leaves the audience asking themselves, “what would I do?”—the answer is never clear or easy. And it is because of this very real and honest look into the human psyche that The Dark Knight is so captivating and so beyond any other film of its kind.

Missy’s Cinema Score: A