Let’s go back to 2008 and revisit pop culture. The country’s most popular TV show was American Idol. A studio comedy like Forgetting Sarah Marshall could still top $100 million at the box office. Plus, superhero fatigue was non-existent. It’s the perfect start to a conversation about The Dark Knight, the greatest comic book movie of all time.
Fifteen years ago today, The Dark Knight, the highly anticipated sequel to Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, was released in the United States. It was shown in cinemas. For a movie made as a summer event, The Dark Knight exceeded expectations and successfully changed an entire industry. Comic book movies centered around cloaked warriors and clown-wearing villains led the Academy to nominate more films for Best Picture. This is the same Academy that somehow gave Crash Best Picture. But it succumbed to Batman movies.
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The setup of The Dark Knight is relatively simple for a Christopher Nolan movie. After Batman Begins, Batman (Christian Bale) is now Gotham City’s infamous anti-crime vigilante. Assisted by Lieutenant James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman embarks on a mission to dismantle organized crime in Gotham City. However, their path is obstructed by the Joker (Heath Ledger), a malevolent crime mastermind and harbinger of chaos, with a twisted desire to witness Gotham’s destruction. The Joker pushes Batman to the limit, and Bruce is forced to face many morally complex questions as he learns the true meaning of sacrifice.
A Neo-Noir Disguised as a Comic Book Film
Due to his profound dedication to innovation and tangible influence, Nolan stands among one of the selected few filmmakers who are capable of selling his movie solely based on his reputation. No filmmaker understands the spectacle and process of ‘organizing’ a film better than Nolan. When adapting the original, Nolan viewed the comic as a guide rather than a map. He followed certain comic book principles, such as Batman not wanting to kill people or use guns. But Nolan used The Dark Knight as an excuse to craft a compelling crime drama.
The Dark Knight is a Neo-noir in comic book movie form, and that’s what makes it so good. I’m not interested in fan service. Instead, they want to weave an elaborate moral drama by making cartoon characters the protagonists.
It’s like Nolan saying, “What if we recreated Michael Mann’s ‘Heat’ set in Gotham City?” He envisioned a Batman sequel in the mid-2000s. Did Nolan really say that? No, probably not, but the filmmaker has said in multiple interviews that Heat inspired The Dark Knight. Nolan told GQ how Mann has made Los Angeles a “fantastic playground” for the Heat. Nolan did the same with Gotham, which was shot in Chicago alongside The Dark Knight. Nolan shot The Dark Knight in a real city, using real people and real effects. This is not a film shot on a soundstage. A semi-truck rollover accident occurred. These practical effects, along with sweeping views of the city, add to the authenticity and grittiness of Gotham.
Speaking of Heat, Nolan’s homage to Mann’s action thriller is scattered throughout the film. The robbery and car chase in the opening scene of The Dark Knight was inspired by Heat’s armored truck robbery and bank shootout. Nolan’s use of masks and trucks, loud gunshots, and chaotic energy can all be attributed to Mann’s Heat. In the street, The Joker appears with a shotgun, taking the place of Robert De Niro’s Neil McCauley in a tense shootout with the police. Batman and the Joker’s interrogation scene resembles Nolan’s De Niro and Al Pacino dinner scene. But thanks to Nolan’s creative direction and engaging script, this homage doesn’t feel like blatant plagiarism.
Heath Ledger’s Iconic Performance
It’s time to talk about Heath Ledger. Surprisingly, it took a very long time to mention the name of the late actor of The Dark Knight. Ledger’s Oscar-winning portrayal of the Joker is the undisputed king of comic book depictions. It’s arguably the most iconic performance of the 21st century. Ledger is so talented that he can beat Christian Bale, which is unusual for an actor who is considered one of the best actors of his generation.
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From the moment he hit the screen, The Dark Knight became a leisure movie. An ominous laugh. red lipstick. facial scars. Smooth green hair, licking lips incessantly. This attention to detail allowed Ledger to distinguish him from previous portrayals of the Joker, most famously drawn by Jack Nicholson and Caesar Romero. With so much debate in the industry about method acting, it’s refreshing to hear such kind words about Ledger’s behavior from colleagues and staff on set while still keeping his character.
The Dark Knight’s Enduring Legacy
Ledger only appears on screen for 33 minutes, but his presence dominates every scene. The Joker is the bad guy. If I see a psychopath killer, I have no problem calling him. However, the Joker compels the audience to witness another side of Batman, one in which he doesn’t exhibit the traits of a conventional hero. During the interrogation scene, the Joker taunts Batman and physically assaults him. Batman fights crime without police assistance (except for Gordon). He selfishly chooses to save Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) instead of Harvey. These are not exactly heroic qualities. It’s not black and white or a showdown between the good guys and the bad guys like The Dark Knight. There’s a lot of ambiguity there, and that ambiguity enhances the battle between Batman and the Joker.
The Dark Knight became the first billion-dollar movie in the superhero industry. This created a template for writers to follow when creating their comic book adaptations. Nolan recently told Hugo Decrypte that he has no plans to make any more superhero movies. I agree with Nolan. He should never make a superhero movie again. If the best comic book movies of all time are on your resume, you’re done with the genre.
By the way, The Dark Knight is streaming on Max.
